When I first entered Chinese class last August, I was utterly terrified. I did not know quite what to expect, although I had often heard how difficult Chinese was for English speakers to learn. Indeed, the first couple weeks of class were extremely overwhelming. I had difficulty with some basic pronunciation techniques, and I found distinguishing the tones to be a complicated feat. I remember doubting whether I belonged in the class. However, despite these early difficulties, learning Chinese has been an extremely enjoyable experience. I am so thankful that I persevered in the language, as my Chinese classes have truly been some of my favorite courses at the University of Virginia. During those early weeks, the kind and supportive attitudes of Tseng Laoshi and my fellow students made all the difference. My pronunciation began to improve, and I began to enjoy all that the Chinese language has to offer. The clearly defined structure of the class was also extremely conducive to learning and improvement. Each Monday and Tuesday we would cover the new lesson in-depth. On Wednesday's listening comprehension was tested, oral performance was performed every Thursday, and a weekly quiz completed every Friday. It was extremely helpful to have the skills of listening, speaking, and writing reinforced every week. Thus, the excellent instruction made learning the language much more feasible and much more enjoyable. Overall, learning Chinese has been both a challenging and rewarding experience. With a great deal of hard work and patience, I have been able to master the skills that we have been taught thus far. In addition, I feel that I have gained so much by being exposed to a language and culture so different from my own. It really is quite a wonderful thing to be able to communicate to those who live across the world from you, and I am thankful that this class has provided me with that priceless opportunity. Truly, despite its difficulty, learning Chinese at the University of Virginia has been an amazing experience.