[Mandarin Archive] What are some good methods to learning Mandarin/Chinese? (edit)

[iron]

Anyone know of any good books, tapes, websites, etc I could look up to learn Mandarin?

I'm English and have 0% asian ancestry.

[ColaPoP]

hey there iron. That's cool that you're interested in learning Mandarin.
There is a thread called Learn Chinese (http://www.jay-chou.net/forums/showthread.php?t=804) that already exists (click link)

Have a read & see if that helps. The discussion of the link given above is more focused on learning "Chinese phrases", rather than learning the language as a whole... thus, if anyone has advice, or has been in the same shoes as iron, give your input here.

Also, this thread should be posted in the advice sub-forum *please move*
Jay-Chou.net > Socializing > Social Lounge > Aunt Agony's Advice

[iron]

Thanks, my bad. I didn't realise it was in the wrong forum. Am I supposed to move it or is an admin?

[ColaPoP]

Haha, sorry. The admin team will move it. I should have clarified :wink2:

And it's interesting that you've asked this question here. When I started learning Spanish, I did it through a "teach yourself" book & by going to classes. I got the basics, but really, languages need to be used frequently to help learning & for memory retention. I know I've read somewhere (perhaps in the link I gave before?) that many people on this forum learned by singing/lyrics of Chinese pop songs, but I'm not too sure how efficient that is... whatever works I guess *nods*

Have you started learning yet? What made you want to pick up mandarin?

[pamujung]

I have moved the thread, thank Pei. But I think the title should be more descriptive like recommendation or helping in learning mandarin, or something better ^^"

Iron >> you always google the good websites for learning chinese, I don't know which one is good anyway and if you prefer to read book that always come with the audio cds or video, I might suggest the book from Berlitz.

[ColaPoP]

Re-edited title:
What are some good methods to learning Mandarin/Chinese?

The most encompassing title I could think of! *lol*
Now when they do a search on Mandarin or Chinese *BAM* :excited:

[iron]

Method - know more than 1 person who speaks Mandarin. ;p

Sorta mainly looking for peoples experiences with learning Mandarin online and the best websites.

[jAy is a s h y_ b o i]

the best way is of course to take classes.
such as taking classes at uni ;]
i would say to take a class, and watch chinese/tawainese dramas with english subs
hope you have a good memory!
learning chinese is a lot of memorizing
a skill which i don't have haha i have a chinese block in my brain

[fRost`gEr]

well, i think it's also a good way to learn from songs. most songs have translation (like jay lyrics in this site)..

[lemonchicken]

iron: i see you are from london. you'll find that there are several chinese schools there that run during the weekends which is available to anyone to learn. it does cost a fee though and a lot of hard work is needed.

i am from edinburgh and went to these chinese schools to study mandarin (i originally learned cantonese). in my class had people of all ethnicity and backgrounds. do some research on it from your area and you will probably find a school near you.

[aiksam]

my easiest way is singin jay song... long... to practice mandarin.. hahaha.... or better just go to mandarin class.... or ask a chinese fren who is good to teach u how to speak mandarin..
that is my suggestion

[crazygiggles13]

i think the best way... [lazy way] :blush: ...is to hang out with people who speak the language, to watch heaps of tw dramas and to learn songs and stuff..keke..
the best way [most effective] is to take classes...
i think my manderin has definately improved from hanging around people and watching dramas...keke..see? television IS educational!!!

[nightshade]

This site is good for learning characters:

http://zhongwen.com/

I know Cantonese, but I'm trying to learn Mandarin myself. I went to Mandarin school for three years and retained very little. I've been using Pimsleur CDs (which I got from the library). Also, I must confess I've been watching Meteor Garden (with English subtitles) on YouTube and I think my understanding of the language has improved slightly. But I think if you have no experience at all with the language, a class is the way to go.

