Learning Chinese
After arriving in China in late 1980 I have tried many times to learn Chinese. In the early days contact with Chinese was very restricted. Making local friends and learning the language over a beer was a no-go. Also one gets totally swallowed up by the job, in Beijing that is mostly 7/7 and most evenings included. Our mind is tired and not very receptive to learn. And we are not getting younger either.
After trying a couple of methods, I gave up and just tried picking up some more words through chit chat with local friends. But frustration ran deep as I wanted to really be able to have a decent conversation. Now that I am working on my book about Chinese society, how Chinese think today and their attitudes I talk as much as I can with “real locals” who mostly don’t even the word “taxi”. I don’t want to go through “interpreters” – I want the people to feel at ease with me and open up. Thus the frustration when I hit “the wall”…
THIS SECTION IS UNDER REVISION AND WILL BE SOON UPDATED
SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE
Update:
On 19 April 2010 I finished lesson 124. Way to go, but I remain strongly motivated!