What is the best way to learn mandarin?

[ak47num1]

There is no denying the fact that mandarin is one of the most spoken languages. For that reason, I am wondering: what are some of the best ways to learn mandarin?

Are there any good programs out there to learn mandarin?

[B40]

The best way?

Go to China.

[Slimfast]

Are you starting from scratch? or do you know the basics already?

[ak47num1]

I know some basics already :D

[Audiogenic]

Date someone who speaks it.

[cyberknight]

i'm interested in learning more as well seeing as how I was an ignorant CBC who didn't work hard in Chinese school when I was a kid.

Well I know you can always take courses at your local colleges/universities, but how good are they? In Vancouver, I know there is that Chinese Cultural Centre that has courses as well. I know there are a growing number of companies in China and Hong Kong that have begun a business of making audio and textbook material for people in our boat, I believe you can order online and have it shipped... i guess as well, you can go on Skype and find some Chinese people, there are lots of Chinese people on Skype who want to do an English/Chinese language learning stuff.

Again, I have no experience with any of this, so I can't give any recommendations at the moment...

[kingsley]

Yeah, best way is to practice with other people on a daily basis.

[z3r0]

There is no denying the fact that mandarin is one of the most spoken languages. For that reason, I am wondering: what are some of the best ways to learn mandarin?

Are there any good programs out there to learn mandarin?

Are you learning Mandarin just because its one of the most spoken languages? (just curious)

[AL3X]

I'm learning it. I got a tutor and we mainly practise speaking and listening. I study hard everyday, memorising characters and meanings and then I practise with friends. I also use many books and computer programs/flashcards.

Takes a long time but i think its worth it.

I'm also learning korean, japanese, and french of course.

Best way is to immerse yourself and force yourself to use the language. For instance i worked in quebec for 6 weeks learning french and i read french newspapers and listen to french radio. Now I'm also starting to read chinese newspapers and listen to mandarin radio, even though i can only pick out a few sentences. It seems you are improving slowly, but if you keep doing it, you will be surprised at how much you learn in a year. Also a trick i do is when i'm doing nothing, I think about a random thing to say about anything (usually something around me) Then i spend a bit trying to figure out how to express that sentence in the other language.

Good luck and work hard :)

[Xiggy]

Date someone who speaks it.
Doesn't work. I'm fluent in Cantonese, she's fluent in Mandarin. We try to teach each other but we always just end up using English. We're both CBC. We've been at it for 6+ years. Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem to work.

[GTABuySell]

Doesn't work. I'm fluent in Cantonese, she's fluent in Mandarin. We try to teach each other but we always just end up using English. We're both CBC. We've been at it for 6+ years. Maybe it's just me but it doesn't seem to work.

I agree with you. I am fluent in Cantonese and my wife is fluent in both Cantonese and Mandarin, but we always ended up speaking in Cantonese. I think for me, it is best to start from scratch and learn to read AND write at the same time like the kids do from grade 1. If you already have someone at home who can teach you, learning just a few characters a day will add up.

I plan to start learning using this approach along with my little daugther as soon as she starts school.

As for why more and more people are learning Mandarin, I believe people have started to see the importance of knowing Mandarin in both business and personal life. I was on assignment in Thailand for almost a month last month and found I can get buy with just English. If I am to go to China today, knowing English only won't be enough.

Good luck and have fun learning a new language (any language)!

[CRXGSR]

I think this is a good way and it'll help you.

I speak/listen to cantonese pretty good. So I go buy some chinese DVD's that I like to watch. I watch it a few times in Cantonese, so I know what they're saying. Then I watch it in Mandarin. So you get a cross reference as to what they're saying. Works like a charm.

Another good way is if you know how to read chinese, go do some karaoke and following along with the song!

[GTA_]

Some colleges provide very cheap Mandarin classes - $300 per semester in Centennial College for example, and it can be a good start. Then buy the CDs and afterwords watch Mandarin movies.

... And if you are really creative you can post an ad:


Wanted: A Mandarin Tutor, female, attractive and able to work night shifts.

[7jai]

Take courses, and keep on forcing yourself to see the same stuff OVER AND OVER again, everywhere you go.

[Ultra-]

Just yesterday i started listening to pimsleurs mandarin lesson cds (their techniques are quite effective!). So far I've completed the entire lesson one (which consists of 30 30min long lessons + extras) and I can speak pretty fluent mandarin with proper grammer (basics though). But before doing this I already knew some mandarin, so much of it was a review.

I'll be listening to the remaining two lessons in the next couple of days and hopefully then I would be able to listen to mandarin radio, watch mandarin shows and understand the lyrics of my mandarin songs.

[Siefer999]

off topic: B40, your avatar gives me nightmares :mad: :lol: