For me, I went to university to learn it. Being chinese really helps, as I learnt cantonese when I was young. I also work in a chinese restaurant where most of the staff speak mandarin, so I was able to keep using it everyday.
hmm... i would speak mandarin more at home.. oh and a good way if to get a bunch of mando friends to hang out with. ^^ they'll teach yu alot ^^
Find a chinese penpal, learn from books, melodies, tv ... and when you know the basics, go in China to improve.
you could start identifying simple mandarin words first before go for more complicated words. it helps a lot. pinyin translation helps too...
For Manderin..I like to watch dramas with English subtitles. And for Canto & Mandrin,you can play your favourite songs and sing with the lyrics infront of your computer screen.
Well, I'm not sure if you still need the help (since this topic was posted in 2006). But anyhow, in case for others who are interested in learning to speak Mandarin (the non-academic way), I heard that you could watch dramas that are spoken in Mandarin. Not sure how much that will help, but trying to listen in on how words are spoken wouldn't hurt. Also, my suggestion to you is...listening to Mandarin songs, but following the words with the lyrics. Hope this was helpful in some way!! ^^ Just trying to make learning fun.
Watching mandarian speaking drama~! haha after watching `21321 Korean dramas,,i picked up some Korean words..
http://youtube.com/user/askbenny this user has a lot of videos you can check out. short clips that he has you repeat in chinese and read it along with pinyin. ^_^
ye but it doesn't teach u very much chinese at all and it doesn't teach u how to read or write. if u just wanted to understand it and learn how to speak it i think it is easier just to watch mandarin shows. its the most effective way to learn it.
just got dissed ... went shopping in chinatown and asked for help in englist, french and cantonese... told by store guy 'all chinese should be able to speak Putonghua" in Cantonese. made me angry then MAD, cause he is right! I should learn to speak some Guoyu or Mandarin Rented old TVB series redubbed in mandarin. 1. already watched ... know plot, words, dialogue 2. learn simple phrases, 3. learn simplified chinese writing. 4. learn some #$% to repeat to rude, surly store clerks!
