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It depends on your learning style. I like the FSI course, but most people find it exceedingly boring. Watching Taiwanese TV has also helped tremendously.
Grammar is always important for any beginners, unless you just want to learn how to order food.
Listening can only help when (1) you are learning the basic pronunciations, and (2) after you reach some level of grammar and vocabulary.
It depends on your learning style. I like the FSI course, but most people find it exceedingly boring. Watching Taiwanese TV has also helped tremendously.
I guess I'm like you - love FSI course in all its boredom. Need their style of structured approach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bettafish
Grammar is always important for any beginners, unless you just want to learn how to order food.
Listening can only help when (1) you are learning the basic pronunciations, and (2) after you reach some level of grammar and vocabulary.
Thought exactly like this all my life, until decided to learn Mandarin. Looked at Pinyin method of sound representation - understood that I must listen to the sounds first. No book can explain the 4 tones (when the same word could mean 4 different things depending on the tone).
Downloaded Pimsleur three parts, will see.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bideshi
Do you like to sing? That helps in Chinese root languages.
No, I don't like to sing, but will do if needed. I am better in "impersonating" sounds, sort of playing a role.
think hard about this one friend
america is filled with ambition but it stops at the keyboard. most americans dont even speak spanish much less a tough language like chinese but that does not stop the ego from racing that says i will pick up a few used books and speak fluent chinese in a jiffy.
the arduous long and painful path to language acquisition is in its nature offensive to the average american kidult xbox couch potato.
think hard about this one friend
america is filled with ambition but it stops at the keyboard. most americans dont even speak spanish much less a tough language like chinese but that does not stop the ego from racing that says i will pick up a few used books and speak fluent chinese in a jiffy.
the arduous long and painful path to language acquisition is in its nature offensive to the average american kidult xbox couch potato.
Merry Christmas to you, Huck, too!!!
Been impersonating English for the last NN years anyway The skill is there, alongside with the ambition.
Thank you! This will take some time to go over. Good resources, including listening - radio, TV.
Found (probably pretty basic, but oh so needed for a beginner) : Chinese Lessons
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