My experience learning Chinese has been very enjoyable. Class met each day during the week, which contributed to camaraderie among the students. This was the only class I've taken at UVA in which I got to know and make friends with all the people in my section. We were encouraged to speak out and interact not only with the teacher but also with other students. These classes involve a considerable time commitment because in addition to daily class meetings, individual review and study of the material, and a two-hour weekly language lab requirement, weekly grammar and character writing assignments are also required. These requirements are important and essential to comprehension and understanding of the language. Weekly quizzes on Thursday and Friday provide a good test of skills acquired during the week and reinforce the need to memorize important sections of the chapter. Not only is the teacher knowledgeable but her energetic and caring nature nurtures participation and fosters an atmosphere conducive to learning through hard-work. Her personality motivates students to do their best and to succeed in the course. She incorporates culture along with the language to give students a well-rounded knowledge of the Chinese way of life. Chinese was one of my favorite classes I have taken at UVA and I highly recommend it to all students as I believe Mandarin is becoming more prevalent on the world market and will be a valuable asset to people in most careers.