Hey! I've got a great tip for learning faster: While I'm listening/reading the Chineese-course I'm playing playing with a RUBIKS CUBE or bouncing a BALL against the wall/floor. Why it helps? Well most people know that the left half of the brain is the logical, sequential and rational part, which you use when you're f.x learning a language. The right half is the creative, intuitive and subjective part. activating both halfs while you're learning chineese helps you learn QUICKER, and to concentrate. So there you've got a little trick, from me to you... and a little neurology ;)

Wow, this sounds very interesting, Im going to give it a try, I hope it really does work!

I'm glad that helps, but the ability to comprehend and mimic speech are more from the Brocca's and Wernicke's area of the left side of the brain and some from the temporal lobe. As most people are right handed, you would have to throw the ball with the left hand only to activate the non speech dominate side