What's the best way to learn mandarin at home?

My boss has put my name forward to work in china this summer because she assumed i could speak fluent mandarin.
I would still like to go so i need to learn the language and be able to communicate well in it.
Anyone have any advice?

 

Here's a few things:

DL Tool
You can download a mini-dictionary/translator program that catches everything you copy. So, for example, if you see a word you don't know on your computer, you copy it and it gives you pinyin and a English translation -- If your computer can type/write chinese, you can write out a word in notepad and let it translate. This is especially handy if you see a word and you don't know it -- faster than browsing thru a traditional dictionary.
http://dltool.sourceforge.net/

Online Flashcards
This website has over 2000 words/phrases in flashcard form, complete with English translation and pinyin. It's good because it covers the 2000 most common words/phrases in the language.
http://www.yellowbridge.com/language/flashcards.html

Other than that, just talk to people.
Hope this helps, and good luck. -^_^

 

i recommend u take these audio courses ASAP 6 months to learn manderin is pretty hard but not impossible if u can master "Pimsleur's Manderin" you could communicate somewhat the basic sayings -clapclap

not sure how far u are in manderin but the best way to try and speak fluently in all language courses is to take the actual courses where u have a teacher and other people to communicate with.

 

Thanks for the help
i took a course last year so i can understand mandarin but my speaking isn't that good as i'm always worried about my cantonese or scottish accent coming thru.
I'm going to try and just speak it whenever i get the chance

 

I would try some audio books and just talking to ppl in mandarin because the stuff u learn from text/audio are usually too formal.

 

Yeah, like Shinobi I often listen to Chinese music to improve my Chinese. But I think the best way to speak Chinese well is to talk to Chinese people.

 

Thanks for the advice guys. I would like to learn Chinese too maybe by myself cause I don't have time to take a class. But I will learn mandarin and most of the Chinese artists sing in cantonese right? Maybe I'll get confused?

 

i think audio files would help you get the basics of it, and maybe a elementary textbook for learning chinese. you won't be amazing by the end of it, but hopefully it'll help when you encounter real life situations in china.

 

just sing the songs =P lol thats what i do haha

 

found another really good way of learning mandarin.
currently watching tv series and movies with subtitles but just have to be careful about relying too much on subtitles.

 

lol i do that all the time, haven't worked for me.

 

Try to read the character. learn simple one first.
I am learning too but I need to get good resources for them.
I do speak and able to listen to mandarin but I want to understand the characters. good luck Parcben

 

take online class

 

i try to sing along and read the lyrics at the same time so i get to know the pronounciation and receognize the characters =)

 

using the internet or local mandarin courses are you best bet.

 

i hear that just watching movies and series in chinese is a great way...that's how my boyfriend learned

 

music and movies worked for me^^ but cantonese was my frist language so it might have been easier for me..

 

I just pick up the lyrics to the chinese songs that I listen to. It's great for recognizing words, but in terms of understanding them, it is still quite tough for me! haha

 

How about Cantonese? I want to learn Cantonese....