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Why Your Chinese Speaking Isn’t Improving —And the Method That Finally Works

Updated: Nov 27, 2025



Have you been struggling with speaking Chinese? If so, you’re not alone! Many learners try everything: language apps, AI chats, group classes, private lessons, even practising with language partners or native speakers; yet still feel stuck.


To many people’s surprise, even some students who pass HSK 6 (the highest level of the old HSK 2.0) still don’t feel confident speaking. Why? Because exams like HSK only measure general Chinese ability, mainly reading, listening, and writing, they don’t specifically train spoken fluency.


And that leads us to the root cause: most learners aren’t using the right method for improving spoken Chinese.


It’s not about working harder! It’s about using a method that actually trains your mouth, tongue, and brain to produce Chinese naturally.


Why most speaking methods don’t work as well as we hope


Apps, AI chats, private classes or lessons, and practising with language partners or native speakers are all helpful, but based on my years of observing dozens of learners and on language-learning research and teaching experience, these methods tend to improve listening far more than speaking, which often develops only as a secondary effect.


Speaking is different from other skills. You can’t “receive” it from others, you must develop it yourself!


To speak well, you need to train your ability to open your mouth, pronounce accurately, and build fluency. This requires a specific behavioural practice, not passive exposure. And one method is consistently proven to work: Reading Aloud!


Reading Aloud: the simplest, fastest way to improve spoken Chinese


Reading aloud (大声朗读) is a powerful technique used across all languages. By reading texts out loud:

  • your pronunciation becomes clearer

  • your fluency increases

  • your mouth develops the correct movement patterns

  • your brain forms “speech motor memory” (what many people call “muscle memory”)

  • your intonation becomes more natural


This method is also known as Shadowing, Read-Aloud Training, Speech Motor Memory Practice or Echo Practice. No matter what you call it, the principle is the same:


✔️ If you can read well, you can speak well!


That’s why in all my books, I emphasise reading aloud, because it is the most direct, effective way to train your spoken Chinese, and results come surprisingly fast when done correctly.


Which materials should you use to practice reading aloud?


Choose based on your level and goals:


1. If you are at beginner level and are not familiar with basic Chinese grammar or sentence structures


Each book includes grammar chapters with essential sentence patterns and contextual examples. Before reading the vocabulary in context, practise reading these grammar patterns aloud until you can do so smoothly. You’ll be amazed how quickly Chinese sentence flow becomes natural.


Across the series, I summarised 120 essential spoken Chinese sentence structures. Reading aloud all of them frequently will build your speaking foundation faster than any other method.


2. If you are already familiar with basic Chinese grammar and sentence structures, and need to improve your conversational Chinese, especially small talk



These two books include 90 dialogues, all recorded by multiple native speakers at natural speed. Imitating them line by line is one of the best ways to develop accurate pronunciation, conversational rhythm, and real-life fluency.


3. If your goal is to speak Chinese professionally, learn sophisticated or formal speech, expand your vocabulary, and refine your sentence patterns



This carefully graded series, progressing from elementary to advanced levels, contains over 100 stories built across more than 200 Chinese sentence structures. It allows you to read extensively, from stories of both modern and ancient China.


The series covers a wide variety of topics, including Chinese folktales, idioms, proverbs, fables, myths, and history, boosting both your language ability and cultural knowledge through captivating stories.


How to practise reading aloud (step-by-step method)


No matter which books you practice with, follow this routine:

1️⃣ Fix a daily routine

For example: 30 minutes a day for one month.

2️⃣  Study the sentences or dialogues first 

Analyze the patterns so you understand the structure. Pay close attention to the bolded or underlined parts in each line.

3️⃣ Listen to the free audio, then imitate line by line

Focus on intonation, rhythm, pitch, and natural flow.

4️⃣ Practise with bilingual text + pinyin

This is NOT cheating! Pinyin helps you practise without stopping to check pronunciation. Chinese-only text is for review, not for speaking practice.

5️⃣ Start slow, then gradually speed up

Keep going until you can read as fluently as the native audio.

6️⃣ Open your mouth wide and speak loudly

Not whispering! You are training the muscles involved in speaking, here is how you should read, just copy me: Read Chinese Like a Pro


Does this method really work? Yes, incredibly well.


I personally used this method years ago to improve my spoken English. Within one month, my speaking exam score jumped from 52 to 85 out of 100, simply from reading aloud every day. Even my English teacher was shocked and asked how I did it!


In China, this is a well-known approach that many language experts and teachers encourage. I still remember that at my university in Chengdu, in the foreign language department, hundreds of top students gathered around the lake every morning to practise reading aloud. And of course, I joined them too.


One of my students and friends also used the same method of imitation. He speaks so well that I sometimes even invite him to record learning videos with me on YouTube, and none of my Chinese family or friends can tell he isn’t a native Mandarin speaker. Here’s one of the videos we made together: Chinese Daily Conversations


Ready to improve your Chinese speaking?


With the right method, progress is fast! Some learners even see improvement within one week. Start today, stay consistent, and you’ll be amazed at how naturally Chinese starts to flow from your mouth!


Learn Chinese with LingLing

You can find my books at major book retailers like Amazon, Bookshop, and Barnes & Noble, and they also available on Google Play Books with exclusive discounts!


Always remember: if you can read well, you can speak well! For the best results, choose the books that match your level and learning goals. Consistent reading aloud and practice will transform your spoken Chinese, and you’ll be speaking with confidence before you know it!


Keep learning, keep practicing, and soon you’ll be speaking Chinese with confidence!


 
 
 

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