Once again here is my PERSONAL take on learning Chinese.
First off, I was completely gung ho to learn the language and have fluent and stimulating conversations with my wife in her language...what a hero !!!!!!
I diligently got into Rosetta Stone Program and I also used another Software Course called "Tell Me More".
Chinese is a bloody difficult language to learn. I am good with languages and can get by well in French, German, Indonesian and Russian...(and of course, English
)
My wife said to me one day early in our relationship that she would prefer we concentrate on her speaking English, and apart from some basic stuff, she advised that it would not be the best plan for me to try to learn fluent Chinese...apparently, Westerners make a complete balls up of the complexities of Chinese language and although the locals are too polite to laugh when you try to converse (dont want to take your face), they mostly are cringing inside at the mangling we give their language.
So I decided to perfect the use of a few key phrases..."I would like a cup of tea, or where is the nearest toilet, or you have a delightful pair of boobs
....you get the drift, just the odd important phrase, along with "please, thank you and stuff like that"
Of course, if you plan to live in China, then you have a different ball-game, and a different time frame from which to begin to learn "properly"
So now, Ming and I have an outcome that we find works for us....she learns fluent English from me, and I give her big face within herself and with her friends, by speaking a little Chinese...but speaking it perfectly (thanks to my diligent and personal language trainer...my wife)
Just another opinion on the subject.