Cantonese is a China dialect spoken mostly in Southeast China and Hong Kong, but also by China people immigrants all over the world.
The Cantonese language has a reputation for being difficult to master class.
The best approach in learning Cantonese is to discover a program that fits your chosen learning style, schedule, business, goals, and objectives.
We’ve compiled a list of online resources to assist you to learn speaking, reading, and writing skills in Cantonese.
Learning Cantonese Online
If you want to try Hong Kong language adventure, we’ve included both free and paid resources, like Pimsleur, Babble, Italki, and Cantoneseclass101.
However, regardless of the methods you choose, practice and regularity are essential for learning any language.
You’ll get the hang of it if you concentrating on pronunciation and learning something new every day.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT PIMSLEUR
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT BABBEL
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT ITALKI
Babbel Cantonese Is Not Available Yet But Still Better Alternative Options
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You might hear about Babbel languages and decided to start with the Babbel Cantonese course. There is only one issue:
Babbel doesn’t provide a Cantonese course. Despite significant demand from Mandarin learners, there’s currently no Babbel in this version.
Babbel has been highly successful with other major languages as one of the most popular and well-marketed language applications, but it has failed to break into the East Asian language market.
Why Isn’t There A Cantonese Course On Babbel?
Most Asian languages aren’t available on Babbel
Cantonese isn’t the only language missing from Babbel’s list of languages. Babbel does not provide courses in Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, or Thai.
Though I can’t be certain, I believe this’s due to the fact that these languages are more difficult to teach to native English speakers since they utilize a distinct write system.
Cantonese is written using traditional Hong Kong characters rather than an alphabet. If a Cantonese Babbel course existed, it would have to assist users in learning characters.
Babbel, I believe, is unwilling to devote the time and money necessary to adapt their technique to teaching Cantonese.
Cantonese is less well-known than other foreign languages
Cantonese is spoken by about 70 million people worldwide. Even yet, if you ask a student which language they’re learning, they’re likely to say Mandarin.
Despite the fact that Cantonese is a traditional Hong Kong language, it is sometimes ignored by language students.
Another reason Babbel hasn’t produced a Cantonese class is because of this. The basic is that they do not believe there will be significant interest.
The good news about Cantonese is while the Babbel Hong Kong language is not currently accessible, there are several great alternatives.
I’ve included a few of the finest ones below, but my full list of Cantonese resources can be found here.
Best Alternative Courses For Learning Cantonese Lessons
There are many applications and courses for learning Mandarin Chinese, but just a handful for learning Cantonese.
Despite the fact that there are fewer alternatives for learning Cantonese, there are still several excellent applications.
We’ll look at the top apps for learning Cantonese in this article.
1. Pimsleur Cantonese
Image from pimsleur.com
Pimsleur Cantonese is an audio course with a single goal: to help you think and communicate in conversations of Cantonese. This learning Cantonese app is very useful for Hong Kong beginner students.
The classes are divided into 30 lessons of 30 minutes each in basic levels when you sign up. Each class teaches Cantonese phrases particle by phrase and point by point.
There is no other audio lesson that I am aware of that teaches Cantonese as well as Pimsleur.
Because this is an audio lesson, you will not be able to read or write Cantonese.
Pimsleur Cantonese has only one-course level basic, so if you know the language better than a beginner, you might not get as much out of the program.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT PIMSLEUR
2. Italki
Image from blog.italki.com
Italki is the free and paid app to use if you want to take one-on-one language lessons from a genuine teacher or tutor with a student.
On the site, there are over 100 Cantonese tutors. Each teacher provides their own learning resources for their learners and offers 30-minute, one-hour, or one-and-a-half-hour classes.
Lessons with teachers are compensated (the teachers set their own rates so prices vary). The software also comes with several fantastic free features.
Students can schedule the class they want with a teacher in a convenient way.
To improve your written Cantonese, a student can submit his work to a public journal and have it edited in grammar and lesson by native speakers.
They may also hunt for a learning language partner to practice their speaking English with, such as a native Cantonese speaker.
