Really properly good

As with Parts 1 and 2, this is absolutely fantastic. Just be prepared to listen to the 45-minute "review" section near the end at least twice (preferably three times) to really make sure you got everything. That part is fun but hard!

I used DuoLingo and Memrise for a few months and felt pretty discouraged, but Paul's teaching is perfectly paced, with just the right amount of repetition and explanation. If you have any desire to learn Mandarin, this is the way! Best used when driving or walking or otherwise in a place where you can speak nonsense to yourself without feeling too embarrassed. For best results (in my experience) listen about 30-45 minutes a day most days and really try to pay attention. I also recommend other methods of learning such as AI-based apps like DuoLingo, or random Youtube tutorials. The more ways you learn at once the more you'll be able to make useful connections.

I've now completed all three parts of the beginners' course and have just begun the Next Steps book and I cannot recommend these books enough. While I could sort of remember some things with DuoLingo, it always felt like it slipped away pretty quickly. With these books, however, everything just seems to stick. It's like magic! And there's nothing quite like struggling up a steep hill and desperately trying prepare enough breath to speak the answer as Paul says in your ear, "So, how would you say, 'Can I sell your computer?'" :D

Thank you so much Paul and Kai-Ti and that poor other guy whose name I never remember! (And, as an Australian, you have an additional thank you for calling Chinese cabbage "wombok" so I would know what you were talking about!)

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