Learning Mandarin with Pimsleur or Rosetta
Stone
Mandarin is a language spoken across most of northern and
south western China.
When considered a separate Chinese
language, the Mandarin language has more speakers than any
other language spoken in Asia.
The standard Mandarin language commonly refers to the
Beijing dialect of the Mandarin language.
Learning Mandarin can be a very exciting venture. Like all
varieties of the Chinese languages, there is a significant
dispute as to whether Mandarin should be considered an
individual language or a dialect.
This however does not stop many people from learning to
speak Mandarin.
This is a beautiful language when
spoken fluently and many in business have learned the language
to aid in business practices.
Millions of people in China and other countries have taken
up Mandarin as a second language.
As with learning any foreign language, you must be prepared
to devote an adequate amount of time to become completely
fluent in Mandarin.
Pimsleur Chinese (Mandarin) I, II, &
III Complete Courses
Dr. Paul Pimsleur
Chinese (Mandarin) Levels I, II & III. Includes 48
hours of spoken language practice in ninety 30-minute audio
lessons...
If you are planning to learn to speak
as well as read and write Mandarin there may be a need for
more than one learning program. While the Rosetta Stone
program offers a wonderful way to learn the reading and
writing of Mandarin through the use of images and other
learning tools, the Pimsleur program offers learners the
ability to become fluent speakers of the language.
Both programs, when used together can help you to completely
master the Mandarin language.
You should ensure that you are ready to spend adequate time
learning any new language skill. If you are planning to learn
Mandarin, expect to devote at least an hour per day to the
learning process. Given this amount of time daily you may just
be surprised at how quickly you can master the language
skills.
The varieties of the Mandarin language cover a very large
area and contains nearly one billion people. There are
pronounced regional variations with regards to pronunciation,
vocabulary and grammar of this language, although the regional
differences are more pronounced than those found in the English
language spoken in England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia,
Canada and the United States.
Standard Mandarin has been very actively promoted by
Singapore among other regions as a second language. Those who
are not native speakers of standard Mandarin frequently flavor
it with a very strong infusion of the sounds of their native
languages.
Even with these many varieties learning Mandarin can be
easily and quickly done given you spend the time needed to
master the skills. If you are planning to visit an area that
speaks Mandarin or even if you are just curious as to how the
language is used, you can use a learning program like those
listed above to give you the aspects needed to master the
language.
Visiting an area that uses the Mandarin language will be
much more enjoyable for you if you can communicate while you
are there. Paying strict attention to the dialect in your
learning aids will help you to distinguish between variations
in the language.
Be sure that you pay strict attention to the lessons and
give yourself the needed time to become comfortable speaking
this new language skill. Given the adequate time, dedication on
your part to master the language and the use of programs that
will help you to learn the basics, you can count on a quick
learning process and be speaking your new language sooner than
you may have thought.
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