I found that I now learn chinese better back in the States. I went to Taiwan and studied for hours every day and got a good foundation. The b.s. of living in Taiwan and going to Shida(and the like) wasn’t worthwhile. Now I make many many times more money than I was making in Taiwan and have a couple hours every day to keep studying, but I can concentrate when I study - because I have not been cheated by my boss, abused by my control-freak teacher at Shida or other Chinese emperor-types, subjected to other Confucian nonsense, and everything is ‘no problem’ as they say in the States rather than ‘face problem’ as they say in Taiwan. Plus I brought my chinese girlfriend back to the States with me and further I moved into an apartment building which is about half Mainland Chinese who attend the university next door.
Another personal success story here on Forumosa.com! :bravo:
Uh… OK. 
Great - so happy for you
Glad you found exactly what you need.
So why, em, exactly, are you posting on a Taiwan based website, for disciussion about living in Taiwan, written by people who are interested in living, working, learning Chinese in Taiwan? I’m so sorry to hear of your numerous failures here. You obviously just weren’t meant to leave the states were you? So why exactly are you continuing to study Chinese?
Actually i don’t know why i’m wasting my breath, I’ve already forgotten your name…
Good luck, using your Chinese down at the local noodle stand. That’ll probably keep you amused for decades.
It must be listening to the Sage Elder that keeps such good humor in you. :roflamo:
I wish I had got a grounding in Hokkien/Taiwanese before coming to Taiwan.
I think learning location is just one of the factors to facilitate learning process.
The most important factor is your cognitive abilities, I mean learning strategies etc.
[quote=“jacktorrence”]Great - so happy for you
Glad you found exactly what you need.
So why, em, exactly, are you posting on a Taiwan based website, for disciussion about living in Taiwan, written by people who are interested in living, working, learning Chinese in Taiwan? I’m so sorry to hear of your numerous failures here. You obviously just weren’t meant to leave the states were you? So why exactly are you continuing to study Chinese?
Actually i don’t know why i’m wasting my breath, I’ve already forgotten your name…
Good luck, using your Chinese down at the local noodle stand. That’ll probably keep you amused for decades.[/quote]
haha my sentiments exactly !!!@!
i think its the lasting effect of that strange ‘taiwan siren call’ that gets embedded in people who have lived a few years on the island. Its unshakeable and pervasive. It can make you angry if you dont heed the call to return. And thus you end up on a Taiwan website blasting Taiwan (and that really is just yourself fighting the urge). Its like a guy who really wants a new car but goes out and does all sorts of maintenance to his old car , even changing the tires, etc. Cuz hes fighting the urge to get a new car and forcing himself NOT TO. But not long afterwards hes out there buying that new car anyway !! My guess is that it may take some time but Taiwan will drag him back, kicking and screaming but he will be back ) one way or another , even for a visit. He wont be able to help himself . haha
HAHAHA BEWARE ALL THOSE WHO SET FOOT ON THIS MAGICAL PIRATE ISLAND, YOU WILL NEVER TRULY ESCAPE !!