Has anyone learned to speak Mandarin as a second language?

[vengie]

As the title says, has anyone here learned to speak Mandarin?

If so, what resources did you use? are the classes at the Chinese cultural center worth it? or is there a better alternative?

I appreciate any help.

[nzwasp]

Do you have a reason for learning it?

I tried learning cantonese through the classes at the cultural center. I think a) if i had tried harder and b) my wife actually spoke it to me then I think I would of known more. However I found they words they teach and what is colloquially said within the family dynamic are two different things.

example (for cantonese)

English:
How are you?

Cantonese (as taught)
Nay ho ma

Cantonese (at home)
Lay ho ma

I imagine there might be some similarities with the official way you get taught mandarin and how people use it in dialog at home.

[suntan]

For an English speaker it can be very difficult. It has tones, a totally unknown concept in English.

Grammatically however it's SVO, same as English. I also think it doesn't have things like postpositions, gender, etc. You just have memorize a bunch of characters.

[nzwasp]

Originally posted by suntan
For an English speaker it can be very difficult. It has tones, a totally unknown concept in English.

Grammatically however it's SVO, same as English. I also think it doesn't have things like postpositions, gender, etc. You just have memorize a bunch of characters.

Well you dont have to memorize the characters if you only plan to speak not write it correct?

[suntan]

I suppose they could just teach you orally. Sounds sexy.

[lilmira]

Originally posted by nzwasp

example (for cantonese)

English:
How are you?

Cantonese (as taught)
Nay ho ma

Cantonese (at home)
Lay ho ma

I imagine there might be some similarities with the official way you get taught mandarin and how people use it in dialog at home.

The first is correct and the second is not but a lot of people say it that way. It's almost like people writing should of instead of should have. We know what they are trying to say but only one is correct. Mandarin is probably easier to learn by an english speaking foreigner than cantonese. That would be a nightmare.

[Quizzes]

Have you tried apps like Memrise that you can install on your phone to learn at your own pace?
I have it on my phone, but never forced myself to learn it, but it's a resource that's free.

[Xtrema]

Here's some inspiration:

[Sugarphreak]

...

[Strider]

Originally posted by Quizzes
Have you tried apps like Memrise that you can install on your phone to learn at your own pace?
I have it on my phone, but never forced myself to learn it, but it's a resource that's free.

I couldn't find Mandarin in any of the popular apps like duolingo or babbel, so ended up with a knockoff app called ChineseSkill which was okay for learning the basics. I swear it probably had some spyware though, as I kept getting notifications telling me to move things to my SD card.

Originally posted by Xtrema
Here's some inspiration:

Wife sent me that while I was in China... so much shame.


As others have said, courses and apps teach a different (usually more formal) vernacular than how people normally speak. The best way is if you can meet someone who speaks native Mandarin and is looking to practice their English.

[TomcoPDR]

Have you tried "Dimsum Mandrian" on podcast? Have you tried dating a Mandrian speaking Asian?

[max_boost]

It's much easier to learn Mandarin and lots of white dudes can speak it including Mark Zuckerberg.

Good luck.

[rage2]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak
The same word can have multiple meanings depending on if you do an up, down or neutral tone throughout saying it.

gao gao gao. Choose the right combinations of tones and you get plastic dog penis.

[TomcoPDR]

Originally posted by rage2

gao gao gao. Choose the right combinations of tones and you get plastic dog penis.

What combos can we get with dieu dieu dieu

[Xtrema]

Originally posted by TomcoPDR


What combos can we get with dieu dieu dieu

Change Swap Fuck?

[jwslam]

http://studymorechinese.com/profiles...s-so-important

Originally posted by lilmira
It's almost like people writing should of instead of should have.

If you're going to post an example, post it properly.
Should have is shortened as "should've". "Should of" is what people who butcher English say.

[Cooked Rice]

I learned Mandarin via high school. But it's also skewed because I knew a fair bit of Cantonese going into it which helps a lot, and both my parents are fluent in Mandarin/Canto/Viet.

We used the Ni Hao language books. Although just about all my classmates(caucasians mostly) who stuck with the course through Grade 9-12 spoke and understood Mandarin phenomenally well by the end. Of course a lot of it had to do with our very good teacher.

If you could find a tutor that can work with you through the Ni Hao books, I think you could do well.

I'm learning Japanese right now via private instruction. We use the Genki books (considered one of the best for Japanese) and I wish they were written as well as the Ni Hao system.

You can also try online private instruction via iTalki etc...

As for learning the Kanji... It's hard. I learned to read a ton of it in high school but now I've forgot most of it, which sucks because it would sure be helpful with my Japanese at this stage.

[4runneron36s]

Gawd, I still can't pronounce "beef" properly in Cantonese.

[suntan]

Originally posted by max_boost
It's much easier to learn Mandarin and lots of white dudes can speak it including Mark Zuckerberg.

Good luck.

His Mandarin is fucking awful.

[jwslam]

Originally posted by rage2
gao gao gao. Choose the right combinations of tones and you get plastic dog penis.

How many kinds of water are there?