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If you happen to live in a Chinese speaking community and you find that a dialect of Chinese other than Mandarin is prevalent in your area, it may be in your interest to learn a few words and phrases. Learning how to say the same words or phrases in a different dialect of Chinese will help you solidify your understanding of Mandarin. If you thought learning the four tones in Mandarin was hard, what would learning the six tones of Cantonese be like? If you could master those six tones, then think how easy the four tones of Mandarin would be. This also provides another context in learning since by comparing Mandarin with these other dialects, you are reinforcing material you have already learned which helps you better commit it to memory.

If you live in China or Taiwan, it may be in your interest to learn more about the different types of ethnicities within that region. While foreigners may regard all Chinese as being “Chinese,” various ethnicities exist that further differentiate them. Examples include the Hakka in Taiwan and the Hui in China (traditionally Muslim). Learning what differentiates them such as language, customs, clothes etc. will win you respect from these local groups. It will also help solidify your knowledge of Chinese culture which will provide context to your learning of the language.