About three years. I still find reading and writing difficult. Things that helped. 1 Post it notes I labeled everything I come into contact with especially things around the home and office. 2 Was I would have Chinese only days were I could not do anything in English only Chinese

Is never a long time?

me and chinese just aint gonna happen

Start by thinking in Chinese, when you know the word use it often. Me and my English speaking friends often talk Chinese together.

Another way is to go for foot massage often, the girls there will speak with you and usually they ask the same things like where are you from?, what do you do?, how old are you? etc. You will also hear different ways of asking. Taxi drivers are also good to chat with, I don't know where you're from but here in Dongguan there is a lot of "bad" Chinese, I mean that the people speak not very clear and sometimes it's very hard to hear, usually though they will try and speak clearer for you.

Also try and read some Chinese, AVOID pinyin at all costs as it's pointless. It's not actually that hard once you start, begin with signs on buildings and the ones you see often and can identify find out the meaning by asking a friend.

For writing, download some apps that will help you to get the stroke order in your head, then when you're out you and want to know a word you will be able to draw it correctly into a translation app.

The bottom line is to just try your best and don't give up, after 6-10 months you will find that you start remembering words easier and are more confident to communicate.

  I speak like a fluent five year old, which isn't bad when you consider how much a five year old can say. I started learning the language 9 years ago, but i'm pretty slack in my studies.

one month

in Tongji University, shanghai

and the more I learned the more i got accustomed to the language