Many Taiwanese people begin learning English through Mandarin textbooks, and in the early stages, this method truly helps. I was the same. Using Mandarin to explain English feels safe and familiar when you are a beginner. But as your English improves and you start communicating naturally in real life, something unexpected happens. You begin to realise that learning English through Mandarin creates an extra layer of difficulty that slows you down without you noticing it.
After living in Australia for many years, I could communicate very well in English. I spoke English every day with Australians, I understood conversations easily, and I expressed myself without much effort. However, speaking fluently did not mean I understood grammar deeply. So at one point, I decided to improve my grammar and took out a Mandarin grammar textbook, thinking it would help me strengthen what I had missed. But I quickly discovered that it did not work for me anymore. Even though I understood terms like 主詞 and 現在式, I still found myself translating the Mandarin explanations back into English in my mind before I could apply them. It felt like I was reconnecting with two languages at the same time, and the process became heavier and more complicated than it needed to be.
This is a common experience for Taiwanese people who live overseas. The more you speak English, the more your brain naturally shifts into English thinking. That means when you return to a Mandarin grammar textbook, you are not only learning grammar, you are also learning how Mandarin describes English concepts. You read the Mandarin explanation, then translate that explanation into English, and then apply it to your English sentence. It becomes a long process that adds unnecessary difficulty. It is not because your Mandarin is weak or because the textbook is wrong. It is simply because these books are written for learners who think in Mandarin, not for people who already think in English in their daily lives.
Once your English reaches an intermediate level, learning grammar directly in English actually becomes easier. You remove the translation layer and allow your brain to stay inside one language. The concepts make more sense because they match the structure and logic of English. You learn faster and understand more clearly. Pronunciation also becomes more natural because everything is explained within the same sound system instead of through Mandarin, which does not have long vowels, short vowels or stress patterns. Learning through English helps you build a stronger foundation without carrying two sets of explanations in your mind.
This is why I write my English learning and pronunciation articles in English. It is not to make things difficult. It is to make learning smoother for people who already know some English and want to continue improving without confusion. Mandarin is very helpful for beginners, but once you reach the next stage, staying inside one language helps you learn faster and think more clearly. When you remove the translation layer, you can finally understand English in the way it is meant to be understood, and your confidence grows naturally from there.
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