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How far can you actually get in Chinese?

 Language Learning Forum : Specific Languages Post Reply
18 messages over 3 pages: 1 2
indiana83
Groupie
United States
ipracticecanto.wordp
Joined 5490 days ago

92 posts - 121 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Cantonese, Italian

 
 Message 17 of 18
22 November 2011 at 11:51pm | IP Logged 
Tesuji wrote:
To answer an earlier enquiry, I studied in school for a year and now I am actually in China (without any native English speakers I might add). Unfortunately I am in Sichuan, and Sichuanhua is the standard dialect here, which only adds to my troubles.



In the grand scheme of things, a year is not a very long time. I started learning Cantonese about 4 years ago (however, not always at the same intensity, and I did take a break for several months). And even now, I would not call myself proficient.

But keep in mind, your bar is always moving, you are always striving to the next level. You'll always regret those things you haven't yet accomplished.

So take the other advice and occasionally go back and re-read one of your lessons from a year ago. It will be good for you - not just to realize how far you have come - but you will probably learn a few new things that you didn't notice the first time around.

Your progress in Mandarin may not be as fast since you are living in Sichuan instead of Beijing, but at least you have the opportunity to simultaneously learn two dialects via immersion.

Since you've only been studying for a year, I would recommend focusing heavily on the speaking and listening, and only learning to read characters via osmosis. A heavier focus on characters can come later after you have further speaking/listening practice.

edit: and regarding the article, I agree it is a joke. Keep in mind they are in a university library, and I bet you could go to a university library in your own country and have trouble understanding some/many of the textbooks there.

Edited by indiana83 on 22 November 2011 at 11:58pm

1 person has voted this message useful



NickJS
Senior Member
United Kingdom
flickr.com/photos/sg
Joined 4959 days ago

264 posts - 334 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Russian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese

 
 Message 18 of 18
23 November 2011 at 3:11am | IP Logged 
Its always going to be hard to learn something if you don't like it...But surely you must
have some interest in the culture if you was to choose the language in the first place.

I'd say try to find something that you really like about it and use that as your
motivation - with me its watching the martial arts films in just Mandarin and listening
to Taiwanese bands and it all keeps me motivated and because I'm motivated I just want to
learn anyway.
1 person has voted this message useful



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