Dear David
I am glad to get your letter yesterday and glad that you will come to beijin to learn Chinese .Hope we can meet soon,
Well, learning Chinese is a hard work for a lot foreigners. I here give you some advices. You can learn Chinese wit this suggestions
first you should have more communications with chinese people
secondly you should read more chinese boods and know chinese culture, meanwhile buy a Chinese dictonary to learn chinese letters.
thirdly, it is also a good method to watch Chinese TV and Listen to Chinese Radio.
I hope you can learn Chinese and chinese culture smoothly, though it is a hard job, yet where there is a will, there is a way, i am sure you will have a good result in the future.
Best regards!
Yours
LIHUA