[iakdnf]

Learning Chinese will often take up all your free time if you want to do it right. You cant pick it up half assed like other languages. Ive been learning it pretty hard the last 7 months and am pretty conversational but still get lost in conversations often, but can always clarify meaning by asking various questions, so I have attained an awkard level of fluency.

I recommend only speaking Chinese and forgoing English at all times, unless youre talking to someone who cant speak Chinese.

My friend has much better listening comprehension skills and has been here about 18 months, and Im on track to be on his level soon. We actually try, though. To be honest, most people hardly try.