Is going to China needed to speak very fluent mandarin?

[bresnahanp@gmail.com]

From my own experiences, I can say that it does help to an extent. I have been to China twice, once to teach English and the second time was to conduct research in the country. For the second trip I went totally by myself (except for when I got in touch with Chinese friends there). I will say that actually being in the country really forces you to use what you know, but you are limited by what you know...if that makes sense.

I didn't know a huge amount of vocab when I went back the second time, well, not much other than words in relation to directions, ordering food, etc. So I was limited in what I could talk about to native speakers in that respect. However, I believe that actually going there and having very few English speaking people I could talk to really forced me to use the language everywhere I could.

[evasiege]

No, it's not needed. It would take longer if you didn't, though. Unless you have a lot of Chinese friends (or a spouse) in the country you're from, it will be tough. Also, would you really want to subject yourself to hundreds hours of probably the most boring TV on the planet? I did, but I had other options as well to break it up. It would take a lot longer to pick up on many subtle nuances that separate native speakers from everyone else as well. Trust me.

[renzhe]

Also, would you really want to subject yourself to hundreds hours of probably the most boring TV on the planet?

Not all of it has to be boring!

[sbelous]

To answer the question in the topic title: No, absolutely not.

I have never been to China, but several people have mistaken me as being a native speaker (they assume I am 1/2 or 1/4 Chinese). When I first met my girlfriend's sister-in-law who is from China, she mistook me for being a Mandarin teacher. So it is entirely possible to speaker fluently and like a native without ever going to China. It will just require some pronunciation practice.

That being said, if you immerse yourself in the country/environment AND continue to work on your pronunciation, you will likely improve much more quickly.

[abcdefg]

I have never been to China, but several people have mistaken me as being a native speaker (they assume I am 1/2 or 1/4 Chinese). When I first met my girlfriend's sister-in-law who is from China, she mistook me for being a Mandarin teacher.

Knee How, afraid the joke's on you.