1 October 2026

Why five minutes a day beats an hour a week

Most of what you learn in a long session is forgotten within a few days. Coming back to it, even briefly, tells your memory the words are worth keeping. That is why a short lesson every day does more than one long one each week.

Make it a habit, not a plan

Tie your five minutes to something you already do: the kettle boiling, the bus ride, the queue at lunch. A habit that hangs on another habit is much easier to keep.

Say it out loud

Mandarin is a tonal language, so the sound of a word is part of its meaning. Reading silently teaches your eyes, not your mouth. Say each word, then say it again.

Use the group chat

Send a voice note to your group, even a short one: 你好, 我叫 (nǐ hǎo, wǒ jiào) and your name. Hearing each other is practice too, and your tutor can reply to any message with a correction.