When I first started learning Mandarin, my favorite thing was to go to new restaurants and read through the book-sized menus, which tend to be full of new and interesting characters. The best menu was at the dumpling house, with eighty or so different flavors of dumplings and a nice waitress who drew pictures of the flavors I couldn't manage to read (a little pig and a cabbage, an eggplant and a tomato, etc.)

This class is intended for people who are interested in learning Mandarin and want to know where to start. We'll set you up with a group of techniques (like the best spaced repetition system for memorizing characters, the easiest way to find native speakers to practice with, etc.) that will leave you very well prepared to begin learning Chinese.

We'll also be happy to answer any questions you have about learning Chinese, or about going to China (we both went to school in Beijing.)