You can learn Chinese language with ease, if you have a rough idea of what you are doing. Just like other languages, Mandarin and Cantonese have a series of rules which need to be followed in order to speak properly. If you know how to learn Chinese language then you will find the process much easier than you thought.
One of the first things to watch out for when you learn Chinese language is the different tones. Mandarin has 4 to 5 tones and Cantonese has 6 to 7 tones. When you say a word using different tones, the meaning will change. Because of this fact, you will want to avoid learning Pinyin until you have a firm grasp of the language. Pinyin is a Romanized approximation of the actual sounds, which will not do you much good until you know what tone goes with them.
When you learn Chinese language, it is easier to learn the vocabulary in phrases. By choosing this method instead of memorizing a list, you will find people can understand what you are saying even if the tone is wrong. Thanks to context clues, people can get the gist of a conversation even if it is poorly pronounced. Furthermore, you will find Mandarin does not always have the one-to-one word translation into English like other languages do. This situation will make it even harder to learn individual words.
Initially, you should forget grammar rules while you learn Chinese language. If you try to ask a young child whether the noun or the verb comes first in a sentence, then likely they will not know the answer. Yet, many children can say a sentence properly. Your study of Mandarin should be similar. You will discover you are able to pick up more of the vocabulary when you go by feeling instead of trying to memorize all the rules.
Of course, it is easiest to get a feel for a dialect when you get frequent exposure. Meaning, in order to learn Chinese language efficiently you will want to expose yourself to it regularly. Listen to audio programs, talk to people or watch Chinese movies. With time, you will find you are speaking using the correct grammar even without knowing what the rules are.
The most important thing to do whenever you study a language is to pick a method which works for you and have fun with it. Deciding to learn Chinese language is no different. Try joining a Chinese language group, becoming a foreign exchange student or planning a future trip to China to keep you motivated. Experiment with different learn Chinese language options, including classes, audio tapes and tutors. The more options you try out, the easier it will be to find a method that fits your learning style.
