Name: Dillwyn Jaye
Country: Australia
Occupation: Teacher
Languages Spoken: English, German, Rusty Russian, Elementary Mandarin.
Interests: Music, Walking, Getting to know people in different environments, Learning Chinese!

"Remember that nobody can do the learning for you, so be prepared"

Q: Was this your first time in China ?
A: No, I had spent 18 months in Guangzhou, and 6 months in Beijing.

Q: How did you find your studies in China ?
A: Very helpful, thank you.

Q: What do you find most interesting about Beijing?
A: The city is so large and vibrant that I find I can't really reduce my impressions to one item! However, I found the architecture of new buildings a good talking point, with local people commenting on in various ways.

Q: Tell us a few memorable experiences in China ?
A: Chatting with taxi drivers, browsing though the large bookshop on Wangfujing, at Xidan and Haidian, walking calligraphers with huge brushes and water in public parks, practicing Chinese language with local people at cafes, enjoying a thunder storm at Tiantan.

Q: What advice/tips would you give to others who plan to come and study in China ?
A: 1) Prepare lessons in advance to morning's listening and
        speaking opportunities during classroom time.
    2) Discuss with your teacher options for repeating a level, or
        part of a level, if you feel unable to digest new input.
    3) Find a learner's dictionary that contains useful example
        sentences.
    4) Remember that nobody can do the learning for you, so
        be prepared to put in a lot of effort on homework.
    5) Celebrate even small steps as you made progress:
        a positive approach helps you learn more efficiently.