I have accepted a contract which will have me in Suzhou for 3 months this fall and hopefully again in the future. I'm excited and nervous and will have many questions for the forum!

Although I could probably get by without it, part of my goal for this job is to learn as much as I can about Chinese culture(s), including the language. My employer does have some language training once I arrive, but I would like to get a headstart.

I don't really want to do face-to-face classes for various reasons (including travel!) but would like to learn online. I have looked at the link in the FAQ, but it is a list of resources without any reviews. I have tried searches and found great stuff about immersion and finding the right girlfriend, but Mrs. PITUK isn't so keen on that! I would like to have a level of Mandarin that will let me get by enough to learn as I go when I am there.

I have used Chineseclass101's related sites for other languages, but they don't seem to offer individual lessons yet. Once I get to a certain level podcasts and the like might be fine, but to start I think that for pinyin and tones and the basics a good teacher would be valuable.

I am budget constrained but would be interested to hear from people who have had good luck with online services. SpeakMandarin.com seems like an interesting option and the pricing for the 30 lessons in 30 days doesn't seem to bad. Does anyone have any experience with them or with something similar?

Thanks

Dr. PITUK

Chinese is actually really easy to pick up (i.e. the grammar is simple). Go with your plan, but consider engaging Diana as well for one lesson/week. She charges around Y150/hour. Send me a PM/email if you want an intro.

My wife and I went to school and lived in Taiwan for almost 3 years to learn the language and after moving to China, we went for a semester in Wenzhou University just to get a hang of the mainland accents.

Afterwards, for the past 3 years, I have had an online tutor. Only once a week but she helps me with presentations, modern idioms, latest language trends, how to argue and use obscenities etc.

Stuff that schools don't teach - stuff that I need to learn to survive.

My teacher was willing to study online with me at 7 am which is perfect for me because I am most clear headed in the morning and gets my class out of the way before my work day starts.

While she had a required textbook, it was only used when I have nothing else that I need prepared first.

I think online tutors is an excellent way to improve certain areas that you are weak or to obtain certain language skills that you want. Highly recommend.

Chinese is easy? Any ways, you will not learn it properly (I mean, nobody will understand you) if you learn it by yourself online. You need to talk to someone who can correct your tones You may think you are saying the right thing and just draw blank stares. Check also chinesepod.com

I was killing time today and found what seems like a wonderful way to learn some basic Chinese characters - up to 800 according to the video. Or as the narrator explains, the same as a Chinese 8 y/o

Web Site

Here is the original TED video

TED video

(Probably the same thing)

While this might not be that helpful to a more advanced speaker, it looks like pretty good for the beginner.

Thanks. This is interesting, so I shared it with a few of my colleagues who constantly complain that reading is difficult (it's actually not for people that bother to put in a minimal amount of effort, but I digress), but are pretty solid at speaking (e.g. in addition to conversational stuff, thorough business presentations complete with relevant industry specific terms).

I expect they will give me a bit of pushback over the 繁体 focus, but that's fine (i.e. its very easy to move from 繁体 to 简体; plus people tend to grossly overstate the differences).

BTW, I think she is GREATLY underestimating the reading/writing abilities of Chinese 8 year-olds, but that doesn't really matter.

Could be Shaolan's personal recollection and country specific.

Unfortunately and adult brain does not absorb information the same way as an 8 years old so the comparaison is not that relevant.

an oldie but goodie...

http://www.sexymandarin.com/

This is even older!

http://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Chinese-.../dp/B003ODHOA4

Dirty Chinese Jan 2010
Sexy Mandarin Dec 2011

In Chinese time that's equivalent to the time from the model t to the tesla.

I first saw the former in 1994.

The original came out when HK had a different flag.

The book makes reference to Xbox 360, which came out in 05?

Obviously, it's been updated over the years.