Taking another dip into the language pool

As the new year starts, I find myself engaged once again in the study of Mandarin.

I had abandoned the project about a year ago after feeling an overwhelming sense of frustration. I had been at it for nearly three years but still didn’t feel capable of having much of a conversation beyond a little chitchat about the weather and my job. It felt like a catch-22: I wasn’t confident enough to talk to people, but I would never advance if I didn’t.

I know I’m not alone. My wife, who teaches English in Beijing, says some students are adept at reading and writing but have trouble speaking.

I do not blame my teachers — in fact, I have had very good teachers who were dedicated and creative.

I definitely needed to work harder, but I also needed to incorporate Chinese into my daily life. Since I use English at work and at home, doing that consistently is not always so easy.

I do remember words that I use frequently, like when I ask for su liao dai, a plastic bag, at the checkout counter. Every time I go to my gym, which is in a shopping plaza, I pass a sign that directs me to the guang chang, or plaza, so I’ve added that to my vocabulary.

This also can be applied by more advanced students, who may plateau and feel frustrated. The local people I know here who have gone on to become fluent in English surrounded themselves with the language, watching movies, listening to the radio or podcasts and reading — a lot.

While I’m not at that stage, I’ve gone back to a conversation-based program on my computer that makes Chinese less intimidating.

I also have been lucky to find another dedicated, competent teacher. Several times during the week, outside of class, she engages me in some simple conversation in Chinese on WeChat. She also encourages me to use the voice recorder that comes with the app so she can check my pronunciation. It’s a great combination of personal instruction and technology.

One of my teachers once told me it’s OK to take a break from studies, but not to give up. While it was kind of a drag to go back and review very basic lessons, I needed to do that to get the memory flowing. I still need to work on tones.

Now I feel a new sense of excitement about my Chinese studies, as I recall words and phrases I previously learned. It’s nice to know that my teachers’ efforts have not been in vain.

Now the challenge is to be patient and persistent, and not veer back into frustration.

I need to observe the Chinese saying hao hao xuexi, tian tian xiang shang. The literal translation would be, “Good good study, day day up,” but the meaning is “Study hard and make progress every day.”

Contact the writer at matthewprichard@chinadaily.com.cn