NewGuy2005 53 #1 March 9, 2007 I need to learn Chinese and I don't know where to begin. I assume I should learn Mandarin, but there are an overwhelming number of methods and places to learn. Anyone have any advice? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zipp0 1 #2 March 9, 2007 Quote I need to learn Chinese and I don't know where to begin. I assume I should learn Mandarin, but there are an overwhelming number of methods and places to learn. Anyone have any advice? Do you need to speak it only, or also write it? I did one of these Pimsuler CD programs and was told by a native speaker that my pronunciation was very good: http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Mandarin-Understand-Pimsleur-Language/dp/0671790331/ref=sr_1_16/104-8236760-0488707?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173462025&sr=8-16 -------------------------- Chuck Norris doesn't do push-ups, he pushes the Earth down. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #3 March 9, 2007 I need to learn too, so I'm going to Shanghai for a couple of weeks. Company is covering some of it (the price of the class which is $500). Don't know if you can swing the same from your company, but Shanghai rocks, so it's an added benefit. It's a tough language. I don't suppose I will know that much in a couple of weeks (4 hours a day, 5 days a week), but it should be a good start. Anyway, good luck. -S_____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
monkycndo 0 #4 March 9, 2007 Go to work at a Chinese take-out place. Learn the language and get free food.50 donations so far. Give it a try. You know you want to spank it Jump an Infinity Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #5 March 9, 2007 why to you NEED to, btw?_____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
virgin-burner 1 #6 March 9, 2007 QuoteGo to work at a Chinese take-out place. Learn the language and get free food. the food is about the best.. “Some may never live, but the crazy never die.” -Hunter S. Thompson "No. Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." -Yoda Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #7 March 9, 2007 Quotewhy to you NEED to, btw? I work for a company that sells construction products for commercial buildings and China is supposed to be the next big frontier. Just wanting to stay ahead of the curve on remaining employable. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SBS 0 #8 March 9, 2007 Cool. It sounds like you could definitely get them to cover it if you make a good sales pitch._____________ I'm not conceited...I'm just realistic about my awesomeness... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twibbles 0 #9 March 9, 2007 Good luck with learning chinese, it's a challanging language to learn! Mandarin is the one to learn, it's the official dialect in China, especially in the big cities. The others are pretty much just different dialects. Eugene "In the beginning the Universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waltappel 1 #10 March 9, 2007 I'm thinking Rosie O'Donnell would *not* be a good source. Walt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #11 March 11, 2007 Quote Do you need to speak it only, or also write it? I did one of these Pimsuler CD programs and was told by a native speaker that my pronunciation was very good: http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Mandarin-Understand-Pimsleur-Language/dp/0671790331/ref=sr_1_16/104-8236760-0488707?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1173462025&sr=8-16 That's the one I got. THANKS! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #12 March 11, 2007 Learn to speak AND to write/read. One will help the other. With 5 different tones to each syllable (in Mandarin, 9 in Cantonese), all having several totally different meanings, being able to couple a tone to an ideogram gives you the exact meaning. Otherwise, Mandarin is not a very hard language to learn. The grammar, much like Japanese, is extremely easy. Once you get past the tones issue, it's all about vocabulary, which pretty much applies to every language. Besides, you don't have to worry about orthograph... "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ntrprnr 0 #13 March 11, 2007 Quote I need to learn Chinese and I don't know where to begin. I assume I should learn Mandarin, but there are an overwhelming number of methods and places to learn. Anyone have any advice? I'm learning Manderin through Rosetta Stone. They're online - www.rosettastone.com CD's are a few hundred bucks, but I think they're worth it. Laptop learning when I'm on the plane with time to kill. Figure it'd be fun next to learn Arabic on a plane. :)_______________ "Why'd you track away at 7,000 feet?" "Even in freefall, I have commitment issues." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ffejdraga 0 #14 March 11, 2007 Yeah, I have heard nothing but good things from the friends of mine who used Rosetta Stone. It is expensive, but easy to use and fun. But anyway, start here: ya ee saam sen mmm lo tup bah go sup. Oh shit, that was one to 10 in cantonese...phonetic spelling sorry can't help you. Good luck, jeff D-16906 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #15 March 11, 2007 QuoteLearn to speak AND to write/read. One will help the other. With 5 different tones to each syllable (in Mandarin, 9 in Cantonese), all having several totally different meanings, being able to couple a tone to an ideogram gives you the exact meaning. ... Most of the methods I've seen available are only for speaking. What do you think would be the best route to take to learn to write? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #16 March 12, 2007 There's no substitute for a real live teacher. And of course, spending time in the country does help... Good luck. "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ExAFO 0 #17 March 12, 2007 That's gonna be a tall order. Even the Dept of Defense allots over a year (of 10 hour days) for the Zero-to-60 Chinese language course...With a very robust attrition rate.Illinois needs a CCW Law. NOW. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Frenchy68 0 #18 March 12, 2007 No doubt it's not easy, but Mandarin is not any harder than any other languages from Western countries. Again, its grammar is very simple. Again, the tricky part is to learn the tones applied to syllables. In this chart you will notice there are many different meaning to the sound "ma". However, there is only one Chinese ideogram per meaning. Hence my suggestion to learn writing and reading Chinese to better one's speaking abilities. Once one gets past the tones issue, it is mostly about learning vocabulary and practicing. Then there is the issue of simplified Chinese characters (used in China) vs old Chinese characters (used in Taiwan and Japan)... Just to keep it real! (PS: the above chart is in old Chinese charcaters...) "For once you have tasted Absinthe you will walk the earth with your eyes turned towards the gutter, for there you have been and there you will long to return." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #19 March 12, 2007 All you need to know is: Won fwom cowum A and won fwom cowum B.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NewGuy2005 53 #20 March 12, 2007 I just listened to the first lesson on the Pimsleur Method. You are right about the tones being difficult. The on-line Chinese tools website looks pretty helpful. Does anyone have any experience with the Chinesepod podcasts? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #21 March 12, 2007 I'm highly impressed that some of you guys are learning Chinese. During my visit to Viet Nam, my Chinese lady friend tried teaching me some and I never made even a little headway on getting it right. I guess it was my heavy Southern drawl that had me saying stupid shit instead of what was intended. My attempts made for good fun for her and her friends.My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
