Why should you learn Chinese online? Why not? In order to learn Chinese, you need to hear it spoken and practice speaking it, and if you're reading this article, you likely don't have Chinese parents who speak the language naturally at home. Learning Chinese online, with both auditory and visual aids, may be the best solution available to you.

Why is hearing Chinese spoken so essential to learning it? In English, words are composed of consonants and vowels. Cat means cat, no matter how you pronounce it. But in Chinese, saying "ma" in one tone of voice means "mother"; in another tone of voice, it means "horse." By learning Chinese online, you can listen to native speakers pronounce phrases accurately, and you have the opportunity to match your tone to theirs.

How do you get down learning Chinese online? Here are five strategies to help you get started.

1. Take the time to evaluate a number of different Chinese language-learning systems. The ability to hear Chinese spoken by articulate native speakers is essential. The ability to repeat phrases back, and change them to suit different circumstances, is also key. And generally, the more approaches a program offers, the better. Not all students are able to learn Chinese online by merely listening; most are helped by auxiliary features such as computer software games.

2. Establish a routine for learning Chinese online. Find a quiet spot where you'll be uninterrupted by background noise; turn off your music player; put your phone on vibrate. Regard your study time as an important part of your day.

3. Listen to the conversations carefully, and match your accent to that of the native speaker in your program. Accent is vitally important in Chinese, since a fluctuation in tone can change the whole meaning of the word or phrase. Don't concern about being overheard by your friends or family - in order to learn Chinese online, speaking aloud is needed.

4. Don't confine yourself just to the conversational parts of your language-learning system. Most online packages include games or other activities to boost your skill level and quizzes to challenge you and valuate what you've learned. Take advantage of these add-ons, not just because you've paid for them, but because they really will help you learn Chinese online rapidly and easily.

5. Take your lessons away from the computer. Just because you're learning Chinese online doesn't mean your education stops there. Seek out Chinese speakers through job or social contacts and engage them in conversation. They'll be flattered that you're learning to speak their language, and speaking with them will build your conversational skills fast.

Okay, you're convinced that learning Chinese online will work for you. What should you do next? Use your favorite search engine to locate a number of highly-rated courses of study. Evaluate them carefully in order to determine the one that seems most likely to work for you. And most importantly, make a reasonable study goal and stick to it! In no time at all, your friends will all want to know how to learn Chinese online just like you did!