The goal is to create a personal resource catalog, not to reproduce the course. Links and brief resource notes are preserved because the value is in the link list; the course flow is summarized into broad categories.
Resource count: 137 linked rows after de-duplication.
Quick Use
- Start with beginner comprehensible input, pinyin, and sound resources.
- Track simplified versus traditional resources when choosing immersion material.
- Add character-specific tools after pronunciation orientation is underway.
- Use harder channels, Netflix, and podcasts to build ambiguity tolerance once beginner input is stable.
- Keep pronunciation, character recognition, and immersion as separate but linked tracks.
Resource Catalog
Course Overview
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learner Cheat Sheet | Google Sheet | Course Cheat Sheet | A quick and dirty guide to what is covered in the course and what the days look like. |
Refold Philosophy
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensible Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Tons of videos from different tutors |
| Early Beginner CI | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | |
| Comprehensible Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Soft subs & word translations |
| Free to learn Chinese - stories | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs, advanced beginner and intermediate |
| Hit Chinese - Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations & teaching parts |
| Hit Chinese - Advanced Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations & teaching parts |
| Acquire Mandarin - Pre beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations |
| Acquire Mandarin - Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input / Simplified Input | Simplified. Mix of a bunch of stuff: CI, SI, soft & hard & no subs |
| TeaTime Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast. No video. TOP resource |
| Mandarin Corner - Monologues/vlogs in Slow Intermediate Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard subs. Slow simplified monologues about various things. TOP resource |
| Mandarin Corner - Stories in Slow Intermediate Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard subs. TOP resource. |
| LingLing Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard English subs. High quality for beginners |
| Acquire Mandarin - Intermediate | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft & Hard subs |
| Speak your Chinese - vlog | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft subs |
| Speak your Chinese - stories | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft subs, some CI |
| Chinese Mandarin Cherry | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft & Hard & no subs |
| Podcast - MaoMi Chinese | Website | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast about various topics w/ transcript |
| Intermediate Chinese Podcast With Shenglan | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast about various topics w/ softsubs |
Phonetic Writing Systems
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to grade yourself with Anki! - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Anki | A tutorial video on how to grade yourself with Anki. |
| ChineseForUsPaidCourse Free Youtube Version | Video course | Learn about the script | This is a paid course but they have a free version on Youtube |
| Pinyin Practice | Interactive chart | Practice the script | An interactive chart for learning Pinyin |
| Refold Anki Setup Tutorial | Notion | Learn the sounds | A tutorial video on how to use Anki. |
Attention is important
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noticing game | YouTube Video | Noticing Game | How to play the noticing game. |
| CN 100 Words | Google Sheet | Word list | Most frequent 100 words in simplified and traditional |
| Bingo Cards | Google Sheet | Bingo Cards | Bingo cards to make the noticing game easier |
Compelling content on YouTube
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to make a YouTube Account for Immersion - Refold Tutorial | YouTube Video | Tutorial or Demo | A tutorial video on how to make a YouTube immersion account. |
| Chinese Cooking Playlist | YouTube Playlist | Seeder Playlist | A cooking playlist in Chinese. |
| Chinese Comedy Seeder | YouTube Playlist | Seeder Playlist | A playlist of comedy channels in Chinese. |
| Chinese News Seeder | YouTube Playlist | Seeder Playlist | A playlist of news in Chinese. |
| The 4 learner types | Image | Image | A graphic explaining the 4 learner types |
Priming and Tools
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to get started with Anki! - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Anki | A tutorial video on how to use Anki. |
| How to grade yourself with Anki! - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Anki | A tutorial video on how to grade yourself with Anki. |
| Refold Mandarin 100-word Pinyin Deck | Anki Deck | Free Vocab | A 100-word pinyin-only deck so you can learn basic vocab and get the hang of Mandarin’s phonetic writing system. If you are already learning characters, get the deck from day 12 instead |
| Refold Community 1k | Anki Deck | Free Vocab | 1000 word deck provided by the Refold Mandarin community. use this when you are comfortable with the pronunciation system or when you finish the 100-word pinyin deck |
Week 1 Review
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 Reflection Template v2 | Review Sheet | A reflection template |
Hearing new sounds
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Tones & Tone Pairs | YouTube Video | Sound Priming Explanation | This lesson will teach you how tones sound. Notes: YouTube Playlist. |
| Tone Training Course | Website | Sound Priming Practice | This interactive quiz is a research-verified way to jump-start your listening comprehension of single tones. |
| YoYo Chinese Interactive Tone Pairs Chart | Website | Sound Priming Practice | Practice hearing tone pairs with this interactive chart! |
| Dong Chinese Tone Pair Trainer | Website | Sound Priming Practice | this interactive quiz is a great way to improve your listening comprehension of tones pairs. |
| Mimic Method | Anki Deck | Sound Priming Active Practice | Free sound priming deck from the Mimic Method |
Reading + Listening Together
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandarin Corner - Street Interviews | YouTube Playlist | Dual Channel YouTube Recs w/ Pinyin | Simplified. |
