Speak Chinese in just two days...

　　Mark Godfrey Asks linguists and language students For the short cuts to learning Chinese

　　Speaking a few languages is key to success in a globalised world. Multinational companies which increasingly dominate the world economy often dispatch staff all over the world, giving them the chance to work in several different countries during the course of their career. Language skills are thus a distinct advantage in getting past job interviewers. And as Chinese companies become more prominent on the world's stock markets it makes sense that more than 4,000 students from 109 countries or regions are studying at Beijing Language and Culture University. Last year, China welcomed 77,715 students from 175 countries according to Zhang Xiuqin, an official in the Department for International Cooperation and Exchanges at the Ministry of Education. The figures will rise rapidly according to the Ministry of Education, which has set itself the target of inducting 120,000 foreign students by 2007. Chinese learners have done well: According to Vice-Minister of Education Zhang Xinsheng foreign students who graduated from China over the past two decades have become ministerial-level officials and diplomats in their home countries.

　　Learning Chinese is a daunting prospect to most Westerners. It needn't be, says David Andrews, a British student studying at a Beijing academy. "It's important to keep it all in perspective. Fluency isn't essential. Even small talk in the local language is a real icebreaker for businesspeople coming here."

　　US-based linguist Eric Dondero R. has taught himself over 20 languages using advanced learning methods and immersion techniques. Dondero, an interpreter and certified language instructor in Houston, Texas says his secrets for quick language learning and maximum retention have helped him learn the basics of dozens of languages. Holidaying in China recently, he said he found Chinese surprisingly easy to pick up. Dondero has published a book with basic phrases from over 40 of them.

　　"I started off writing this book for myself. I needed a quick reference guide for all the languages that I spoke. Then I came to realise that this book would be a very helpful tool for people who love to travel." Dondero also targets his book at business travellers with international clients. Confidence is key, he believes. "Most foreigners are thrilled to hear an American utter a few phrases in their native language. You absolutely do not need to be fluent to communicate in another language. So long as you know the basics that's more than enough to get by."

　　Language learning talents consist of four abilities: the capacity to memorise and reproduce a phrase in a foreign language and the logic to understand syntax and grammatical patterns. There's also the ability to accurately identify sounds - musicians call it perfect pitch - as well as the ability for rote memorising.

　　Eric Dondero uses an unorthodox strategy. He speaks over 20 languages and can communicate in about 20 more. Languages however aren't his natural academic background: he has a degree in political science from Florida State University. But it was later when he served four year in the US Navy that he started to learn languages. Dondero provides language instruction for those who want to learn enough to be understood, and don't have time to spend learning all about conjugating verbs. "Phrasebooks are very handy for those who have little or no knowledge of the language spoken in their travel destinations. The method may give professional language teachers the fits. But it works well as an introduction."

　　"I've seen many obnoxious visitors abroad thinking that speaking louder will make the locals understand them. A little effort to learn the local lingo goes a long way. You don't have to spend your whole life in language classes to learn the basics of a lot of languages."

　　EU citizens excel at language learning: while only 16% of Europeans consider English their mother tongue, another 31% learn it as a second language. With such a strong need for language skills, students who are bilingual or multilingual will have few problems finding employment. China's size is a disadvantage for natural linguists. Children in small countries by comparison must grasp several languages at an early age. Luxembourg for example skills its citizens in four working languages: English, French, German and a local dialect. Languages are easily learned when the student is a child or teen. "I have never heard of people getting to speak fluently languages they only learned at school, no matter how long they studied it" says American linguist Charles Cooper, an academic on a research sabbatical in China. "But I know many who learned on their own and were able in a couple of years to read, watch TV and have simple conversations in a new language. But you've got to keep the language exercise fun and challenging."

　　"Kids should be given the idea early that knowing several languages is a sign of excellence, something desirable but it also has to be shown to be fun and quite easy" says Cooper. "Many of the best language learning tools are cost-free, and some cost only a little money. TV channels in foreign languages are an obvious aid. A wake-up call to the sound of a clock-radio set to a foreign language station is another. Better as a student you should befriend people who speak your target language."

　　French businessman Peter Bidou has learned five languages while on long-term postings abroad. He's currently learning Chinese through evening classes in Beijing. "If you're a language fan you should spend a year abroad, or a few months at least. If you can't manage a foreign posting through work there's plenty of websites that help language exchange partners to meet. You can exchange a period of time in each other's homes. Learning a language in its natural milieu helps the learner with a better accent. Holiday learning exchanges are a new take on holidaymaking. Travel companies are charging a fortune for a service you can manage yourself with some internet surfing."

　　Before travelling, advises Bidou, there are thousands of books, cassettes, CD-ROM's and videos to get the learner started. Experts recommend buying several and using them jointly. "Hiring a teacher is not very expensive in China and it's much more efficient than group learning. How fast you learn depends on the distance between the student's native language and the foreign language they've chosen to learn. An Italian for example needs could grasp an intermediary level French in a hundred days with at least 30 minutes a day. An Italian learning Chinese will have to double the effort."

　　Watching a foreign film with subtitles is more entertaining than tapes and textbooks says David Andrews. "It's good for developing an ear for languages. It helps you get used to hearing everyday language at normal speed. Mix the course recordings with films with subtitles and listen to a foreign radio station or watch foreign language TV stations if you have satellite TV. Without understanding much of what is being said, it's a good way of getting used to sounds and intonations. Students should choose programmes according to their interests because you'll learn much more effectively about subjects you're keen on. International news is a good, particularly if you have already heard the news in English that day. Pictures will give you clues. You'll find that you are picking up a lot of vocabulary by making use of the subtitles especially for common expressions."

