Study strategy could be really interesting also.  So I'll reserve judgement and hope for the best! 

Learn words, learn grammar...now use them, or you'll forget.

Language is just like anything else: man up and do it, or fail. There aren't any special tips or tricks. Ya, some things help like flashcard programs, but that's not really Chinese specific.

I totally disagree with the above comments. 2^nd Language learning is complex because not only is very little understood about how we learn but also everybody’s learning style is different. Add to that obviously a beginners needs starting out to learn Mandarin will be very different than an experienced learner. Yet all must be catered for on one site.

So it seems to me  a gathering together a mix of known research and experience is a no brainer.

Beginners.

1.     I would recommend SpeaChi type programme because it gives a visual aid as to how your tone and pronunciation compares.

2.     Pinyin Chart and guidance on Chinesepod :excellent.

I think Stephen Krashan’s Thoery of 2^nd Languages Acquisition is excellent.

http://www.sk.com.br/sk-krash.html

I was very sceptical about his claim that just reading everyday could improve your speaking etc.I thought this may work with Romantic Languages but not with a writing system so different as Chinese. However  I gave it a try and I definitely think this has helped me improve. In this respect Chinesepod is very good. I can read the characters and check immediately on my pronunciation. I have plenty of material to read and all of it at levels to suite my current ability. Having  tried  other systems such as Recognising Hansi . Just reading works great for me.

I was interested to read recent research done by University Northumberland

Which casts doubt on Chomsky’s claim that we instinctively understand grammar.

http://www.northumbria.ac.uk/browse/ne/uninews/grammargrimmer 

If the findings of this research are replicated by other people then this could have big implications on how we teach 2nd Languages. It might mean that we begin to look seriously at ways in which we can teach grammar earlier and with more relevance than we have done in the past.

Does it undermine Stephen Krashens Theory of 2nd Language acquisition? And if it does , does that mean that other aspects of his theory could also be in error?

I would like to see some learning facility that allows students at Chinesepod to interact live with their speaking. ( I know that we can do even better and skype with a Teacher . This I personally think is of immense value.) In this respect I think the  University of Michigan’s Rich Internet Application programme is outstanding.

http://clear.msu.edu/clear/professionaldev/summerworkshops.php

I recommend Record Audio with Your Computer  and Audio Dropboxes.

Time is precious and the learning process long and difficult, however we can  be more focused on learning and discard traditional ideas held about language learning, only by engaging  in and sharing our ideas and being open minded about different ideas. 

No, seriously, put yourself in a situation where you have to use a language a lot and you'll get good at it quickly regardless of study method. You want to learn a language? Use it.

All these methods are silly, and in ten years no one will remember or care. Just like the ones ten years ago and ten years before that. It's not complicated.

Learning isn't difficult. Forcing yourself to do the task might be difficult, but the language itself isn't, because the task is always the same.

So that's why I'm not interested in study tips. Just present some information, get a little language material in there, because reading tips all day won't do nothing t'all.

I am in favour of more Qinwen's, get rid of one Elly lesson and have 2 Qingwen's ! hahaha! 

If you ran out of inspiration I am happy to contribute to Xiaophil's list!

1.       Put the time in: 1 hour per day minimum or more. Don’t bother with a couple of minutes here and there.  You’ll only end up forgetting that little bit you practiced, and have to learn it all over again. 

2.       Constant pace: no 3 hours on one day, then nothing for 2 weeks:  almost the same thing as in number 1, but here, you stress study over weeks and months.

3.       Shadow like crazy: thanks to Simonpettersson, I was introduced to this method, and though it’s challenging, it also works.  A practice discussed at length by Antonio arguelles, this is a method that requires you to speak over a lesson so that you hear yourself making the same pronunciation as the speaker.  One of the greatest reasons to have a Cpod subscription is that it allows you to download lessons into a portable format and shadow.

4.       Speak out LOUD – worth it.  Thinking along with the lesson is not the speaking practice you think it is.  Hearing yourself make verbal mistakes with the cpod lesson is valuable feedback, and why cpod is a very valuable tool.   

5.       10 new words/day- challenging, but doable.  Going through a cpod lesson at the newbie level is probably giving you 10 new words at first, then less than 10 words.  

6.       Review and consolidate regularly -

7.       Practice speaking to others – speaking forces you to put together sentences that are of your own making, forcing you to work though grammar and sentence structure.  All good practice. 

8.       First time learners: DO NOT USE PINYIN AT FIRST – fluent speakers that learned well recommended this approach, and I buy it.  Nothing destroys tones faster than learning pinyin  as a starting point.  Best to learn using Chinese pod lessons, and listen to them over and over. I recommend 100 hours worth of listening time before even looking at pinyin.  After 100 hours, pinyin is a helpful tool on the path toward mandarin understanding.  Not before.   I remember the first time I heard zhun3 bei4 in a lesson, and seeing it in pinyin was significantly different from what I thought the pronunciation was.  Further, native speaking Chinese kids do not learn pinyin at first either. 

9.       Goto China, or at least plan to go to China – nothing motivates deeper study of Chinese faster than planning a trip to China. Once you realize you’re going to China, you move from casual interest to “holy cow, I’m going to need this!” shifts into overdrive.

10.   Speaking first, characters second

11.   Integrate speed and accents over time

12. Get an mp3 player.  I can’t bring myself to use the “i” word but using the cpod lessons on the go makes reviewing, speaking out loud, putting the time in, constant pace, and shadowing easier.  In fact, it’s really hard to shadow correctly without an mp3 player.

User11695 's suggested 'study methods' or CP series of study tips  is academic learning mumbo-jumbo.

CP does not want to put the effort in QW.(it's too simple and effective)

after a few months of testing sites   i'm moving subscription to PopUp Chinese a more colloquial , more for your money  and better teachers.   

:P :)

We usually say ""man up""'or ""harden the f*%k up'""