Premium 1?

Hello, I'm new to the Rocket Chinese program and decided on doing about a different lesson every week. I have Premium 1 planned out for over about the next two years, but I have a question. After doing Premium Level 1 what level of proficiency or understanding should you be at or around by just using the program? (Of course I'll be voice chatting with native Mandarin speakers over the last year or so but that's neither here nor there.) Thanks for any responses!

From my experience that is like asking how long is a piece of string!! The variables are... a) your learning ability... b) the depth of understanding you have after completing one lesson (it may take several weeks to really learn a particular lesson)... c) your proficiency in undersatnding may be quite different from your ability to speak and be understood. BarryH

Your response is true, I was just wondering if those whom have already completed Premium 1 could give me an answer based on where they were after finishing it. I think I read somewhere that after using the whole program someone said they were at an Intermediate level and it got me thinking. Barry, are there any programs that you'd recommend to use alongside Rocket Chinese or after completing it? This is my first of many languages I want to learn so I'm a little clueless as to where to look and whatnot. Once again thanks for the response.

Hi Dionna, My learning began in 1987 with five years of private lessons then after a five year gap I have been learning ever since. I have tried many various learning methods 0f spoken Mandarin (I did get up to about 300 characters in my early days then stopped). I have had a number of one-on-one lessons also but since you asked my opinion I can honestly say that Rocket Chinese is about as good as you will get. That is if you take it slow but consistent. Download the audio onto your MP3 player and listen to at least 30 minutes EVERY day. Maybe when you get into bed, maybe while you take your coffee after dinner. It is like a Jig-saw puzzle and slowly the pieces will come together. If you are serious you will see results but listen twice as much as you try to speak. Good luck.....BarryH

Thanks for the advice Barry! I'll take what you've said to heart. I appreciate it.

Hi Donna, I see by your profile here you are trying to learn many languages. Wow good luck. I’m having a hard enough time with one. Ha Ha I see you do plan to voice chat with native Mandarin speakers. You will find that there are many Chinese people with different levels of the English language. You will find many that are shy and to embarrassed speak in English. I would suggest typing to them at first. Let them get to know you and get comfortable with you. One thing you want to look at is the way they write or speak to you. You will find may time the wording to be different than you are used to. You may have to figure out what they really meant, or have to ask them more about the subject. Use this as a learning tool. The word (He) doesn’t always mean a male. Many Chinese people are eager to learn English language. No matter what their reason, work, make friends or to have a foreigner husband. LOL Here are a few websites you might be interested in. There is many more helpful website on the internet. www.italki.com for language partners and teachers. www.imqq.com Instant messenger that has translator built into it. Plus many other things for China. www.pinyinput.sourceforge.net/?ref=pinyinput downloads to be able to write in Pinyin. I hope this is helpful to you. SiM

I, too, like Barryh began my study of Mandarin a number of years ago with private lessons and then stopped for several years. I went back to it with Rosetta Stone about two years ago and wasn't too successful with that. I think that Rocket Chinese is the best aside from a private tutor and that gets expensive. Plus, with a private tutor one doesn't have the chance to speak to others about questions that arise.