Practice using the four Mandarin tones.
This is a tonal language. This implies that different tones can actually change the meaning of a word even if the spelling and punctuation is the same. To properly communicate in mandarin Chinese, you must learn different tones. They are four and all of them should be mastered.
Memorize simple vocabulary
Just like any other language, Chinese has its own vocabularies. For you to become fluent, you must master them; pronunciation and spellings. Try to relate the English words to Chinese. Think about how you can say them in Chinese and as time goes, you will be communicating perfectly.
Learn some basic conversational phrases.
The next thing to do after mastering vocabularies is to learn different phrases. These are statements which are used on daily basis and it can be very important to know them.
Study basic grammar.
Some people think that there is no grammar in Chinese language. This is a very common misconception. There are Chinese grammar rules but are quite different from European language rules. This is an analytic language and this can be both advantageous and disadvantageous to learners. For instance, there are complicated rules on gender, tense, conjunctions and plural nouns. However, Chinese still use the same word order as English i.e. subject-verb-object.
Learn how to use Pinyin.
This is a system that is used for writing mandarin Chinese using the alphabet. Hanyu pinyin is the most known type of such Romanization and is well used in very many textbooks. This system enables learners to focus on pronunciation, reading and writing without necessarily focusing on those complex Chinese characters.
Practice reading and writing Chinese characters.
Many learners find it quit challenging writing and reading the traditional Chinese characters. This often take learners longer time to master since the only way to learn them is through continuous practice and memorization. Averagely, there are fifty thousand Chinese characters but a greater number of them are rarely used. Two thousand of these are very necessary but ensure you know at least eight hundred characters. This will also enable you have access to Japanese, Korean, Cantonese and other literatures which have simplified Chinese writings.
Find a native speaker.
Native speakers can really help you improve you improve your language skills. By interacting with native speakers, they will get an opportunity to correct any pronunciation or grammar mistakes you are likely to make when communicating.
Consider signing up for a language course.
There are those people who find it so motivating when learning in a formal setting. If you are one of them, then consider signing up for a Chinese language course. There are so many volunteers who teach learners on how to communicate in this language. It cost between $300 to $500 per year and some other costs. Find out the language courses that are advertised in schools, at local colleges and community centers.