There’s also a blog where teachers may write on the languages they teach.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT ITALKI
3. Cantoneseclass101
Image from cantoneseclass101.com
Cantoneseclass101 is an audio course app that teaches Cantonese through podcast-style courses when you sign up.
Each lesson is based on real-life conversations between two Cantonese speakers.
These talks take place in everyday circumstances and teach you terms that you may use in your everyday life.
Each audio episode also includes an explanation of the learning language used in each discussion, so you can better comprehend a student’s pronunciation ability.
There are also courses on how to read and write Cantonese characters on Cantoneseclass101.
The courses also include a dictionary, phrase lists, and listening exercise classes.
Cantoneseclass101 is an excellent resource for learning Cantonese and honing a student’s speaking, listening, and writing abilities from beginner to advanced student.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT CANTONESECLASS101
4. Drops Cantonese
Image from livefluent.com
Drops Cantonese teaches Cantonese using visual learning and a gamified method in its courses.
The app’s concept is that you may be learning essential words and phrases by playing little games for five minutes each day.
The software is intended to make learning a foreign language enjoyable and even addicting.
There is no grammar and conversations in this app because it concentrates on vocabulary.
Drop Individual words are taught more in learning Cantonese than phrases in lessons.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT DROPS CANTONESE
5. Simply Learn Cantonese
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Simply Learn Cantonese is the free ad-supported software that will guide you in learning the Hong Kong language.
The software primarily functions as a Cantonese audio phrasebook recorded by native Cantonese speakers.
A student may practice what you’ve learned with flashcards, quizzes, and exams in each class.
The audio is excellent, and the flashcards employ spaced repetition to ensure that you get the most out of your review time.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT SIMPLY LEARN CANTONESE
Apps That Are Most Like Babble
1.HelloChinese
Image from hellochinese.cc
HelloChinese is fantastic software and course for students who want to learn the Cantonese language learning.
It’s an incredibly well-designed structure, enjoyable to use, and all-around excellent for you to learn from.
While premium and premium plus in advanced editions are available, you’ll discover that the free version has a lot of material.
There isn’t a better free China language learning app than HelloChinese.
This app is jam-packed with useful material and fun activities that will have you practicing Cantonese in no schedule time.
It’s excellent for beginners and advanced members and covers a wide range of basics topics, including reading, listening, speaking Cantonese ability, grammar, and even aspects of China culture.
Not only that, but it’s also enjoyable to use.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT HELLOCHINESE
2.LingoDeer
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LingoDeer is a very young and popular language learning software that began by focusing on Asian languages but has now expanded to include additional languages.
Although Lingodeer is not as well-known as other languages learning applications, it is really superior and less expensive.
You’ll develop your language skills by doing a variety of tasks. There are also several grammatical explanations and opportunities to review what you’ve learned.
Overall, it’s one effective course to learn a language.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT LINGODEER
The Most Unique Application
Ninchanese
Image from ninchanese.com
It’s both an app and a course, but it’s distinct from more traditional courses like Babbel.
It’s like a game where you learn China language by following the characters into different realms.
It does not adhere to a rigid structure when it comes to course content, sometimes teaching less frequent terms first.
This allows them to create a tale, and you will have plenty of opportunities to practice every aspect of the language.
Ninchanese may appear to be a fun game, but it is actually the most thorough and in-depth education available.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT NINCHANESE
Some Interesting Course That Is Not Apps
If you’re simply interested in Babbel because it’s an app, then the next three courses might not be right for you.
However, they’re all excellent, and you can always use your phone’s browser to access them.
1. Yoyo Chinese
Image from facebook.com
It is the most well-known and well-established Cantonese class. It’s also rather good.
They provide classes for students at all levels, from beginners to upper-intermediate. This course employs a little more English in their courses than I want.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT YOYO CHINESE
2. Chinese For Us
Image from chinesefor.us
It is a very new course, and they’ve just taught the fundamentals thus far in progress.
The breadth and depth with which they tackle the material in their courses are truly remarkable.
This is definitely the course I suggest to beginners the most since it’ll provide you with a solid foundation.
It offers a number of well-designed online Cantonese courses.
The information is well-explained, both in terms of simplicity and in terms of depth.
