Method suggestion to improve at advanced level

March 3, 2018 at 11:19 AM

After reaching an upper intermediate- advanced level of Chinese a few years ago, I found it difficult to improve further. I found myself using the same old worn phrases when I spoke (and I could't hear myself being so boring, non-creative and repetitive as well). I found that I was not necessarily learning anything, but rather I was practicing saying what I already knew, applying that in different contexts. Ultimately, I wanted to be able to converse on a range of topics and using the appropriate vocabulary and the right 搭配 , more advanced constructions and more 成语。

I decided to hire a tutor so that we could pick a range of topics that Chinese typically could bring up in a conversation. These ranged from hot topics (I have posted about these before), societal topics, politics (yes you may study that with a teacher), gossip and even financial topics.

中国消费者模式
低头组、月光组
社会现象:离婚、富二代、高富帅，
知识产权
海外购买
崇拜明星
崇洋媚外
崇拜奢侈品
贫富差距
留守儿童
高考压力
腐败
“我爸是李刚”
80后 ( and the others and their characteristics)

The way the classes were structured were as follows:

Teacher picks topic with me → teacher sends me topic in advance of class. This allows 预习 which is part of the process to bring the material into the long-term memory.

In class:

We discuss the subject briefly. She tests that I know what it is about and I give a very short summary.

I read aloud paragraph at a time. This practices prosody, pronunciation, tones and intonation.Teacher then asks me to paraphrase words and have me give my examples. Sometimes she gives her examples first. But she always asks me to explain in Chinese what a word means. (I have found this very useful to test my synonym spectrum).

At the end of the class we will have made a list of the words/constructions I need to practice. Typically 20-25 items. I then have to go away and write a 400 character essay using these words, and giving my own opinion about the topic in question, or use these words talking about another topic where these words also apply.

In the next class we first go through my essay on the computer screen. I correct the essay (this develops quick editing skills also) with her. We discuss why certain things do not work. What the typical Chinese phrase would be. After that we start the new topic (process just described).

After class I will make sure that the new vocabulary and the vocabulary that is passive are actively applied and practiced. I may ask a random Chinese person what such and such phrase means (although I already know) as this gives me the chance to hear it again. Or I may proactively go out and use it, and asking people if I used it correctly. It forcing myself to use what I have learnt. This also helps for long-term memory. So I have the 预习, the class itself 复习. This is then at least three times going through same material.

I had one teacher insisting I send her a recording of the text She then wrote out my errors showing which tone problems were evident. I liked that approach but I do not always have time to do that.

Over a few years, I have noticed that I have improved the following areas ( probably in order or priority):

Being able to sum up the key points of a topic without pausing and in a „monologue“, choosing appropriate vocabulary
Instinctively knowing which 搭配 or sometimes also which 成语to use. Example 搭配采取措施, example of 成语举足轻重 + 地位
Understanding synonyms and nuances between words
Being able to cover a range of topics in conversation, not just using phrases I already know, which would be understood but may not be the right one.
Knowing a very specific word (for example recently on Chinese-Forums someone asked what a „curtain twitcher“ was and this happened to be a word that was key to a topic we had covered)
Develop 书面语 writing skills
Develop text scanning skills