Increasing vocabulary is a question of repetition and constant attention. I still use a Palm with the PlecoDict Chinese dictionary software (http://www.plecodict.com -- also works on other handheld platforms) and compile checklists of new characters and expressions I come across as I go. I'm rarely on a bus, train, or plane without whipping this out and using the flashcard function to test myself and get these new expressions firmly in my memory.

There's a fairly good Chinese-friendly shareware flashcard program for Mac called iFlash, which allows for three-sided cards, putting the characters, pinying, and translation on three different sides. Tone-marked pinyin, including the u + umlaut + tone can be entered using the U.S. Extended keyboard, and the program will even print flashcards for you. http://www.loopware.com/

Of course, doing as I did when I was starting and keeping a pack of paper flashcards in your pocket for use at spare moments is nearly as good as the higher-tech versions.

Similarly I download various audio language lessons into my iPod, and although these are often pretty dire, they still provide fresh vocabulary and stimulation. There are lots of free lessons at different levels at http://www.chinesepod.com, and you just have to put up with the oh-we're-so-cool and we've-left-our-brains-at-home MTV VJ style. But they are free after all, and overall better than dealing with Chinese-made materials that have China's relentless economic growth, the happy singing-and-dancing ethnic minorities, or other propaganda as their subjects, rather than dating, going clubbing, etc. And just going back to have a look at one before posting this, they now seem to have a slightly less irritating new male presenter.

Another useful trick in my early days was to write the character for bookcase, light switch, etc. on Post-It notes and stick them to the relevant items, with the tone-marked pinyin on the back. As interior decor it leaves something to be desired, and friends had a habit of swapping them round to see if I noticed. But if you want to get wall, door, bookcase, etc. in your head fairly quickly, this is an effective method.

Peter N-H