learn Mandarin

Picked up my diploma on Friday; I passed level 1, yahoo :oD 89.something points out of 100 – not bad, eh?! However, the most important test is the one on the streets, and I still struggle G

But still, things are much easier now than when I knew no words at all, so I keep at it – have just started taking private lessons, as there will be no level 2 course until August. Besides, I actually like the private lessons; they are super efficient, but I really have to work hard to be prepared :oO

Found out today (rather too late G) that from now on, we have to hand in homework each week! Not sure if it is every time we have lessons (three times a week), but in any case, it is so much fun! Feel like I am 12 years old or so again.

The only thing that bugs me is that I didn’t spend too much time doing my homework for today, thinking we would only have to read it out loud; just goes to show ;o)

Last week the school was closed due to the May holidays, so I have just started my 4th week – and now I actually understand small snippets of conversation (VERY small, mind you ;o)), so I am still optimistic :oD

And it’s actually a lot of fun, even though it is also very tough!! But now I can actually read a sentence like this one >>
请问你的电话号码儿是多少?

and ANSWER it as well!! My only problem is that when I say something, no-one (except our teachers) understands G* So I guess I will have to learn to write the characters as well, so that I do not have to speak at all ;oD

On my third week of classes now.. I wonder when I will be able to order something and then actually get what I want *G

Had my second Mandarin lesson today :o) I still think it is very difficult to learn, but I guess it helps practicing. At least I felt more comfortable with most of the letters today, but now my newest problem is the tones and remembering what the combinations of letters sound like G I wonder if it is ever going to be easy.. Probably not – but now I know a few more words, and we already have to study the characters too!

OK.. a Danish tongue and the Mandarin pronounciation (not even sure if I spelled that right G*) is a baaaad combination! I can’t pronounce the most basic letters such as z, c and s?!

All in all, today’s class was very interesting (but fun); it started off with me thinking I must have ended up in the wrong session or missed lesson 1 *G When we were all seated, our teacher told us her name and a lot of bla bla bla that I didn’t understand as it was in Chinese, then we said our names (I think) – and that was it for introduction. Then the teacher pointed at the letter “p” on the blackboard and expected us to be able to pronounce it?! I mean – honestly G I know how it is pronounced in Danish, English and German – but how in the world should I know that it is “pooooo” or something like that in Mandarin?!

Oh well.. The conclusion is that I am not a natural (pity, I was really hoping that would be the case ;oD), so I definitely have to practice for the next lesson on Thursday – I actually have HOMEWORK!! And, as I have huge trouble pronouncing Coke (Coca Cola, that is ;o)) I will have to stick with tea (which I can say) from now on :oO

Is the day that I start having my classes.. I can’t wait! Although I am a little “put out” that I now have something that I MUST do three times a week at least – I am so used to controlling all my time myself G Am getting spoiled here, I fear ;oD

Keep your fingers crossed ;oD

Since we now live in Beijing, it is essential to learn at least the basics, as my English, Danish and German is of no real use in most cases G Have actually resorted to speaking Danish with most of the cab-drivers – just to show that words do come out of my mouth, only not the right ones :o/

Will start my course (I hope) on 11 April – and am really looking forward to it, as ni-hao only gets me so far ;o)