How much Mandarin will I learn?

Question

I am planning to set aside a year to a year and half to study Mandarin in Mainland China OR Taiwan. I have taken a Chinese class before but I had to drop it for a VERY good reason. So here's the thing... I am a fast learner when it comes to characters and writing them so it's not a problem. As for the tones, I pretty much have a good idea on how they work though my listening can be so much better. HOW MUCH Mandarin will I learn in a year and a half -- provided I focus on learning the language the whole time??? I plan to take classes that spend at least 5 hours a day/ 5 times a week... can I master the language - in the conversation level in that short a time ?

ANY other thoughts, ideas, or additional info you think I should know?

Answer 1

Given the conditions mentioned above, you should be able to converse with little problems. i.e. if you major focus is on learning the language by full immersion.
If you are that serious about learning mandarin, DON'T go to Taiwan as their mandarin is tainted with heavy Hokkien accent. Beijin would be the best location.
Start by listening to the chinese news and documentary programs with chinese subtitles, it's the best way to listen to official pronouciations as the broadcasters are professionally trained and selected. The subtitles allow you to check your correct perceptions of the words pronounced as well as reinforce the learning of the written characters themselves.
Don't worry about the writing too much at first, as the brain is perfectly set up to learn by phonics. Learning the written ideograms is a life time process.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

If you really force yourself to speak mandarin the whole you are in China or Taiwan then I think you'll be able to master the language up to an average conversation level within a short period of time. Speaking the language is so much easier than writing it. Age also play a major part in this. The older you are the harder it'll take your brain to register the new stuff.....good luck.. 加油 (jia1 you2)

PS: start listening to chinese songs and try to sing it. I learn my mandarin pronunciation that way.

Answer 4

If you want to learn Mandarin but you have no clue exactly where to start off then a course for Mandarin is the very best online course for the novices due to the fact it actually commences with the basis.

Answer 5

I think you could easily learn much of the language, you'd probably bypass the "conversational" level and be a little more advanced.

The key is to keep an open mind, open eyes and open ears at all time. If you just concentrate, you'll pick it up very easily... Well, it's not an easy language to learn, but that can help.

Answer 6

If you desire to fully grasp Mandarin however you don't have any clue precisely wherein to begin off then a application for Mandarin is the very great online direction for the newcomers given that it definitely begins with the groundwork.

Answer 7

it depends on whether you will study after class but you should master the language. I have studied for 2 and a half years, at only six hours a week in America and I can read novels and have conversations on complicated things like politics and science.

Answer 8

for 1 and healf year, you should able to have good Mandarin by then. it is worth to learn Mandarin, since China is a hugh market, and will do good in coming 10 years.

you should check out the languages school in Beijing, since Beijing is the capital and Mandarin is from Beijing. and it should not cost that much. also, cost of living in China is low, so you can easily have a good quality of life and maid for cheap too.

good luck for your languages class.

Answer 9

i think that you should mandirin in mainland china because it's where most correct mandirin-speakers are. taiwan has somewhat of an accent when people speak, like fujian people. [[no offense intended to those out there.]]

at your pace of learning, you could probably add about 100-200 words to your vocabulary. maybe more. i also think that you could master the coversation level in maybe a few months.

good luck! :]

Answer 10

Conversationaly, you will be very good
REading and writing will also be quite well
Depending on where your intrests lie, you can do very well with it indeed.
anytime that you immerse yourself in the language you will pick it up a lot faster. I would recommend getting into a program that will prepare you to take the HSK (the Chinese profiency test), as that will be of most use to you.