China has been gaining more and more popularity among different people from around the world. Some foreign expats come to China for work with the intention of picking up some of the local lingo. Many other foreigners will come to China specifically to learn Chinese. Whichever category you fall into, learning Chinese is inevitable regardless of your main motives.
When living in China, even the most simple of tasks can be made challenging by the language barrier. Learning to speak Chinese becomes more survival as opposed to a hobby. When you can speak Chinese, your life gets easier and your blood pressure returns to its normal level!
I wanted to come to China to work because I always had the interest in learning Chinese and thought it would be a great opportunity. My first year in China could only be described as a “baptism of fire” as I quickly discovered that even the most simple of situations required the ability to communicate in Chinese.
I rehearsed as many simple phrases as I could before walking out the door in the morning in the hope they would come in handy throughout the day.
I lived and worked in west Beijing, and most lunch times in the local restaurants became public entertainment for anyone close enough to hear me say anything. Thankfully, these situations got easier and easier but I still lived in fear of the waitress asking a question, which I was not prepared for!
The challenge has always been exciting for me and I would say such an environment is the best way to learn any language.
Despite working full time hours, I always managed to find time to see a Chinese teacher. This was important in the early stages, as I needed coaching on how to say the tones correctly. As time progressed, my lesson focus shifted from pronunciation to grammar.
After several years I had reached a point where most daily tasks had become manageable and I could handle basic Chinese. It has been exciting to watch the world come alive around me, as I have been able to understand more and more.
I still continue to improve my Chinese and I am currently working towards taking the HSK5 Chinese test. Wish me luck! 