How to improving cantonese and learn mandarin at the same time?

[Celeste]

Hey guys!

I'm Cantonese, but having grown up in Australia and speaking English most of the time, my Chinese is not that pro. My mother taught me canto but she didn't entirely teach me everything. For example, I can hold a casual conversation with a cantonese person but when I listen to canto songs, I only get around 60-70% of what's going on. Anyway, do you have any idea what I could do to improve my cantonese?

Also, I was thinking of learning mandarin, but, I feel kind of icky about it. I'm a person who prefers to be fluent with one language (so canto) before starting another. But I don't suppose it matters. Any idea how I can learn mandarin? I went to Chinese school before and all I can tell you is that from my past experience-- is that it was utterly hokum. I learnt more mando at my school for one year than three years at a local chinese school. I feel like I should learn mando since nearly everybody in China speaks that. . So, any ideas how to learn mando as well?

Thanks

[skylee]

but when I listen to canto songs, I only get around 60-70% of what's going on.

This does not sound too bad, as understanding song lyrics will require more than just daily Canto vocab, and the lyrics in most of the Cantonese songs are not exactly Cantonese. If you don't understand standard/written Chinese it might be difficult to understand them. I have no specific suggestions on how to improve your Cantonese proficiency except perhaps increasing your exposure by watching more TVB programmes online or listening to RTHK online.