when to start conversation

[meghara]

I've been studying Mandarin on my own for about a month and a half, focusing mainly on speaking. I just arrived in Shanghai, where I'm studying on the CSC. I want to get a conversation partner, but I'm wondering if my level is so low that it wouldn't be productive? I'm most of the way through a beginning textbook so I can get through basic situations but nothing else. If I do get a conversation partner, can anyone give me some practical advice on how to make the best use of the time? I'm afraid I'll just end up learning random words with no context, etc.

Also, I'm an American and not very good at being pushy, so I'm sort of worried that if I do a language exchange, it'll be way more English than Chinese, especially considering my low level. Should I just shell out and get a tutor instead? Thanks in advance for the help!

[roddy]

You're in Shanghai - how much choice do you have? Going to be even less productive to avoid conversation I think.

Just go for it. You'll struggle and make mistakes, but as long as you've got someone - teacher, tutor, language partner - who can help you with the stuff you weren't able to say and correct your errors to prevent any problems becoming habitual, you'll be fine.

[Lu]

I'd wait a bit with finding a regular language exchange, but try to speak as much Chinese as you can in daily life. If you've only studied for a month and a half, your Chinese will run out pretty soon in conversation, so with a language partner you might end up speaking mostly English, but if you can exchange a few sentences every time with the shop lady and the bao'an, that's good.

[renzhe]

This will depend on you, your tutor, your level of understanding, and many other things. At 1.5 months, it might be too early for serious conversation, but it also may be exactly the right time to make sure you develop an ear for tones and work on your basic pronunciation, as those habits are the most difficult to break later.

I'd suggest finding a Chinese-speaker somewhere, anywhere, and try conversing for 10-15 minutes. You can pay for this, teach some English in return, something. At the end of these 10-15 minutes, you will know whether doing it regularly will make sense or not. If you run out of things to say after a minute, it may be good to wait a while. If you can get a basic conversation going (even if it's the most broken conversation ever), it may be good to work from there.

[L-F-J]

honestly, i would focus on listening and reading more in the beginning stages, to build vocabulary. especially listening before speaking, so as to become comfortable with the new sounds and rhythm of the language before you try to produce it yourself, carrying over tendencies from your first language.

the number one thing you will need for conversation is vocabulary. simply, you need words. you cant build that from conversation. you need to spend lots of time listening and reading and building a strong vocab from that content. then when you feel ready to start with a conversation partner, you will have more success and it will be more useful to you because you'll then have some tools to work with and a strong foundation on which to build.

before you have many "tools" (vocab) and before you are really accustomed to the sound and rhythm of the language, speaking too much wont bring much benefit. it would make sense to wait on it. but you may get to that ready stage very quickly if you study intelligently.

good luck!

[rezaf]

McGraw-Hill has a very good book called "Chinese Vocabulary" which is good for all levels. Using this book will help you to build up your vocabulary in a very short time. Whenever something comes up like going to hospital, railway station, shopping, phoning and so forth, just read the relevant chapter for an hour and memorize the sentences you need and then go for it in the real situation. It's better than any tutor or language partner for beginners. I don't think that you can really learn anything new while speaking. You can just practise what you already know.

Edit: When I was a beginner I used to have a tutor and she was ok but it wasn't as productive as I thought. Most of the time I just drove her out of her mind. I have figured out that the best method for me is to memorize sentences from the text books and use them exactly as they are when I need them because considering how confusing Chinese grammar is, even trying to make a new sentence makes me crazy. After learning the sentences that I need, I choose a relevant situation or conversation and will use those sentences. For example a few days ago after reading something about market economy and planned economy in this forum I did a quick research and found what I needed then I had a quite long conversation about China's economy with one of my teachers. Accidental conversations don't work for me I prefer to choose my own battle and prepare for it beforehand.

Edited September 27, 2008 at 07:33 PM by rezaf

[simonlaing]

You could do a language exchange but make sure you switch at a half way point to the other language.

A text book with english or pictures can help.

The first year I was in China with very basic chinese I found finding ways to interact with chinese where language wasn' t the primary focus helped me.

I played Chinese Chess with old guys on the street, Volleyball with students at the college I was teaching at, even going to play pool and old style 3 step dancing with teachers I learned useful vocabulary like nice shot, Jia you!, arranging times to play asking how many people would come etc..

Because there was another activity I could focus on trying to understand that. With Chinese chess the characters are on the pieces and you often say Check ! can I take that move back. ...

(Hand and facial expressions go a long way as well)

If you see students playing soccer on the college campus, usually chinese students will let you play with them if you ask and there aren't too many people playing already.

Good luck,

SimoN:)

[Scoobyqueen]

I'm an American and not very good at being pushy

Could not help chuckling at this comment. When I am in the US, most Americans always come across as very extroverted and not afraid of approaching strangers.

Anyway good luck. You have had some sound advice from other contributors.