[HarmonyCloud]

I took Chinese over the summer, and I realized how important it is to have a good text book when studying chinese. I really recommend "Integrated Chinese". My school is currently using "Nihao" and its garbage, I mean it is absolutly horrid. Also When studying characters, I just wrote them out 100 times until worse case scenario I would start to remember them by muscle memory.

[c_c_]

hmm ... my mom teaches one-on-one chinese!! XP
but if you don't live in east brunswick, new jersey, she probably can't help you ...

do you know if there's a berlitz language center near you? My mom teaches there part time too, if your parents can afford it (it's quite costly, or so I hear), you can have lessons with excellent instructors like my mom! ^_^ this student of hers has learned spanish there and he's quite fluent now. after only a few months, most of her students have improved drastically. the accent isn't going to go away (remember, accents are hard to get rid of unless you're like 5/6 years old) but their vocab and stuff is excellent.

otherwise, try starting with pin yun. pin yun is the chinese phonetic alphabet developed by european traders wayyyy back in the day to help them understand. it is generally easier for people who learn chinese as a 2nd or 3rd or 4th or ... language with english/some other western language as their mother language. with pinyun and some basic ability to read chinese characters, you can type chinese on the comp.

another good way, if possible for you, is to go abroad to china for a while. try not to go with a tour group or other english speaking people because that decreases the effect. if you know some family you can stay w/ where there is only like one possible translator, it would be a nice opportunity. my chinese always goes up one level whenever I go back to china (like now I know "ao ao" and "cao" and "ku" and "shuai" etc. all popular expressions that I don't really learn in the us). it also gives you a chance to learn about the chinese culture as well (and maybe you'll be able to connect w/ jay even better because of it!) which is always cool.

some good literature (if you're okay w/ learning traditional characters) are the novels by qiong yao (if you like romance) and jing yong (if you're a martial arts/adventure type)

also watch korean dramas (most of which have chinese versions or chinese subtitles cause they're all the rage in china) and chinese/taiwanese dramas. open the subtitles in chinese (if you can read a little) and follow along! it's a fun and easy way to learn a language.

if you ever need help or anything, I'm willing to help! I've been bilingual since birth so chinese and english both come easy, but I know it's difficult if you haven't been speaking the language since you were like 2, just ask my french ...

I'm sure you'll be able to master chinese in no time!

[azianbimbo]

loL..in summary of C_C's post..i think that the most effective way to learn mandarin is ....GET A MANDO GIRLFRIEND/BOYFRIEND..haha..i dont think she mentioned it but im pretty sure she thinks its a great idea..:bleh:

but as i was saying..that way im sure u'll be a pro in mando like instant noodles..:worry: ...lol.

[Sugar&Spice]

Go to the website wwww.chinese-lessons.com. That website is the best one that you can use to learn chinese. It has friendly people there, and it answers all of your questions. They even correct your chinese sentences. I use this site all the time, to correct my chinese sentence structure. It has gotten me to where I'am now with my Mandarin. I can speak it well, and be understood. So try it out. I also have a good chinese/english dictionary. You must get one in order to really expand your mandarin.

Hppy studying!!:D

[yingyi]

Come to China! =)
In Beijing (where I live now), there are many foreigners who came here to learn Mandarin. Some of them has been here for few months, they started from zero, and now.. wow at least they can communicate with me in chinese... Cos sometimes in here you got so desperate when people dont understand your English and you must speak Mandarin to them.
Agree with c_c_, in here you can also learn about Chinese culture and know how's the living in here..

Good luck! Jia you! =)

[cpxsally]

http://www.learn-chinese-through-music.com

^GREAT site to learn mando thru music. It has the pinyin, chinese characters, and english translation of the lyrics. It's got songs by Jay, LeeHom, some Jolin, and others listed under "other artists" or soemthing like that. But Jay, LH and Jolin are her three big ones.

[ghettosushi713]

well my suggestion is that if you dont know ANY chinese
its a good idea to start watching dramas =)
it makes your ear become accustomed to the sounds
and most dramas have english subtitles so you can understand it

hope that helps =)