What study styles work best?

Check out http://www.chinese-forums.com/ Something more particulary relating to your questions can be found here: http://www.chinese-forums.com/showthread.php?t=5204 Also keep in mind that we're all different, and what works for one might not work for another. Simply put, there is no substitute for repetition and immersion. The more exposure (input and output) the better.

I think that study style is quite personal and different approaches work better for different folk. However, there are some styles that are generally more productive than others. But here I will just describe what works for me. It is good to try and master a lesson slightly above your own level, to ensure there is the right proportion of new vocabulary. But you should also listen to the harder lessons even if you understand very little of them, it helps you get used to the sounds and rhythms of Chinese speech. I am learning to write by hand. However learning hanzi is is both tedious and uninspiring. But the effort pays off when the characters crop up in the lessons and I can recognise them. Learning two characters a day is less painful than trying to memorise twenty at one sitting. What is the best source of input? Chinese people are. I like to test out my new vocabulary by nonchalantly slipping it in to our conversations. If they understand it: good - if they don't even notice it: even better. Actually using new words and phrases also makes it much more likely that you will remember them. I have never tried any drills, does anyone have any experience with this? I think that as you progress you naturally refine your method of study. You quickly figure out what works and what does not.

Perseverence, persistance, patience, confidence, practice and the best way to learn is to make a mistake. This is the same I tell my students about english. A variety of methods work best, but everyone will have their own style. I personally find rote and drills totally useless and would still be a newbie if I had done it that way. Real life conversation is the best, and listening the most important skill (thats where chinesepod comes in). 反正(anyway) thats my frank two cents.

Mark, Great questions! I'm about to sign up for the month-long 10 minutes a day deal with an instructor. This will be an upgrade from my 99% ipod-audio-study/1% website-tools study of Chinesepod. I'll let you know how it goes. One thing that Amber/Aggie/Eileen led me to, which is buried in the website, is the INTENDED 10-step study method of Chinesepod.com. It's under the HELP section called CHINESEPOD METHOD. It was very illuminating to me. -Jonathan

mark, I think huomao brought up some important points. My personal experience tells me that it is not the method that makes a long-term different but rather the fun you have pursuing it. The biggest risk when learning Chinese is giving up on the long road. Either because you become frustrated or because you get bored. So there I see no stable answer here. Even the old fashioned dumb brute force approach might work for a while if you manage to get a kick out of it (e.g. for Hanzi learning).