| Whether you're heading to China on a business trip, a | | | | 3. Listen to native speakers - Use an audio program |
| vacation or to start a new job overseas, you need | | | | that features native speakers. You'll be much more |
| to learn Chinese fast. No problem, right? It's not like | | | | likely to pick up on important inflections that will help |
| Chinese is that difficult... Oh wait - Chinese, with its | | | | Chinese people understand you. |
| characters and complex pronunciation, is actually | | | | 4. Practice regularly - Cramming a new language all at |
| pretty intimidating for most native English speakers. | | | | once works about as well as it did in college - you'll |
| Fortunately, there are several things you can do to | | | | be lucky if you retain anything! Instead, set aside a |
| learn Chinese fast. | | | | regular time to practice for at least a half hour each |
| 1. Focus on the important parts - You don't need to | | | | day and you'll quickly and easily learn Chinese fast. |
| know how to introduce your great-grandmother right | | | | 5. Start using the language as quickly as possible - |
| off the bat. Instead, focus on survival phrases that | | | | Before you've even left your native soil, find Chinese |
| include introductions and basic directions. | | | | speakers to practice your skills with. Literacy |
| 2. Learn to speak before you read - You'll be much | | | | programs in your area can help you find practice |
| better off if you can ask someone what a certain | | | | partners, or you can find Chinese speakers looking to |
| character means than if you can't communicate with | | | | brush up their English online. You'll mess up and sound |
| the people around you. | | | | silly, but you'll improve much faster this way. |