new student

myImage

I am about to start an Arts degree in UCC and I am planning on taking Chinese Studies which will involve learning the language. I have not studied a language since leaving school, and in school never really took to them. Am I crazy? Anyone do this course module and find it ok?

rivers

hey,
i didnt do that course you're talking about but i've been learning chinese for about 2 years. its the kind of thing, like any language i guess, that if you're interested you'll go far, but if you lose interest early on it'll be like hitting a brick wall...

my advice would be; dont give up early on. it seems really difficult at the beginning but definitely do-able if you stick at it. also, i'd think learning properly depends on getting real exposure to the language, so planning a semester in china studying sometime in the future would really help.

it'd give you something to work towards, and if you had a strong foundation from studying when here in ireland (i.e, the tones, and a good basic vocabulary) then it would come together extra fast in china. it might even turn into a couple of years over there as its such an interesting place....

hope this helps a little

myImage

Thanks, giving up early on is alway a threat when leaning something new- I will try to stick with it past the hump!