Meet Barbara: From a Modest Start in Poland to Mastering Chinese Fluency
Barbara is a dedicated Chinese language teacher, content creator, and author of online courses designed to help beginners master Mandarin. Originally from Poland, her journey with Chinese began thanks to a friend's inspiring story and a desire to take on a meaningful challenge.
With degrees in sinology and new media, Barbara has not only achieved advanced fluency but has also lived and studied in Shanghai. Today, she continues to share her love for the Chinese language and culture through teaching, creating content, and staying immersed in her passion for lifelong learning.
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
I'm originally from Poland, and I work full-time as a Chinese language teacher, content creator, and author of online courses designed for beginners learning Chinese.
My journey with Chinese started thanks to a friend whose father was doing business in China. I was inspired not only by their experience but also by the lifestyle they had—something I aspired to, especially coming from a modest background.
I’d always wanted to learn a new language and take on a meaningful challenge. As it turned out, around the time I was applying to university, Jagiellonian University in Kraków—my top choice—opened a sinology program for the first time. It felt like the perfect opportunity, and I jumped at it.
Can you walk us through your Chinese learning journey from the beginning to where you are now?
I started learning Chinese from scratch in August 2014, right after being accepted into the sinology program at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Worried I’d fall behind, I turned to online resources and discovered the Yoyo Chinese YouTube channel. Around that time, I also connected with two language partners—Adam, a self-taught Polish Chinese speaker, and Jenny, a Taiwanese-American—who helped me grasp Chinese pronunciation and characters.
Sinology wasn’t easy. We had to learn both traditional and simplified characters, along with a full load of philology courses, including Latin. Thanks to intensive study, sleepless nights, and strong discipline, I reached a communicative level within six months, passing HSK3 with a high score.
After my second year, I spent a month traveling across China, speaking almost exclusively in Chinese. That experience gave me a huge confidence boost and deepened my understanding of the language and culture. When I arrived in Shanghai, I knew I wanted to live there.
In 2017, after graduating with honors, I received a Confucius Institute scholarship and moved to Shanghai to study at Shanghai Normal University. By then, I had passed HSK5. Within a year, I joined the HSK6 group and passed both HSK6 and HSKK Advanced in 2018. That same year, I started working as a Chinese tutor and translator for Polish learners online.
I later completed a Master’s in Sinology in Kraków and a second Master’s in New Media and Communication at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Today, although I no longer live in China, I still attend advanced Chinese classes every Saturday and travel to China or Taiwan at least once a year to stay immersed and fluent.
What were the biggest challenges you faced as you progressed, especially when transitioning from intermediate to advanced?
One of the biggest challenges in learning Chinese is stepping out of your comfort zone and actually using new vocabulary and grammar structures in real conversations. I made it a point to use newly learned words and chengyu when talking with Chinese friends. I also worked with a teacher who held me accountable and made sure I was actively incorporating what I’d learned.
Flashcards and podcasts were also helpful tools, but ultimately, what matters most is putting in the time and staying consistent. Saying things out loud—not just in your head—really helps with retention. The key is to take action, keep practicing, and not be afraid to make mistakes or sound a bit silly. That’s how real progress happens.
What specific methods, tools, or resources helped you the most in achieving fluency?
I personally love writing things down by hand while saying them out loud—it really helps me memorize faster and more effectively. As for resources, I currently use materials from my teacher at Shuo Shuo Chinese. I also enjoy watching Chinese YouTubers and movies, and I use Quizlet regularly to review new vocabulary.
I’m a big fan of Chinese podcasts too—my guilty pleasure is 好意思姐妹, which reminds me of some friends from Shanghai. They mix Mandarin, Shanghainese, and English, which makes it both fun and relatable.
What helps me most, though, is attending my weekly course every Saturday. Knowing that my teacher and classmates are expecting me keeps me accountable. It pushes me to review vocabulary, complete assignments, and put in the time and effort to not only maintain but continue improving my advanced level.
How do you create opportunities to practice Mandarin in your daily life?
I attend a group course, which is definitely my biggest source of motivation. I also have Chinese friends, as well as non-Chinese friends with whom I speak only in Chinese—we talk regularly, which keeps me constantly engaged with the language.
Another big motivator is my husband. He's not Chinese, but he speaks Chinese like a native. His level of fluency is honestly a bit intimidating sometimes, and it really pushes me to keep up—at least as much as I can, haha!
How has learning Chinese changed your perspective on Chinese-speaking cultures or influenced your personal growth?
Learning Chinese has had a huge impact on my personal growth. It’s fun, but it’s also challenging—and staying committed through the ups and downs has definitely made me more resilient in other areas of life. I often think: if I’ve managed to learn Chinese to an advanced level, is there really anything I can’t do? As long as I commit, prioritize it, and put in the work, I believe I can make it happen.
Being a sinologist and immersing myself in both the language and culture has also deepened my appreciation for Chinese-speaking people. It’s helped me understand cultural nuances that might otherwise seem fleeting or go unnoticed—which is something I truly love.
What are your favorite aspects of the Chinese language or culture?
Even after all these years, I still love seeing people’s reactions when I tell them I speak Chinese—it never gets old. One aspect of Chinese culture that deeply resonates with me is its religious syncretism. Coming from a predominantly Catholic country, where other belief systems are often misunderstood or even marginalized, it was incredibly refreshing to encounter a culture where multiple beliefs can coexist and be honored at the same time.
When it comes to literature, I’m especially drawn to works that offer a deeper understanding of China’s history and culture. Some of my favorites include Mo Yan’s Red Sorghum, The Republic of Wine, and Big Breasts & Wide Hips, as well as Gao Xingjian’s Soul Mountain. These books paint a vivid picture of the hardships people have endured and explore the rich tapestry of local traditions and spiritual life.
What advice would you give to learners who are at the intermediate level and want to reach advanced fluency?
Focus on what works for you, and spend less time on methods that don’t bring the results you’re looking for. Often, 20% of your efforts will bring 80% of the outcome—so use your time wisely.
Above all: listen, listen, listen—and then listen some more. Find shows, podcasts, or content you enjoy and immerse yourself in the language every day. When you're genuinely interested in a topic, learning becomes natural—you’ll want to keep going and dig deeper.
The key is to truly fall in love with the process.
Do you have your favorite Chinese idiom or saying you would like to share with us?
百闻不如一见 (bǎi wén bù rú yī jiàn): "Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times"
It means that firsthand experience or direct observation is far more reliable and impactful than hearing about something multiple times from others. This idiom emphasizes the value of personal experience over secondhand information.
Connect with Barbara!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/langlang_PL/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chinskizlanglang_pl/videos
Her course for beginners in Polish (from scratch to HSK2): https://chinskistart.langmasters.pl/
