Learning a new language is hard. Like really hard. Learning Mandarin has been fun, frustrating, exciting, new and stimulating. I am using two softwares to learn Mandarin.
The first is Q-Talk. This is what I am using to learn Mandarin with Jessica. I really like it because it uses pictures to help me learn the words. I am a very visual learner so this is perfect. It also has fun games and quizzes that I use to test my knowledge. I like using my Mandarin notebook and taking the pictures and visually learning the language.
The second is Mango Languages. I am using Mango languages because the gap year program I am going on gives me homework to learn it. I have a detailed week by week plan with assignments, check-ins, and quizzes. It is actually a lot of work. Mango Languages is similar to Duolingo and is very speaking centric.
I am learning that I am quite good at speaking and putting sentences together in Mandarin. I am really bad at hearing Mandarin and understanding what has been said. Seeing where I am now it is hard for me to think that I will be good at Mandarin in the near future but I am excited to see how I grow over my gap year program. Hopefully this time next year I can come back to school and have full conversations in Mandarin with Jessica!