I have dramatically increased the speed at which I’m learning Mandarin by the simple expedient of removing the books from my bag and the music from my mp3 player. This has left me with two alternatives for my commute; be bored or leisten to a learn Mandarin audiobook. I am very slowly becoming less shit.
加油！
Still can’t read anything though. And the Great Firewall prevents me from reading your no doubt excellent post.