Sign up for Chinese voice lessons at a university or institution. This is useful if you intend to gain in-depth knowledge of the Chinese voice, as well as popular phrases. Visit local colleges and universities to get information on Chinese language lessons. If there are no classes in your area, consider online instruction. Some companies even offer personal video instruction, which allows you to interact directly with an instructor via webcam.
Obtain Chinese reading materials, such Fun with Chinese Characters and a Chinese phrasebook, which provide basic phrases and their meanings. Write these down on cards or a notebook and carry them with you to practice on the go.
Get a personal Chinese tutor. Organize your learning timetable to correspond with your schedule. Explain to your tutor the specific type of phrases you want to learn, such as the basics of what you'll need to know for traveling. Consider using an online tutor, which may be less expensive than a private local tutor.
Listen to proper Chinese pronunciation by purchasing a CD or listening online. Record yourself reciting your Chinese vocabulary, and then compare your recording with the proper recording. Listen to the recordings several times and practice along with the recording to help you master the phrases and voice.
Take part in online Chinese games, which provide a fun way of learning basic Chinese. The games vary from phrases, greetings, animals and months and some apply the use of audio devices.
Watch movies and television shows in Chinese. Listen to Chinese music. This will help you get used to hearing the language in its native sense. Use subtitles for the movies at first, and then once you've learned some basic vocabulary, try watching without subtitles to see how much of the converstaion you can understand on your own.