Although intermediate and higher-level classes are not currently available, the basic content is great.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT CHINESE FOR US
3. Chinese Zero to Hero!
Image from chineseslanguage.com
The first video is a brief warm-up video, followed by a video that concentrates on vocab.
It’s excellent for independent learners who want to learn Chinese using a variety of resources not on a schedule.
I enjoy switching between a variety of applications, podcasts, and other resources, however, this may result in a lot of gaps.
From nothing to hero in China! It isn’t the most in-depth course, but it does cover everything because it is based on the HSK texts.
The classes are also very reasonably priced.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT CHINESE ZERO TO HERO!
Alternative Handy Tips In Language Learning Cantonese Step-By-Step
Skip the Cantonese characters and look for a good Cantonese course for beginners.
Because your objective is to speak, finding a good beginner’s book with dialogues and a romanized transcript is the ideal place to start.
The writing system is one of the most difficult aspects of learning any China language.
Learning all of the characters takes a significant amount of time, so if you want to become conversational as quickly as possible, this will just slow you back.
Get a copy of the Cantonese Tone Cheat Sheet
Aside from the characters, the tones are another important stumbling point in Cantonese.
While most native speakers claim there are nine tones, only six are now taught in modern Cantonese:
Image from fluentin3months.com
So, how do you go about learning the tones? Fortunately, tone numbers are incorporated into the romanization systems.
The letters in the figure above represent the sound, while the number represents the tone.
Every Day, Listen to Cantonese
It is necessary to listen to the noises several times in order to become accustomed to them.
Begin, listen to the recording without the transcript to see what you already know.
Make a point of paying close attention to the tone markers and keeping an ear out for them as you go.
Make a point of devoting time each day to practicing your listening skills, and avoid relying too much on English explanations.
Make a set of flashcards with useful Cantonese words
At this phase, you are listening to Cantonese every day in order to improve your passive Cantonese vocabulary and understanding.
The nice part about flashcard applications is that they are stored on your phone and can be carried around with you at all times.
You may use your phone to practice whenever you have a free minute or two during the day.
This is a fantastic way to pass the time while waiting for the bus or waiting for your lunch to reheat at work.
Mnemonics can help you remember difficult Cantonese lessons
A mnemonic is a method of remembering a word by connecting it with a specific, unforgettable image.
This creates a mental link between the new term and something you already know, making it simpler to recall quickly.
The more personal and meaningful the image is to you, and the easier it is to visualize in your mind, the more likely it is to work.
Look for a Cantonese-speaking companion
It’s crucial to choose a competent instructor or language exchange partner.
We need someone patient to talk to in the beginning so that we may gain confidence, have meaningful discussions, and expand our vocabulary.
You may establish a target of three speaking engagements every week.
It’s critical to speak frequently and extensively if you wish to develop conversational fluency.
Explore Cantonese Content that Interests You
Cantonese culture is rich, and there are a plethora of films and dramas to search for.
Hong Kong cinema is renowned, with stars such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Stephen Chow, my particular favorite.
You may just relax and enjoy the material by viewing TV dramas, movies, and videos with English subtitles. You’ll be reminded of what you’ll be able to do after you’ve mastered Cantonese.
You’ll get a better understanding of the country’s culture and history. With native Cantonese speakers, you’ll have more to hear and learn about, making it simpler in progress to establish new acquaintances in the language.
Conclusion
You may wish to study Cantonese for a variety of reasons, including plays and movies, travel, business, history, friends, and family.
Whatever your motivation, Cantonese is such an expressive and enjoyable language in languages all over the world to learn that it is well worth the effort.
F.A.Q.
How To Learn Cantonese Online For Free?
Many people have questions like that, there are so many free Internet resources available that it can be tough to determine which ones to utilize and which ones are worthwhile.
Therefore, some of the most effective resources I mentioned above hopefully would give you the best recommendation in choosing which one is suitable for you.
Especially, Youtube and Google are two tools very useful for you in searching drama and films in Cantonese practicing and learning.
How To Learn Cantonese Online?
Following these simple tips, you’ll be well on your way to having Cantonese conversations in no time.
Consistency, regularity, speaking frequently, and listening every day are the essentials key.