11) Also, if you are in China, whenever you get in a taxi or go to the store, chit chat. Say 你好 (nihao, hello), but also say something else to show the person that you can speak Chinese. For example, I sometimes say something like, “今天的天气太热!” (Today’s weather is too hot!). Then you can go from there. You can practice your set phrase with your teacher until you can say it perfectly. This is important because most people assume that foreigners can’t speak Chinese, so they probably won’t start the conversation.
12) Listen for key words. When somebody speaks, maybe you’ll only understand 20%. Don’t worry. Listen for the key words. Then say, “你的意思是….” (So what you mean to say is…” In other words, rephrase what you think the person just said using words that you know. Then from the facial expression, you’ll be able to see if you did get it right or not.
13) Speak with fluency. “Fluent” is a concept that is hard to define, and a place that I may never reach. But what I call “speaking with fluency” is another thing that can even be done by beginners. Here’s a drill that you can do. Take some semi-complex words in English or whatever your native language is. Then use small and basic words to define it. For example:
Dictionary- if you don’t know a word, you can find it in this book
Extradition- when a bad guy from my country is in your country, and my country wants him back
Watermelon- it’s a big fruit (use your hands to demonstrate). It is sweet and red.
Bank- a house where people put their money.
So when you speak, you may not know the word or concept in Chinese, but you can probably think of some small words that can express the same thing. In this manner, you can have fairly meaningful conversations after only a few months of study.
14) Learn the phases that will help slow down the conversation. , “请,说慢一点” (Literally, “Please, speak slow one dot” or as far as it’s meaning “Couldjya speak a bit slower please?” Also, 请,再说一遍 Literally, “Again speak one side” meaning “Could you please say it again.”
15) Dashan, a famous Canadian guy that speaks perfect Chinese and insecure foreigners love to nitpick and criticize, has a useful learning Chinese show you can watch for free on CCTV-9. If you can, watch it.
16) Combine formal studying with extensive exposure to Chinese. In basketball, the best players are the people who have gone through formal training with coaches showing them how to pass properly, how to box out, how to shoot with the right arch, how to work as a team. But the best players also play a lot of hoops in their free time, play “horse”, play “21”, watch basketball on TV, cross train, and lift weights. This is comparable to studying Chinese, with the textbooks and classrooms comparable to formal coaching and playing in organized leagues. The playing on your own is comparable to chit chatting, watching TV and movies, listening to music and the radio, reading the paper, scanning the Chinese Internet, studying on your own, writing characters again and again.
17) Combine determination with a deep passion for learning. People loved to watch Magic Johnson play not only because he was good, but also because he was so creative, happy and passionate about basketball. People loved to see Stevie Ray Vaughan play guitar because he was inspirational. He used to play so hard and with so much passion that he would even tape his calluses back on after they had fallen off. It sounds a bit cheesy, but if you can find this sort of passion and enjoyment in learning Chinese, I have no doubts that you will improve and get something meaningful to your life out of it.