| Mandarin Corner - In-depth Personal Interviews | YouTube Playlist | Dual Channel YouTube Recs w/ Pinyin | Simplified. Interesting interviews and discussions |
| Mandarin Corner - Talking Business | YouTube Playlist | Dual Channel YouTube Recs w/ Pinyin | Simplified. |
| Easy Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Dual Channel YouTube Recs w/ Pinyin | Simplified. Street interviews |
| 聊聊东西 Talk to Me in Chinese - Podcast | YouTube Playlist | Dual Channel YouTube Recs w/ Pinyin | Simplified. A podcast about daily life stuff and girl talk. Some videos have a guest. Only the newest ones have Pinyin! |
| The Daily Life of the Immortal King | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Animation- Having vanquished a powerful demon at age six, precocious wizard Wang Ling must now navigate high school life as an ordinary teen. |
| Handsome Siblings | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Wuxia drama about twin brothers separated at birth who grow up very differently from each other |
| Reset | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A timetravel whodunit mystery scifi/thriller series. |
| Nothing But Thirty | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A slice of life drama following three very different women all facing their thirties. |
| The Longest Day in Chang’An | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Historical suspense drama |
| Take My Brother Away | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A highschool comedy series about a girl and her annoying older brother. |
| A Little Thing Called First Love | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A slice of life love story |
| Chef Wang 美食作家王刚 | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Simplified & Traditional. Chinese Chef |
| 李永乐老师 Teacher Li YongLe | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Simplified & Traditional. Educational content from a middle-school teacher. |
| 魚乾 Annie’s Vlog | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Traditional. Annie’s Vlog |
| Mao Mao | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Traditional. J-Vlogger. Older videos have soft subs |
| Dashu Mandarin | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Simplified. Podcast from three Chinese teachers plus guests |
| 烙野孩imyeahhi | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Traditional. Vlogger. |
| 滾動力 rollor | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Traditional. Talk show. |
| 王志安 - Wang Zhi An | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Simplified & Traditional. Politics. |
| 千千進食中 Chienseating | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Traditional. Cooking. |
| 小高姐的 Magic Ingredients | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Simplified. Cooking. |
| Chef Wang 美食作家王刚 | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Chinese Chef |
| 小胖在西北 | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Family vlog in rural china |
| 李永乐老师 | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Educational content from a middle-school teacher. |
| 魚乾 | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Vlog |
| Mao Mao | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | J-Vlogger |
| 曼食慢语 Amanda Tastes | YouTube Channel | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Food vlogger |
Interactive Immersion Tooling
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Reactor | Plugin | Metalayer | A multi language metalayer for interactive immersion. |
| Language Reactor Install and Demo - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Metalayer | How to Install and Use Language Reactor |
| Google Dictionary | Plugin | Popup Dictionary | A language agnostic popup dictionary. |
| What is Interactive Immersion? - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Interactive Immersion | A tutorial video on interactive immersion. |
| Search by Subs - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Interactive Immersion | How to Search by Subs |
| Language Reactor Netflix Catalog | Website | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Catalog of content in your language and region for netflix |
| Unogs Netflix Search | Website | Supporting Resource | Can search based on country and subtitle |
| Language Reactor Youtube Catalog | Website | 3-Channel YouTube Recommendations | Find YouTube content with subtitles in your language and region. |
| Zhongwen | Plugin | Popup Dictionary | A popup dictionary especially for Chinese. Doesn’t work while Language Reactor “transliterations” are enabled, so wait until you’ve turned those off to use this extension. |
| Zhongwen - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Supporting Resources | A tutorial on how to use Zhongwen for immersion |
| Intensive Reading Demo - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | 2T Threshold walkthrough | A tutorial on how to do intensive reading |
| The Kings Avatar | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A series based on a Chinese dongman (comics/manga/animation) about a pro gamer. |
| The Daily Life of the Immortal King | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Animation- Having vanquished a powerful demon at age six, precocious wizard Wang Ling must now navigate high school life as an ordinary teen. |
| Handsome Siblings | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Wuxia drama about twin brothers separated at birth who grow up very differently from each other |
| Reset | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A timetravel whodunit mystery scifi/thriller series. |
| Nothing But Thirty | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A slice of life drama following three very different women all facing their thirties. |
| The Longest Day in Chang’An | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | Historical suspense drama |
| Take My Brother Away | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A highschool comedy series about a girl and her annoying older brother. |
| A Little Thing Called First Love | Netflix | 3-Channel Netflix Recommendations | A slice of life love story |
Writing system/Sound System gaps
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio Lookups Demo - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Demo Interactive with Audio Lookups | How to Look-Up Audio |
| Forvo | Website | Recommended Dictionary With Audio | Language agnostic audio dictionary |
