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In the business of your language learning schedule, have you ever stopped to ask yourself the important question: "Am I actually learning what I need?"

As I observe students of Chinese, I notice that they use different learning strategies, some which are more effective than others. What are some of their good strategies which will help you acquire Chinese faster than the average student?

For the language learner, motivation is an important topic for the vital reason that the motivated learner will always surpass the unmotivated learner in performance and outcome.

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How to Study
Suggestions on how to prepare for class, making the most of classtime, and reviewing lessons.

Where and How to Practice
Gives suggestions for places to practice and how to make the most of the opportunities.

Memorizing Vocabulary
A simple method for getting vocabulary into your long-term memory.

What the Good Language Learner Can Teach Us
A look at the good language learner's learning strategies.

Introduction to Language Strategies

Language Learning Strategies I

Language Learning Strategies II

Language Learning Strategies I (in Chinese) view in Unicode (UTF-8) [pdf file]

Language Learning Strategies II (in Chinese) view in Unicode (UTF-8) [pdf file]
A list of helpful memory and communication strategies.

Getting Help with Your Chinese
Useful ideas on how to elicit vocabulary and techniques to clarify meaning.

Improve Your Listening
Useful ideas on how to strengthen your listening comprehension.

Some Good Language Learners
A look at 3 good language learners and 3 poor language learners.

Are You an Optimal Monitor User?
Getting the balance between gaining in accuracy and gaining in fluency.

Measuring Progress (Where am I Going? How am I Doing?)
Sets out 5 levels of proficiency, as well as showing a way of how to measure your present proficiency level in Chinese.

Learning Styles I

Learning Styles II

Learning Styles III

Learning Styles IV

Learning Styles (summary of the 4 articles in Chinese: view in Unicode (UTF-8) [pdf file]
How our mind, body and personality all affect how we learn languages.

Overcoming the Barriers I

Overcoming the Barriers II
A look at how our personality either helps or hinders our progress in Chinese.

Maintaining Motivation I

Maintaining Motivation II
Maintaining Motivation III

How to maintain motivation both during and after full-time language study.

Some Good Textbooks, Websites, etc.
A list of good textbooks, websites, dictionaries and grammar reference books.

Anxiety in Language Learning
A look at how anxiety can affect language learning progress and how to handle it.

Where am I Aiming For?
Post full-time language study goal setting.

Who are the High Achievers?
What are the characteristics of those who do well in Chinese?

Just How Competent are you in Chinese? 
Competency isn't only in the area of accuracy and grammar, but also in three other areas.

Speaking Appropriately 
We should be learning not only the structure of Chinese but also how to speak it appropriately. 

10 Things to do with your Flashcards

Practical ideas how to use your flashcards to get new vocabulary into your long-term memory.

10 Ways to Play with the Pictures in Chinese Made Easier Book 5

Useful ideas how to play with the pictures in Chinese Made Easier Book 5 to help get you using the vocabulary.

Enhancing Memory

What methods help get the vocabulary into long-term memory more effectively?

Teacher: Motivate Me!

How we can help our teachers to motivate us more.

Teachers: How to Motivate your Students (Chinese: view in Unicode (UTF-8) [pdf file]

How teachers can help motivate their students (in Chinese)

How to Type Tone Marks (view in Unicode (UTF-8)
How to type the tone marks above the vowels using Shortcut Keys in Word.

Older Language Learners

Helpful ideas for the older language learner.

Teaching Older Language Learners (in Chinese) (view in Unicode (UTF-8) [pdf file]

Helpful ideas on how to teach the older language learner.

1000 Common Chinese Characters (view in Unicode (UTF-8)

1000 common Chinese characters according to Chinese Made Easier

Computer Vocabulary

10 vocabulary lists on differents aspects of the computer and computer software.

Google pinyin input

Google pinyin input for typing Chinese characters: http://tools.google.com/pinyin

Keeping up your Chinese while back home

How to keep up your Chinese while back in your Home Country for a short break.

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