My name is Frederic and I am 52 years old. I speak english, german, french, italian and latin (not very useful in these days, I know). I did not realize at first how difficult it was to learn chinese. I have to work 4 or 5 times more to learn a single word in chinese than in any other language I already speak.
I am very grateful to the people who created this website. I am currently achieving HSK 4.1 (after succeeding in HSK1 to HSK3) and I tested my knowledge this year by flying to Shanghai where I stayed 10 days with my wife. I had no difficulty to speak and ask questions. And People actually understood me! Although I did not understand 2/3 of the time their answers because they speak so fast! Then they added a gesture or an english word and most of the time, I was able to identify backwards what they have just said. Needless to say, I have to keep working and listening chinese!
I would suggest beginners to also take oral lessons from a chinese professor, at the beginning (let's say HSK 1 and HSK 2) and then, thanks to this website, you may fly by your own.
Learning chinese for a french person is really a challenge but it is worth it. I was so happy in Shanghai to understand, of course not everything, but a lot of chinese signs around me, in the streets, in the stores, no more walking in a land covered with hieroglyphs like I had the feeling 10 years ago when I was in Beijing.
Now, if you have a hard time with learning chinese, tell yourself that EVERYBODY has. Just be patient. And work regularly (I would recommend at least 4 days a week).