Reading in Chinese is one of the best ways to build fluency

Learn Vocabulary Faster
Acquire vocabulary twice as fast compared to flash cards

Learn Grammar Naturally
Seeing grammar patterns over and over again trains your brain to naturally understand

Automatically Process Chinese
As your reading speed increases, you’ll start to understand it in Chinese instead of translating in your head

Enjoyable
Interesting and fun stories you can AND want to read
We offer three levels of graded readers to help you learn Chinese confidently.
Breakthrough Level

For those who are just getting started with Chinese
Level I

For those with some built up vocabulary
Level II

For those taking it to the next level of learning
Not sure what level you are?

You Are In Charge of Your Learning
Welcome to Mandarin Companion!
We’ve worked hard to create enjoyable stories at the right level for you — that can help you build confidence and competence to improve your Chinese.
Our Graded Readers use language that is controlled and simplified that makes them easy for learners to read. Reading long strings of text in context shows you how the language is used to build proficiency in and naturally understand Chinese.
Research shows that learners need to ‘encounter’ a word 10-30 times before truly learning it. Graded Readers provide that repetition that you need to develop fluency NOW at your level.
In the next section, you can take an assessment and discover if this is the right level for you. We also explain how it won’t just improve your Chinese skills but will have a wide range of benefits, from better test scores to more confidence.
We hope you enjoy our books and all the best with your studies!







Start Learning Chinese Today!
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You Can Learn Chinese Podcast

Learn HOW to learn Chinese with hosts Jared Turner and John Pasden. You will learn tips, strategies, and insights so you can supercharge your language learning. You will also be inspired by guest interviews with people from all over the world who have learned Chinese.
Both Jared and John both learned Chinese, lived in China for many years, and have worked with learners all over the world and understand the unique challenges that Chinese learners face. They stay at the forefront of language learning research and methods and bring that to listeners everywhere.
Is translation a necessary tool or a crutch that slows down your Chinese fluency? In this episode, Jared Turner and John Pasden dive deep into the role of translation in language learning. They explore the history of the grammar-translation method, the rise of communicative language teaching, and how translation can both help and hinder your progress.Â
Drawing on their own experiences learning Chinese, they share practical insights on when and how to use translation effectively — from using Google Translate strategically to understanding why translating word-for-word isn't always a bad thing. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up your Chinese, this episode will help you find a balanced approach to translation that boosts your confidence and accelerates your learning journey.
Links from the episode:
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