As the famous Chinese saying goes, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."Well, it certainly does not require a "thousand miles" to learn Chinese, but the time is now ripe for more English speakers to take that very first step.
It is a fool-proof truth that learning a foreign language Rosetta Stone calls for commitment of time and effort. This is justified even more, especially when there's a huge difference lying between one's native tongue and the second language. However, knowing some ABCs about the tips and techniques of learning a new language can make all the difference concerning how far you can go in learning Chinese.
Based on personal Chinese learning and teaching experiences and others, here are ten tips and techniques on mastering the Chinese language. By adopting one, or combining several of these tips and techniques, you can maximize the learning efficiency , minimize the time spent, and at the same time, learn with fun and joy.
Tip No.1: bear in mind that Chinese, while challenging, can be easy to learn A majority of people take for granted that Chinese is the most difficult language in the world. To some extent, this is true. However, what most non-Chinese speakers fail to realize is that Chinese enjoys one of the easiest grammars in the world. Moreover, Chinese sentence structure, to a large degree, corresponds to that of English (subject + verb + object). After all, Chinese is not a lion in the way.
Tip No.2: Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Being self-conscious and ashamed can be a roadblock in learning the Chinese language. Remember, even when you are making embarrassing mistakes, most people are ready to help you rather than laugh at you. Generally speaking, when you are making mistakes, you are making progress.
Tip No.3: Practice, practice, and practice! Don't be disheartened by the difficulties at first attempt. Keep practicing, and you will be amazed by your own improvement! Practice is a powerful remedy of all your disadvantages. If you are not in a Chinese-speaking country, the good news is that those 3+ million Chinese Americans are your neighbours. Go to Chinese restaurants, chat with your neighbours, take whatever opportunities to practice.
Tip No.4: be a persistent learner. Allocate a certain period of time on learning and strictly stick to the plan. The effectiveness of studying for a long period at once is way shadowed by studying a little every day. Anyway, if you are not an eagle, be the snail that surmounts the pyramid by his perseverance.
Tip No.5: love Chinese without being a control freak "The relationship between the Chinese language and me mirrors that of my wife and me----I love it only not able to control it," a candidate in a Chinese speech contest for foreigners confessed in his self-mocking speech. In fact, this attitude is largely desirable for learners to adopt.
Tip No.6: pay special attention to Chinese quantifiers Since there's no strict rules to follow, Chinese quantifiers can pose great obstacle to the learners. One of my eloquent students once debated with me about the quantifier of a "hare", saying that "GTP" should be the choice because the hare was crushed into a thin piece. Funny as it is, learners must bear in mind that no direct correspondence exists in the two languages regarding quantifiers.
Tip No.7: stick to the standard Chinese pinyin Chinese is a tonal language, which means that the shape change of one's voice upon a single syllable can in effect produce different words with multiple meanings. The most typical example in putonghua is the syllable "ma" which, depending on four tones it is pronounced, might mean "mother," "hemp," "horse," or the verb "to scold." respectively. In most cases, this can pose great challenges to westerners. Learners must follow the standard pinyin at the very beginning.
Tip No.8: speak first, then read and write Although the Chinese grammar is comparatively simple,its written language is, in stark contrast, intricate and complex. Prospective students of Chinese would do well to concentrate on learning to speak first, and only then deal with the written language if it is the requirement of their studies or career.
Tip No.9: repetition and patience in studying writing Use post-it notepaper to write down the characters and stick them on the objects you are about to learn. Write vocabulary words on flash cards. Jot down new words you encounter. Instead of writing one word a thousand times, write each word once or twice and then go through the whole list again. Repeat writing with patience, and progress is on the way.
Tip No.10: imbue in a hospitable learning environment Read Chinese newspapers, booklets and books, watch Chinese movies or TV programs, sing Chinese songs, make the best of the on-line learning materials, these learning channels offer you a real-life scenario with color and joy.
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