Rocket Chinese VS Transparent Chinese Complete Edition: Which Course Should You Choose?

So you want to learn Chinese but don’t know which language learning program to take?  As if learning the language wasn’t hard enough, choosing the right one is also another problem.  So to help you out on your search for a suitable course, here are two programs that are worth taking a look at- Rocket Chinese and Transparent Chinese Complete Edition.

Rocket Chinese

One way to learn Mandarin in a relatively short amount of time is by taking the Rocket Chinese course.  This program is based on how children learn their first language by focusing on simple listening and speaking.  This is called the natural method or the interactive conversational approach.  However, since the target of this course is not for kids but for adults, it has been tailored to suit the likeness of the older crowd with learning tools that come with the package.

So listed below are some of the features that are designed to help you get your goal-to be able to speak the language rather fluently.

Interactive Audio Lessons

Rocket Chinese will provide you with 31 interactive audio lessons that cover useful, everyday, modern conversations in Chinese.  What makes this effective is the fact that you don’t just listen, but you actually take part in the conversations right from the very beginning.  Each one lasts about 28 minutes long coming up to a total of 15 hours.  Since the classes are rather short and the files can easily be moved to your iPod, MP3 player, Pocket PC and the like, you can continue studying even on the go- like on the way to school or work or while you take your morning jog.

To make things easier, especially for beginners, these lessons come complete with transcripts that are supposed to help you follow the lesson better.  For every conversation on an audio file, you will have three in written form- one in Pinyin, one in Chinese characters, and one English translation.

Language and Culture Lessons

You will also have access to over 300 embedded audio clips, writing videos, tests, activities, and a whole lot more with the 31 language and culture lessons.  So here you will have further details and explanations on the language itself plus a very helpful writing segment that teaches you how to read and write the characters in step by step videos.  The culture lessons will give you greater insight into the Chinese world.

MegaChinese Games

To make things more fun, you will also have access to two MegaChinese games.  MegaVocab will provide you with over 1000 Chinese words and over 20 topics to help you build up your foundation.  But just as your vocabulary continuously grows, the MegaVocab creator will allow you to keep this game up to par as you can simply add more words.  The MegaAudio game, as they claim, is supposed to help improve your listening comprehension.

Rocket Record

For you pronunciation and intonation, you have the Rocket Record.  With this neat feature you can record yourself saying some Chinese phrase and then compare it to how a natural Chinese speaker would say it.  With the innovative voice mapping technology, you can keep on trying until you have the perfect match.

Rocket Chinese Rehearsal

This is where you can actually put what you have learned to the test.  You will be able to see which areas need improvement and which ones don’t by taking the myriads of tests and quizzes available.

Teacher and Guide

Throughout the whole program, you will have Lin Ping right there to guide you.  But if ever something is not clear or you have a question, the 24/7 online Chinese teacher will be glad to answer all Chinese language related queries at any given time on any given day- how convenient is that? Or you could always pop into the forum to talk to people going through the course or learning Mandarin too.

Transparent Chinese Complete Edition

This is another course that you can take if you want to be able to speak Mandarin.  The Transparent Chinese Complete Edition is not so much as a course that was created, but it is more like a compilation of different courses all jam packed into one language learning program.

Having said that, here is the compilation of features that you get with this complete edition.

Byki Deluxe 4

You start off with the Byki Deluxe 4.  (Byki stands for Before you know it…in case you were wondering)  This is kind of like where you begin to build up the foundation of the language, your Chinese Vocabulary.  It like a super duper flash card game but rather than simply giving information on a particular word or phrase, you can go deeper by checking how the verbs in a phrase are conjugated or the word order and other things like that.

You essentially discover what you want about the language as you go through the flashcards. This can be fun for some people that have plenty of time on their hands or a bit annoying if you are pushed for time. It can certainly get you into the flow of learning Chinese.

You will be able to do so through various activities like games, a voice recorder that can compare your pronunciation to that of a true blue Chinese speaker, as well as tests and quizzes which are perfect to keep track of your progress.

Quick Start Lists

These lists actually contain the most common and useful Chinese words and phrases, the ones that you would actually hear and use walking down the streets of China.  This will teach you what to say in day to day situations, like saying hello and good morning or asking and giving directions.

Transparent Premium Chinese Edition

Once you have a pretty good background, you will then move on to the Transparent Premium Chinese Edition.  This is where you begin to focus more on grammar and sentence structures as well as carrying out full conversations.  To help you in this area, you will be provided with native Chinese texts, stories, and Chinese videos that are all designed to help you further develop all of your Chinese skills- both written and oral.

Everywhere Chinese

To make the best out of your time, like when you are commuting from one place to another or when you are on the treadmill, Everywhere Chinese gives you the chance to continue learning with audio lessons that you can take along with you.

And So…

So here are two programs that both promise to get you to speak Mandarin, but take different paths on the way.  So when it comes down to Rocket Chinese VS Transparent Chinese Complete Edition, here are the facts,  now you decide.

>>> Get Rocket Chinese here <<<

>>> Get Transparent Chinese here <<<