Hi there!
I’m Pierre, and my Mandarin adventure started in 2007 when I was just 12 years old. I picked Mandarin almost by chance at school, but the turning point came in 2011 during a school trip to China. I thought four years of classes had prepared me—until I found myself lost in the streets of Beijing, unable to understand or be understood. That’s when I realized: classroom learning alone wasn’t enough. To truly master Mandarin, I needed real practice.
Why We Love Grammar Gems
Every week, I break down a key grammar point in Chinese Grammar Gems, my newsletter dedicated to making tricky grammar simple and intuitive. Whether you’re just starting out or refining your skills, these short, clear explanations help you understand Mandarin structure in a way that sticks.
Enter the Pearls of Mandarin
But understanding grammar is just the first step. To truly use Mandarin, you have to practice it. That’s where Pearls of Mandarin Worksheets (PMW) come in:
PM Translation (Saturdays) → Practice translating real sentences, reinforcing sentence structure and key grammar points, at two difficulty levels: HSK 2-3-4 and HSK 4-5-6.
PM Comprehension (Sundays) → Improve your listening and comprehension skills with exercises at two difficulty levels: HSK 2-3-4 and HSK 4-5.
These worksheets help you actively engage with the language, turning passive learning into real-world application.
Why Practice Makes Perfect
With PMW, you get the chance to apply what you learn, making mistakes, correcting them, and steadily improving. It’s not about memorizing endless rules—it’s about building confidence and fluency through consistent, practical use.
Join Me
If you’re ready to make your Mandarin skills click, Chinese Grammar Gems and Pearls of Mandarin are here to guide you. Learning Mandarin doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right mix of grammar insights and structured practice, you’ll be on your way to real, confident Mandarin communication.
Let’s practice together, one gem, one pearl at a time.
Cheers to our Mandarin journey,
Pierre 🐼
