Immersion
- Play the radio or TV on a Chinese station – 24/7 or at least during your waking hours.
It is easier if you are in China but you can use ppstream or italkbb’s new internet TV or find some online Chinese stuff and leave it on. Try to make sure you are listening to Beijing CCTV or that you are really listening to Standard Mandarin. - 3 hours every day only Chinese. even if all you know is Hi and Bye – only Chinese 3 hours every day
In Shanghai I used to go a clothing market especially on raining days when no one was shopping. As there was nothing to do and no money to make, the sales girls where happy to chat. - Um…
A Chinese um friend helps. Strong motivation : ) - Get lost
Place yourself in a dangerous situation with a dictionary. Again high motivation – OK don’t really do this, I got lucky, but wow, it really helps if you live. - Don’t translate
Think in Chinese, don’t translate. It will mess up your English and somethings you cannot say in English but it greatly helps.