This is an ever evolving page on which I post about my Mandarin Chinese language learning Journey, I'll keep it in chronological order.
Note: Everything posted before 20140901 (the 8 month, 3 week mark) is posted retrospectively.
20140901 (8 months, 3 weeks)
I've been learning Mandarin for about 9 months now, this is my first entry on this page about it. Above this you'll find (when I get around to it…) a list of the excellent resources and inspiration that I've found to date and from here on I'll try to be a bit more regular with my additions.
In the video above Chris Lonsdale espouses 5 advices and 7 techniques to help you learn a language. 5 Advices first:
- Keep it Relevant-focus on language content that’s relevant to you (Eg, topcis that you are interested in, etc. This is one of the main comments of Tim Ferriss on language learning)
- Communicate ASAP-Use your new langugage as a tool to communicate from day 1
- Meaning First-When you first UNDERSTAND the MESSAGE then you will a acquire the language automatically. This is called “comprehensible input” and is proven because it's how every child learns
- Train Your Face-Learning a language is about physiological training. Speaking takes muscles, so train them
- Don't Worry, Be Happy-To learn you must be in a good mindset. Stay positive! If you’re happy, relaxed and curious you’ll learn. You have to be comfortable with ambiguity and be happy with what you are picking up rather than focusing on what you aren't
The 2 of the 7 techniques that I found most relevant are
1. Order of Vocab Acquisition-First get key phrases like “what is this?”, “How do you say it?”, “Repeat that please?”, “I don't understand”, etc. Then for a week or so build up your simple baby vocab with I, this, you, that, give, how. In week 3 or 4 move into glue words: although, but, and, even though.
2. Get a “Language Parent”-This is not a teacher. They differ in several ways such as: They work hard to understand what you're saying, They don't correct your mistakes but instead confirms what you're saying by using correct language, The use words you know.