Frequently Asked Questions
What level is the challenge for?
No matter your level, if you're struggling with 了, this challenge is for you. The practice sentences are mostly at the HSK1-2 level because we want to keep the examples simple so you can focus on 了. The short stories may be as high as HSK3, but we'll be giving you comprehensive vocab lists in case there are words you don't know. But even if you're at HSK4 or above, if you struggle with 了, this challenge will be beneficial. You'll probably already know all of the vocabulary, so you can just focus on the usage of 了 itself.
How can I access the challenge?
Mobile, desktop, laptop, tablet... The challenge is super user-friendly and you'll be able to log on from anywhere!
What exactly will I learn? How will this challenge help me?
During this challenge, we'll start by reviewing the basics: the main uses of 了. After that, you'll get practice with progressively more challenging uses of the particle, so that you can become comfortable with its use in a bunch of different contexts. Mastering 了 will significantly improve your Mandarin and make you sound much more natural to native speakers—poor use of 了 is a dead giveaway!
You'll also drill a bunch of sentences using 了 until you bury them into your muscle memory. That means it will start to become more effortless and automatic to use the particle correctly, and you'll know instinctively when to use it in context. By the end of the challenge, you'll have a much deeper knowledge and intuitive ability to use 了 correctly.
What's so special about this method anyway?
The particle 了 is unlike anything in most Indo-European languages. We're accustomed to tenses, not aspects. So, when learning Mandarin, when we encounter 了, we tend to file it in our brains as "basically kinda like past tense."
But it isn't!
Thinking like that will lead to to use 了 incorrectly. It simply can't work. You have to learn 了 on its own terms. That requires both an intellectual understanding of how it works, and the experiential understanding that you build up through encountering it in a bunch of different contexts, and imitating its use in a systematic way.
With the "30 Days to 了 Mastery" Challenge, you'll get both. The grammar videos and short story analysis helps you build your intellectual understanding, and the chorusing and shadowing drills will help you build your experiential understanding! This will create a virtuous circle that can't help but improve your usage in real life.
As you complete your reps each day, the particle 了 will begin to lodge itself into your subconscious. It doesn't happen right away - in fact it may take a few weeks for you to feel the real effects. But by the end of the challenge, you'll have a new command of 了 that will surprise you.
I'm not sure I can commit for 30 days
Your daily tasks should only take 30 minutes. The principle of the challenge is, "do a little each day and big results will follow." 30 minutes is a pretty manageable amount of time to devote to your Chinese.
You can break it up into 5 minute chunks throughout the day:
• 5 minutes after breakfast
• 5 minutes on your lunch break
• 5 minutes before dinner
• 5 minutes while waiting for the bus...whenever is convenient for you!
The secret sauce is the consistency - working at it for a little bit of time every day. You'll be amazed at the massive progress you make from simply showing up every day to give focused attention to one aspect of your Chinese!
What if I decide the challenge isn't for me?
All of our products come with a 30-day money back guarantee. If you are unsatisfied with it for any reason, reach out at any point during the challenge and we'll issue you a full refund.
How long do I have access to the course after the end of the challenge?
How does "lifetime access" sound? While the challenge is 30 days, you will have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like.
What exactly does "lifetime access" mean?
In practical terms, it means the course materials will be available online for as long as Outlier is in business. If we do ever go out of business or otherwise need to remove the course for any reason, we'll make the material available for you to download for a period of at least 6 months.