Hi all,
I need to go settle and move to Taiwan as soon as possible and it is my understanding that I cannot get a job there if I don’t speak Mandarin. So, I am looking for the fastest way to learn Mandarin. I am good in languages in general (have learned english, french and spanish) but I know Mandarin will be much more difficult and from my online search I have not yet been able to make a conclusion on which is the best and fastest way to learn Mandarin. Recently, people told me about some online softwares such as RocketChinese and Rosetta Stone. Any thoughts and advice would be more than great!
Thank you so much!
Your biggest problem right now is not learning Mandarin – it’s informing yourself about the laws and job market in Taiwan. Concentrate on that first, then decide whether – not how – you need to learn Mandarin.
What kind of a job is it that you’re looking for that requires you to speak Mandarin?
Most “foreigners” working in Taiwan don’t speak Mandarin, nor are they required to in their work. Chances are if the job you are applying for requires fluency in Mandarin, then you may be competing with locals for the job - probably not a position you want to be in.
As Ironlady and Adam said, you need to get informed. I am afraid you have many misconceptions that could lead to serious trouble.
The law states that for you to be legally working in Taiwan, for a white collar job, you would need at least a BA and 2 years documented working experience. Being able to speak/read Mandarin is not a requisite, but it helps to make your life easier.
BTW, being good at learning languages is not going to help you that much if you come with the same expectations. As a matter of fact, you might get discouraged from the glacial pace/ups and downs/plateaus inherent to learning Mandarin. However, it does take a disciplined language learner, very persistent, to tame this beast. Be constant, be through.
You could drive with one hand on the highway at 150km/hr while reading aloud from your textbook. However I feel taking the high speed train and listening to my Chinese MP3s is more civilised.
Ive learned all the curse words in Taiwanese using your first method… people are so kind as to teach me all those useful phrases while I am driving.
[quote=“Icon”]
BTW, being good at learning languages is not going to help you that much if you come with the same expectations. As a matter of fact, you might get discouraged from the glacial pace/ups and downs/plateaus inherent to learning Mandarin. However, it does take a disciplined language learner, very persistent, to tame this beast. Be constant, be through.[/quote]
This is some of the best advice I have read!
Mandarin WILL be my 6th language and those plateaus can be quite discouraging as it is unlike any other language I have learned (my personal experience). One week you turn on the tv here or go out and you’re like “Oh, I understand SOO much more allofasudden!” Then, a month later you feel like you are still exactly where you were one month ago when you felt so proud and excited. Just gotto keep truckin…
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Hi all, thanks for the comments. I am trying to research the job market in Taiwan and from what Taiwanese people have told me, I will need Mandarin or at least as you said will be a plus. I have read this law about BA and 2 years experience. I have law degree and MBA and around 4 years work experience, so I think this should be fine. what kind of documentation is needed to prove your work experience? I have worked 1.5 years as lawyer, 1.5 years as officer in the army and 1 year as change management consultant. I have also read many topics in this forum but still don’t know where to start from and what kind of job should look for and how to look for it. Some people say they are working without needing Mandarin but from all the job posts I am reading and from what Taiwanese friends say, it is really difficult to get a job without Mandarin, that’s why I thought it is good if I could learn. What do you guys think?? What kinds of jobs need Mandarin and which are the ones I don’t need Manadrin for?? Of course I would prefer to do some job related to my background but as I told you I need to go to Taiwan as soon as possible so I could do any job at the time. Btw, I am not native english speaker so I guess teaching english, at least other than tutoring, is not an option. Thank you guys, I really appreciate your help!!
In Taiwan you just come here and do it, it’s that sort of place.
its true that there are plenty of jobs where you don’t need to learn mandarin language , there are resources available online also for the same
So according to your sig links, the fastest way to learn Mandarin is to use the same textbook for all students from kindergarten through 7th grade, huh?
What do you personally find to be the methodological adjustments that need to be made to accommodate pre-literate kids using a textbook? And what’s your affiliate code?
Great! Take the crap that sucks at the university level and force it on students at the high school level. Jolly good!
I think I have flushed toilet paper with better Chinese lessons written on them.
Get a Taiwanese boy/girlfriend.
[quote=“ironlady”]So according to your sig links, the fastest way to learn Mandarin is to use the same textbook for all students from kindergarten through 7th grade, huh?
What do you personally find to be the methodological adjustments that need to be made to accommodate pre-literate kids using a textbook? And what’s your affiliate code?[/quote]
This was interesting: According to other current research, the best age to start learning a foreign language with efficiency is early adolescence, about 8 -13
I wonder what research that is?