tips on studying mandarin.

[cjake22]

hello I want to go to china this summer and study Putonghua. I am learning on my own right now. I have two Chinese books, one of which is The New Practical Chinese Reader. I also have a teacher on Skype that I have lessons with every two weeks and an online language exchange partner. I am also working on memorizing 100 most common radicals from hacking Chinese and the vocab from the HSK 1. It is all overwhelming and I work around 30 hours a week. What are some tips I can use to get the most out of studying. My goal is to know enough Chinese, so when I get to china I can learn Chinese if that makes sense.

[stapler]

Well, it sounds like you're doing pretty much what you should be doing....

 

I figure there aren't any replies so far because all the tips and advice are well publicised around the web. You probably know them all.

 

Sorry I couldn't be of much more help.

[li3wei1]

Rather then the vocab from HSK1, why not just learn the vocab from NPCR, as you encounter it? They're probably pretty similar, but it's easier to learn things in context, so you have a sentence and a situation to attach to the words, rather than just an alphabetical list. And how are you learning the vocab? Flashcards? Most people here will tell you: learn the character first, from your textbook or teacher, then put it in your flashcards. And learn words rather than characters.

[Johnny20270]

I was pretty much in the same position as you. Tried a lot to learn before I came here. My class mates where the same. I think there is not one way or even optimal way that  suits everyone. It depends on your learning style. Off the top of my head a few bits and bobs that might be useful for you when you come or at least anticipate. Its obvious but nevertheless easy to miss. 

• You can study characters on your own, I personally believe you should limit your use of a teacher to grammar, spoken, understanding why Chinese speak they way they do. Although they can be useful for characters tuition at times. For example, I had a real trouble remembering the word for secret 秘密. My teacher said "look at the two 心" so its between two hearts. Never miss it now. 
• Its the small everyday stuff that throws you as they are short stubby sentences with (as it appears to me) incorrect or unusual grammar. its just the nature of the language.  
• I have changed my mind of ChinesePod. It always seems like a mess of Chinese dumped in together. I hate the lack or rigour but its the most useful source I have seen for 'local everyday talk'. I really wish my text books would belt up arranging stories around dormitories, university, canteens, libraries and the bar etc i haven't been to a library in 15 years at least.
• The 把 particle is often designated to an intermediate level in books, yet you hear in about 10 times a day. Its a difficult concept to grasp initially but you have to just get to grips with it. 
• When you learn a word, make sure you understand it and add a sentence you understand into your flashcards. I have about 2500 flash cards now and I am laboriously going back populating it with example sentences. Its useful to add a few for difference uses of the work. LINE and PLECO are useful. Its important to add your own sentence from your own class or book. You start to cross reference in your head a lot.
• Accept that some sentences just have strange translations and move on, or at least come back back to later. Hard to do if you have a technical mind and don't like ambiguity. Our teacher we are at the stage where we are just beginning to realize that looking for exact translations is fraught with problems. That's not to say, be loose with ti, just not aim for the 100%
• Don't aim for a race to a word count or measure yourself against others. Sometimes there is a lot of bragging /arrogance going on (western nature maybe). I am convinced that when some says they "Oh I have just been studying Chinese for only 3 months" that's rarely the case.
• Try get the idea out of your head that one Chinese word does not one English meaning. See dictionary definition for 点. Can be use for lighting a candle, 2pm, ordering a dish at a restaurant, choose something ...

[makochan]

I don't know if you already feel like you have a good grasp of tone and pronunciation, but a common thread among many Chinese learners is that they regret not spending more time working on this in the beginning.  Its probably because it feels like grunt work.  But unlike vocab, grammar, etc. that is acquired knowledge, tone/pronunciation is also about training your mouth and ears to get it right.

 

Here's some good links:

http://www.sinosplice.com/learn-chinese/pronunciation-of-mandarin-chinese

http://www.hackingchinese.com/focusing-on-tone-pairs-to-improve-your-mandarin-pronunciation/

 

Since you have NPCR, you could also record yourself reading the Vocab list and Dialogue.  And then check your progress over time.  As your progress, this will help with fluency and the rhythm of Chinese as well.

 

Good luck!