| Yabla Chinese Dictionary | Website | Recommended Dictionary With Audio | An audio dictionary from Yabla (also a site you can use for interactive immersion if you pay) |
Character based writing systems
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refold Character Primer | Notion Page | Supporting Resources | Refold’s very own Chinese character primer. Read as often as you like until you’ve grasped the basic of Characters. |
Tolerating ambiguity
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chinese Cooking Playlist | YouTube Playlist | Hard content | A playlist about cooking in Chinese |
| Chinese Comedy Playlist | YouTube Playlist | Hard content | A playlist about comedy in Chinese |
| Chinese News | YouTube Playlist | Hard content | A playlist of news in Chinese |
| 錫蘭Ceylan | YouTube Channel | Hard content | Traditional. Discusses daily life hot topics and Internet news. |
| 星悦小美女PKU Lila | Youtube Playlist | Hard content | Simplified. English native vlogger with impeccable Mandarin who is popular in China. |
Week 2 Review
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 2 Reflection Template v2 | Review Sheet | A reflection template |
Building Consistency
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Habit Tracking Demo - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Habit Tracking Demo | Tutorial covering Refold habit tracker |
| iOS Refold Tracker Testflight | App | Habit Tracking App | Download |
| iOS Refold Tracker App | App | Habit Tracking App | Download |
| Android Refold Tracker App | App | Habit Tracking App | Download |
Week 3 Review
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 3 Reflection Template v2 | Review Sheet | A reflection template |
Freeflow immersion
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensible Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | The unprofessional Dreaming Spanish of Chinese |
| Early Beginner CI | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Early beginner CI in Chinese |
| Comprehensible Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Soft subs & word translations |
| Free to learn Chinese - stories | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs, advanced beginner and intermediate |
| Hit Chinese - Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations & teaching parts |
| Hit Chinese - Advanced Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations & teaching parts |
| Acquire Mandarin - Pre beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible Input | Simplified. Hard subs & word translations |
| Acquire Mandarin - Beginner | YouTube Playlist | Comprehensible & Simplified Input | Simplified. Mix of a bunch of stuff: CI, SI, soft & hard & no subs |
| TeaTime Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast. No video. TOP resource |
| Mandarin Corner - Monologues/vlogs in Slow Intermediate Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard subs. Slow simplified monologues about various things. TOP resource |
| Mandarin Corner - Stories in Slow Intermediate Chinese | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard subs. TOP resource. |
| LingLing Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Hard English subs. High quality for beginners |
| Acquire Mandarin - Intermediate | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft & Hard subs |
| Speak your Chinese - vlog | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft subs |
| Speak your Chinese - stories | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft subs, some CI |
| Easy Mandarin | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Soft & Hard & no subs |
| Podcast - MaoMi Chinese | Website | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast about various topics w/ transcript |
| Intermediate Chinese Podcast With Shenglan | YouTube Playlist | Simplified Input | Simplified. Podcast about various topics w/ softsubs |
| Use your own previously watched content. | N/A | Rewatch from NL content | Rewatch content you’ve seen in another language before. Notes: Learner Specific. Probably can’t recommend.. |
Artificially improving comprehension
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehension Aid Menu | Notion | Menu of options worksheet | A menu of comprehension hacks (strategies you can use to increase your comprehension) |
Grammar Theory
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Refold Tutorials - How to use grammar primers. | YouTube Video | YouTube Video | |
| Chinese Grammar Wiki Anki Deck | Anki Deck | Drip Fed Primers | Anki deck teaching the content of the Chinese grammar wiki. |
| Chinese Grammar Wiki | Website | Recommended Grammar Guides | Online wiki-style reference grammar for Mandarin. |
| SIL Glossary | Website | Grammar Terminology Glossary | A guide to demystifying linguistics jargon. |
Expected Investment and Results
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hour Calculation Worksheet | Google Sheet | Hour Calculation Worksheet | A sheet on how to calculate hours. |
| Hour Calculation Worksheet - Refold Tutorials | Google Sheet | Supporting Resource | A tutorial on how to calculate hours. |
Time Tracking
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toggl Tutorial - Refold Tutorials | YouTube Video | Supporting Resources | A tutorial on how to use Toggl |
| Download Toggl | App | App | A link to download Toggl |
Personal Learning System
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Learning System Cheatsheet | Notion Document | Supporting Resource | Personal Learning System Cheatsheet |
| Advanced Weekly Reflection and Planning Worksheet | Google Sheet | Supporting Resource | Advanced reflection and planning worksheet |
Course Review
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Reflection Template | Google Sheet | Review Sheet | A template for doing reflections |
Week 4 Review
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 4 Reflection Template v2 | Review Sheet | A reflection template |
Learner Success Stories
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Learner Success Stories | Video | Supporting Resource | Testimonials from other learners! |
Next Steps
| Resource | Type | Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graduation Survey V2 | Typeform | Supporting Resource | The final survey of the course! Let us know your feedback. |
Related Pages
Open Questions
- Which resources are compelling enough to become daily immersion defaults?
- Which resources should be tagged as beginner, bridge, native, or stretch after testing them directly?