If you can make the time but don't have the temperament, go somewhere where they will beat it into you Chinese-style, because there really is no other way to me

If you can make the time but don't have the temperament, go somewhere where they will beat it into you Chinese-style, because there really is no other way to memorize the thousands of characters necessary to be proficient in Chinese. Please, some practical advice: Learn your stokes and always follow stroke order. Each stroke has a rhythm, and each character has a composite rhythm. Rhythm is an excellent mnemonic device. An hour a day, everyday, is enough to make good progress. Half an hour twice a day is better. Your nervous system forms pathways between sessions, not during, so you want to optimize for that, not the session itself. Throw out the flash cards, and throw out the books of pseudo-etymology. Find a book of pen calligraphy, and focus on strokes, positioning, balance. Here's one place to start: http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Write-Chinese-Characters-Language/dp/0300057717 http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Write-Chinese-Characters-Languag... And once you're further along: http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Cursive-Script-Introduction-Publications/dp/0887100333/ http://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Cursive-Script-Introduction-Pu...