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A Few Tips On Learning Cantonese
- Use the language as much as possible. Even when you can't speak but a few phrases, use those phrases. Textbooks and websites are excellent sources of gaining new understanding and vocabulary, but finding a native speaker to practice with is essential for developing any real fluency.
- Think in the language. This takes a long time to achieve, but it is the only true fluency. As phrases and sentence patterns become natural to you, your mind will be capable of using that vocabulary and grammar in thinking. If you want to increase your fluency you must force your mind to think in the language rather than your native tongue when studying.
- Put off studying Chinese characters. Some people may disagree, but if you want to learn Cantonese fast, learning characters will only slow you down. Once you can hold a decent conversation in Cantonese, then you might want to learn characters. It will eventually enrich your Chinese vocabulary and understanding of grammar, but there is no benefit to starting immediately.
- Constantly study and review. Carry flashcards everywhere. You can spend 5 minutes waiting in line doing nothing, or you can spend 5 minutes in line learning something you want to know.
- Concentrate when someone is talking to you in Cantonese. It's easy to tune someone out and just pretend you are understanding once you get lost in a conversation. Stick with it, it will increase your retentive ability. If you do get lost, try to listen for words you know or ask them to repeat (if possible).
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