So You Want to Learn Mandarin Chinese?

To be fluent in Mandarin Chinese, here’s what you need:
1. A great dictionary.
2. A motivating teacher.
3. The perfect learning method.
4. The proper texts and the latest learning technology (e.g. Podcats and language learning software).
5. Encouraging classmates.
Etc., Etc., Etc., Right?
Wrong.
If you want to learn fluent Chinese, you really only need one thing.
A deep, burning desire [...]

“The Pain and Joy of Learning Mandarin Chinese”

Melody Chen at The Taiwan Journal has produced well-written, insightful article that brings up most of the relevant points for those investigating the cost (in time, money, and pain) of learning Chinese.
Here it is: The pain and joy of learning Mandarin Chinese. Enjoy!