　　Learning a foreign language is hardest at the start and then late in the process, according to linguist Charles Cooper. "The start is really intimidating. You don't hear the phonemes, you find people speak too quick to understand them. The new alphabet looks great but it totally puzzles you. You get stumped by the new words constantly coming at you. And in frustration you contradict your teacher. You say: 'I was sure I spoke correctly !'"

　　"I tried out several methods for learning Czech, Russian and Croatian. I found that PC multimedia methods do not work because of the discomfort of staying in front of a computer. The grammatical approach is frustrating and gets you less proficiency. Shortcut methods lead to low results and methods without audio material are useless."

　　Self-learners seeking a fast route to intermediate level should opt for one of two tested methods, known by professional language teachers as Pimsleur and Assimil, says Hilary Flink, a Swedish linguist learning Chinese at Beijing Foreign Languages University. "Each advocates a different pedagogical approach. With Pimsleur you listen, understand, repeat and answer the questions. With Assimil you listen, read, repeat and memorise. Audio (CD or tapes) is the principal material for Pimsleur while Audio with a book is used in the Assimil method. Study time needed is similar. You need 90 days at 30 minutes a day for Pimsleur, and 100 days at 30 minutes a day for Assimil."

　　"Pimsleur gives great proficiency in conversations. It's easier to practice and keeps the learner motivated. Assimil allows immersion into the language and it's humorous. It also informs the reader about culture and daily-life context of the language. Minuses are the exorbitant price, lack of written material and you feel like a parrot. Assimil lacks grammar explanations and places a high importance on memorisation. It's not an interactive method."

　　Daily practice is key to a good grasp of Chinese says Charles Cooper. "Fifteen minutes a day during the entire week is better than two hours once a week. The student should work on various fields at the same time: listening comprehension, newspaper reading, TV, conversation and writing. Making mistakes isn't the biggest worry. In your native language, you still make mistakes. Admit that you can't reach real fluency without years of learning. Put speaking and listening first. You'll learn how to write correctly later. Grammar comes easily with practice. Do lots of recall exercises with flash cards, because memory is your best friend."

　　"Be a kid. Listen, memorise, repeat and just use spontaneously the most common words and phrases. Don't go using a dictionary in the beginning. But try hard to pronounce the words correctly because that leads you into the language."

　　For veteran linguist Peter Bidou, a busy pharmaceuticals executive, evening classes are a tried-and-tested way of learning languages. It works with Chinese. "By learning as a group you can motivate each other and keep each other going. It's also a good way of meeting other people who share some of your interests. Make it enjoyable. If you can persuade a friend or family member to study with you, it will give you extra impetus to keep working and allows students to test each other regularly. Stay motivated and study a little every day - don't overdo it, but don't get tempted to let it slide either."

　　"Use a variety of strategies and work out your preferred learning style and use it to your advantage. Be efficient but don't try and do too much at once. You'll learn more effectively studying for half an hour or so at regular intervals. Don't skip sessions. Organise your work according to your mood. If you're tired, choose less demanding tasks such as repeating activities. If you lack concentration, read a Chinese language magazine article about a subject which really interests you."

　　Using new words learnt is essential says David Andrews. "Talk! Even if you can't form complete sentences, you can communicate with just a few words. Above all, don't worry about getting things wrong: people will understand you. They will also appreciate that you are making the effort and will be more receptive. The more confidence you gain in actually communicating, the more fluent you'll become."

　　"Practise improvising ways of getting your meaning across when speaking spontaneously, even if you don't know the exact words or phrases. A basic example is the use of tenses. If you don't know the past tense but want to talk about yesterday, use the verb in the present tense with the word for 'yesterday'. With practice, you'll find that you will improve your ability to approximate and to describe things, even if you are aware that you do not have the exact vocabulary or specific phrases. Use facial expressions, hand movements, anything to get your meaning across. The important thing is to build up your confidence so you're not afraid of getting involved in a conversation."

　　Language learning is also about intuition, says Hilary Flink. "Guesswork is an important strategy and you'll probably be pleasantly surprised at how often you're right. Try recording yourself... it's important to evaluate your performance, see how you can do better and have another go. Read aloud because it helps learners memorise vocabulary and structures. Go through the same dialogue several times. A wide vocabulary is the key to successful language learning but don't try to learn too much at once. Take a maximum of six or seven items of vocabulary and learn them. Put them into sentences to fix them in your mind, then come back to them later. Learning vocabulary by topic is usually the most effective way."

　　Chinese is becoming a real option for language programmes worldwide. China's Ministry of Education has signed agreements with educational authorities in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, to mutually recognise higher education degrees. The Republic of Korea, Japan, the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia contribute the majority of foreign students in China, followed by Thailand, Germany, Russia, Nepal and Mongolia, according to the ministry. China has opened to the world and Chinese is one of the most fashionable tongues in language universities worldwide. A stroll through Beijing's university district reveals a dozen accents as students from all over the world congregate in newly fashionable cafes and bars there to practise their Chinese. Joining them has isn't so difficult. Daily practise is the secret to speaking success. You read it here first...