Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Enigma]

I've been thinking about studying Mandarin for the last few years and I'm ready to give it a shot. I already know a few hundred characters from my time in Japan, and I've got some good books and sites for learning more.

What I'm looking for, is recommendations for learning the structure/grammar and speaking/listening. Have any of you found good websites, books or programs for these?

Thanks

[Enigma]

I'd also appreciate any advice for mastering the tones.

Thanks

[donducky]

For starters, I'd recommend the Michel Thomas Mandarin course.

Google the terms Michel Thomas Mandarin Torrent and you shouldn't have too much trouble finding a free download.

With Michel Thomas, all you've gotta do is listen. Just listen for several or so hours, and you'll not only have the tones down, but you'll be speaking in complex sentences--albeit with a very limited vocabulary--in a matter of days.

I did this at home, in Nanjing, back in the summer of 2008, and was receiving nonstop accolades from my Chinese students and fellow teachers in no time at all.

To really, truly master Chinese you will need much, much more. But Michel Thomas makes an excellent starting point.

For characters, start with Allison and Laurence Matthews's LEARNING CHINESE CHARACTERS, published by Tuttle. Cost me 37,130 won at Bandibook in Kangnam three years ago, and I've since worn my copy to tatters. This book will teach you the 800 essential characters, and from there on out you'll find it easy going getting up to the 3000 character mark equivalent to high-school level literacy in China.

Finally, COME ON OVER to China, and you'll probably wonder why you ever spent a day in Korea. I make only 5000 RMB a month here (plus airfare, travel allowance, whatever), and could easily go back to making much more money in Korea, but dear Lord is life better here!

[shinramyun]

[Wai Mian]

[shinramyun]

[Fox]

[Wai Mian]

[shinramyun]

[michi gnome]

i've been checking out this guy benny on youtube

type in askbenny mandarin for his vids

brief lessons that will get you started, for free

[travel zen]

The obvious thing would be to find a chinese girlfirend, or even friend that is willing to teach you. Chinese gals in my experience, are good with patiently teaching you, but only if they are interested. Trip to China may help, but mandarin will be regional. They speak differently in Beijing, as opposed to Shenzhen, etc. That may confuse you more !

[Big_Bird]

This is a language method I heartily recommend - whether it be for beginners, or those returning to a language they've not used for some time. I've used Vol1 and Vol2 to refresh my Mandarin. It's so enjoyable to listen to, that you just start repeating sentences in a sing song manner. Even my kids and nephew were coming out with tone perfect Mandarin phrases - just out of the blue! Of course, you wont learn Mandarin just by listening and repeating this stuff - but it will give you a good start.

http://www.earwormslearning.com/intro.html

There are sample demos of several languages, so that you can decide whether it might be your cup of tea.

Note: If you have a particular language in mind, it's still worth listening to the other demos, because the sample selected for some packages may be slightly uninspiring (like the German Vol 1 which is just counting and telling the time). All the packages follow the same pattern, and have the same tracks (just spoken in that particular language of course) so listening to the Chinese Vol 1 can still give you a good idea of what you will encounter on French Vol 1 (I know as I have both of them).

[CentralCali]

I find Mandarin Tools to be a useful site.

[pugwall]

To be honest I dont think you will make that much progress unless you move to a Chinese speaking country. You can do a lot of groundwork but if you want to be anything close to fluent its a full time job. I would look to be learning about 30 characters a day minimum. Make flashcards and memorize them. The best software around in ChinesePod which are Chinese learning Podcasts. They are truly excellent and the first week is free. Also you NEED a PDA or Windows mobile phone and the dictionary software Pleocdict. I cant stress how important that software is. I could not have done HSK without it.

I would suggest going to Taiwan to study as it fundamentally a nicer, cleaner, less stressful environment. Also the schools in Taiwan use more modern and interesting materials and are better suited to teaching Westerners. I learnt my Chinese on the mainland but would have come to Taiwan if I knew what I knew now. You should learn traditional at the same time as simplified as although simplified are more practical for doing business with China, when you start studying the traditional you realize how empty, lacking with meaning and flat out ugly the simplified are. Save some money in Korea and do a semester in Taiwan. This is a good school in Tainan a nice tropical city in Southern Taiwan http://kclc.ncku.edu.tw/langcenter/eindex1.php. If you are serious about Chinese study its only $950 a semester so a worthwhile investment.