learn Mandarin

So this has turned out to be one of my easier things, which is sort of surprising. I’m not necessarily making amazing progress, but I am improving and seem to be retaining what I learn.

I have been pretty lousy at completing things, so it’s nice to be actually moving ahead with one challenge. I’m really not sure when I can mark this complete though – I think that it will be on my list for a long time.

Working on this everyday on the walk to and from work. I am improving!

I’m stilling listening to my ‘lesson plans’ on my walk to work in the morning. I am surprised to find that I really am picking up more then I thought I would, or perhaps I’m just remembering more then I thought I would.. Either way, it’s making me happy.

So it turns out that I do remember a little more then I thought I did.
I’m still listening to the ‘courses’ on my IPOD on the walk to work and I am happy that I can differentiate between quite a few tones. Of course I still have very very far to go, but I’m feeling increasing positive.

I dug into my closet and pulled out my old workbooks. I’ve also bought myself a series of CD’s – I’ve plugged the lessons plans onto my ipod so that I can listen to the them on the way to work. I’m actually happy that I remember more then I thought that I would…

I’ve been wanting to go on a big trip for a while now, so I’ve been chatting with a couple of friends about putting some sort of adventure together for 2010… As it turns out my friend is going to the partner’s brother is moving to Shanghai. So I’ve been tentatively chatting about a little China trip. This might be just the motivation that I need to really start working a bit harder on this goal.

We shall see…

I studied Mandarin in High School and even travelled to China. At best my Mandarin was a little better then basic.
I loved China and promised myself that I would continue to practice. Needless to say, almost 10 years since I graduated high school I’ve lost almost all of my Chinese.
I’m disappointed in myself, but this is something that I can accomplish.