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Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Most people learn in different ways so find something that works for you.

As has been said...drill the pinyin chart.

Repeat, repeat, repeat....and repeat again any new words you learn. Personally, If I learn a word or phrase I can integrate into my daily usage of Chinese, I will remember it. If I learn a word I can not often use...it's gone the next day.

Once I get out of the beginner phase and have a stronger grasp on the language that should change.

Also, do not neglect characters. I did initially and it was a mistake. For me I find characters fun now and it makes me want to learn new words.

....and to echo what others have said...do not study from your gf/wife/whoever. My wife is Chinese and the language I learn from her accidentally is fairly rough. Because I hear her speak so much, I do not really speak putonghua. I speak what my coworkers have called qingdao-putonghua. An interesting mix of poor putonghua and poor Qingdaohua with a little English tossed in for extra flavor.

Good Luck!

bulgogiboy · Joined: 23 Feb 2005 Posts: 803

Don't get downhearted. I studied Mandarin in China, and ended up having a Chinese girlfriend too. There's no easy way to learn Chinese, but you CAN do it, believe me! You could agree with your girlfriend that for 1 hour a day, or a set period time each day (or even all day) she will only speak Mandarin with you. That would give you some degree of immersion, and force you to remember and practice what you've learned. That's what Rosetta Stone does.

It would be frustrating at first, but it would help. Of course, you would both need the discipline not just to revert to English.

Once you build a foundation and work up the courage to practice it in your daily life you'll be amazed how quickly it can snowball. If you try hard, you can be having conversations in Chinese a lot sooner than you think...

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

Live in a country that speaks Mandarin and you'll learn it a lot better than in a place that you can't use it.

Even in Canada when I bump into Chinese people, they outright refuse to speak Chinese to me even if their English is way worse than mine.

Why?

They came to Canada to learn English and speaking Chinese to a "foreigner" is a loss of face to them.