First Lesson

My tutor Elena Ann was awesome.

Today I learned:

How are you? ni3 hao3 ma? 你 好 吗？

I am very well. And you? Wo3 hen3 hao3. ni3 ne? 我很好，你呢？

I am well also. Wo3 ye3 hen3 hao3. 我也很好。

Why I thought it was a great lesson is she took me directly into speaking Chinese. She commended me on what I pronounced and used correctly, and helped me to relax and speak the parts I had trouble with.

Afterwards we went thru some pinyin and how they are pronounced thru each different tone. I sometimes speak very fast and when I do it with 3rd and 4th tone I get flustered and it comes out completely wrong, but my teacher would catch it, and tell me to calm down, and try it again. Patience from an instructor is invaluable.

I am looking forward to more.

zai4 jian4! (Also learned today) 再见！

It sounds like it was a great lesson! That's the first step. 加油！