Help! I feel soo confused right now!

[iMeng@Meng]

Ok so I love studying chinese and I listen to it on and off but I am afraid that because of the tones I wont be able to hear and understand it, I feel a bit sad and frustrated and very down. I... cant find good resources, dont have a credit card I dont know what to do! The grammar is easy but hearing it is... is there a place I can work on my hearing?

.... sighhh

[edelweis]

Well, what's your level? what materials have you been using so far?

It's only natural to feel discouraged at times when learning Chinese.

If you want advice, you'll need to give some details so the people who have had the same issues can help.

[iMeng@Meng]

My level? upper beginner, I know alot in fact but need a solid work plan.

I've been using Mandarin Shaums Outline and Chinese-reading.com

uhhh a lot of stuff.

[laurenth]

I... cant find good resources, dont have a credit card I dont know what to do!

But you do have access to the internet, obviously. Which means you have access to more learning material than you'll ever have time to study.

Hint: type "podcast transcript" in the search box. Or type "imandarinpod" in your favorite search engine.

BTW, I don't want to sound pessimistic but, though I happen to own a credit card *and* a very long list of bookmarks with interesting learning material, including for listening comprehension, I also feel frustrated. Mostly.

[chestnut818]

If the problem is tones, I think maybe because your pronunciation is not very standard, and not very familiar with the words, sentence structure...dont be upset, beginning is a little bit difficult, later will better. Try to speak more.. May be read your listening script a loud is a good way..

[Guest realmayo]

If it's tones specifically, don't get too depressed: I think tones are one of those things where you seem to make zero progress for ages, then suddenly some things click into place and you find your level has jumped up ... then you plateau again for a long time before another jump. If you find decent resources and don't stop practicing then you will eventually make progress, even if half-way through it seems that you never will.

[iMeng@Meng]

yeah it might be the tones

EDIT:

OH MAI GAWD!!! Just got Pablo, nuff said, somebody saved my life!!!!

[abcdefg]

OH MAI GAWD!!! Just got Pablo, nuff said, somebody saved my life!!!!

I mainly use Pablo for looking up Hanzi by writing them stroke by stroke. In other words, I use it as a reference tool for reading and writing. How do you plan to use it for learning tones?

I know alot in fact but need a solid work plan.

Spend some time here reading how others have built successful study plans. Invest some searching time. You will find lots of helpful threads in which others have struggled with the same issues.

[laurenth]

A list of interesting links for tones:

http://howcanilearnc...inese-learners/

In particular, this simple and elegant exercise has been useful (hopefully) in my case.

This post (#31) has very sound advice although, frankly, I have yet to find the courage or the time to apply it (one day I'll make it a priority).

[iMeng@Meng]

abcedfg: Well the lack of vocabulary ot me and there is a pronunnciation tool in pablo Im getting!

[RedCloud]

Thanks for the link laurenth. I find it helpful to listen to ChinesePod upper-intermediate lessons (they are almost entirely in Chinese, of which I understand little). A Chinese teacher told me to do this as the brain will subconsciously process the tones whether you are aware of it or not...your brain just takes time to expand to absorb all of the information. Consistency seems to be best.

Then when I go to listen to a newbie lesson it often comes much easier. Keep us informed!

[abcdefg]

abcedfg: Well the lack of vocabulary ot me and there is a pronunnciation tool in pablo Im getting!

Whatever works.

I also use some tools differently from other learners, mainly because I just started using them early on and now continue out of familiarity. Not necessarily because the tools per se are so great.

[xuefang]

If listen to a recording that includes vocabulary you know, will you understand it if it's spoken quite slowly? What about with a normal speaking speed? Usually when I don't understand someone or a recording, it's because the vocabulary is too difficult or the speaker is too fast.

For listening the best way is to listen as much as possible. Listen to material that you can understand, then listen to material from which you can get the basic meaning out without help. I would advice againets listening too difficult stuff, because it can get you discouraged.

I recommend listening to podcasts that suit your level. If you don't understand the first time around, then check any hard parts (perhaps with a transcript if possible) and listen again.

For someone's first Chinese TV show I recommend

, which is also great listening practice.

@laurenth Thank you for linking