[xiaoma]

While we're on nationality, I have to say I find it hypocritical in the extreme that you wrote a long angry blog post about problems you have with Americans, which include overzealous marketing. And then you make ridiculous claims like "fluent in 3 months".

I saw your ChinesePod video after three months of study and it wasn't even remotely fluent. As tokenadult said, other than the intro it was slow and heavily accented.

In fact, I would go so far as to say the average college aged student I've met who has done an intensive program such as IUP in Beijing or ICLP in China not only has better reading skills, but also larger vocabulary, clearer accent and more fluid speech.

To clarify, I'm not saying you didn't manage to learn a good amount in three months. ICLP and IUP are top programs and very intense, and you're definitely ahead of the average university student who isn't in a great immersion program. Why the over-the-top claims? It's completely possible to make a successful language learning business without them. Just look at Steve "the linguist" Kaufman (a pretty good Chinese speaker, btw).

Benny speaking Chinese - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOmG-ufK0UI

Steve Kaufman - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmXVN2t2seE