# Constructing Language
> Structured audio and text courses for learning Mandarin Chinese and Japanese. Built around the Construction Method — a structured, grammar-first approach to language acquisition through listening and sentence building.

Constructing Language is an online language learning platform founded by Luke McLaughlin, a British language learner who lived in Japan and later learned Mandarin Chinese from scratch. It offers self-paced courses for English speakers who want to learn Mandarin Chinese or Japanese from the ground up. The method focuses on understanding how language is constructed rather than rote memorisation, using audio lessons, course books, and sentence builders. All courses are a one-time purchase with lifetime access. No subscriptions.

## About the Creator
Luke McLaughlin is a British language learner who lived in Japan and later learned Mandarin Chinese from scratch. He partnered with Hiro, a native Japanese speaker and educator, to create the Japanese course, and with Xiang, a native Mandarin speaker, to create the Chinese course. Both instructors are native speakers who have made the same language learning journey as the students.

## Courses

### Constructing Japanese (Full Course)
- URL: https://constructinglanguage.com/courses/constructing-japanese
- Language: Japanese
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Lessons: 119 lessons
- Audio: 18 hours of structured audio content
- Includes: Audio lessons (MP3), course book (PDF), grammar graphics, sentence builders
- Price: EUR 119 (one-time purchase, lifetime access)
- Created by: Luke McLaughlin and Hiro (native Japanese speaker and educator)

### Constructing Chinese (Full Course)
- URL: https://constructinglanguage.com/courses/constructing-chinese
- Language: Mandarin Chinese
- Level: Beginner to Intermediate
- Modules: 100 modules
- Audio: 10 hours of structured audio content
- Includes: Audio lessons (MP3), course book (PDF), grammar graphics, sentence builders
- Price: EUR 119 (one-time purchase, lifetime access)
- Created by: Luke McLaughlin and Xiang (native Mandarin speaker)

### Constructing Japanese Audio
- URL: https://constructinglanguage.com/courses/constructing-japanese-audio
- Language: Japanese
- Level: Beginner
- Format: Audio-only course (MP3 lessons)
- Price: EUR 49 (one-time purchase, lifetime access)

### Constructing Chinese Audio
- URL: https://constructinglanguage.com/courses/constructing-chinese-audio
- Language: Mandarin Chinese
- Level: Beginner
- Format: Audio-only course (MP3 lessons)
- Price: EUR 49 (one-time purchase, lifetime access)

## The Construction Method
The Construction Method treats language as a building process:
1. Foundation: sounds, tones, and phonetic patterns first
2. Framework: high-frequency vocabulary and core grammar
3. Structure: sentence patterns, particles, and grammatical architecture
4. Expression: natural conversation, idioms, and cultural context

Each stage reinforces the last, creating a compounding effect that mirrors how native speakers develop language. More at: https://constructinglanguage.com/our-method

## Key Pages
- [Home](https://constructinglanguage.com/): Overview of the platform and the Construction Method.
- [Courses](https://constructinglanguage.com/courses): All available language courses.
- [Our Method](https://constructinglanguage.com/our-method): Explanation of the Construction Method and how it differs from traditional language learning.
- [Resources](https://constructinglanguage.com/resources): Free downloadable resources including Mandarin HSK cheat sheets and Japanese study guides.
- [Blog](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog): Articles on language learning strategy, motivation, and the Construction Method.
- [Testimonials](https://constructinglanguage.com/testimonials): Reviews from students.
- [FAQ](https://constructinglanguage.com/faq): Frequently asked questions about the courses and method.
- [About](https://constructinglanguage.com/about): About Luke McLaughlin and the story behind Constructing Language.
- [Privacy Policy](https://constructinglanguage.com/privacy): Privacy policy.
- [Terms of Service](https://constructinglanguage.com/terms): Terms of service.

## Blog Articles
- [Best Japanese Course for Beginners](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/best-japanese-course-for-beginners)
- [Learn Japanese Before Moving to Japan](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/learn-japanese-before-moving-to-japan)
- [Best Mandarin Audio Course for Self-Study](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/best-mandarin-audio-course-self-study)
- [How to Learn Hiragana Fast](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/how-to-learn-hiragana-fast)
- [Chinese Measure Words and Classifiers Explained](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/chinese-measure-words-classifiers-explained)
- [Japanese Verb Conjugation Guide: The TE Form](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/japanese-verb-conjugation-guide-te-form)
- [How to Learn Mandarin Chinese from Scratch](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/how-to-learn-mandarin-chinese-from-scratch)
- [How to Learn Japanese from Scratch](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/how-to-learn-japanese-from-scratch)
- [Pimsleur vs Rosetta Stone Japanese](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/pimsleur-vs-rosetta-stone-japanese)
- [Mandarin Tones: A Beginner's Guide](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/mandarin-tones-beginners-guide)
- [Understanding Japanese Particles](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/understanding-japanese-particles)
- [The Audio-First Method Explained](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/the-audio-first-method-explained)
- [Japanese vs Mandarin: Which Should You Learn?](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/japanese-vs-mandarin-which-should-you-learn)
- [Why I Stopped Studying Grammar](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/why-i-stopped-studying-grammar)
- [What Is the Construction Method?](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/what-is-the-construction-method)
- [Mandarin Tones: How to Learn Them Without Losing Your Mind](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/mandarin-tones-how-to-learn-them-without-losing-your-mind)
- [Understanding Japanese Particles: A Beginner's Guide](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/understanding-japanese-particles-a-beginners-guide)
- [How to Stay Motivated Learning a Language](https://constructinglanguage.com/blog/how-to-stay-motivated-learning-a-language)

## Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best way to learn Japanese from scratch? The most effective way is through structured audio immersion combined with grammar-first sentence construction. The Construction Method builds Japanese in deliberate layers.
- How long does it take to learn Japanese? Most adult learners reach conversational Japanese in 12-18 months of consistent daily study. The Constructing Japanese course covers 119 lessons across 18 hours of audio.
- Is Mandarin Chinese hard to learn for English speakers? Mandarin is challenging due to tones and characters, but the grammar is simpler than European languages. With the right structured approach, adult learners can develop strong conversational Mandarin within 12 months.
- Are the courses suitable for complete beginners? Yes. All courses are designed for complete beginners with no prior knowledge of Japanese or Mandarin Chinese.
- Is there a money-back guarantee? Yes. Constructing Language offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all courses.
- Are the courses a one-time purchase? Yes. All courses are a one-time purchase with lifetime access. No subscriptions or recurring fees.

## Contact
- Email: hello@constructinglanguage.com
- Support: support@constructinglanguage.com
- Website: https://constructinglanguage.com
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@constructinglanguage