The plan · Sixty Days

Two phases

Weeks 1–2 get the sounds right and get you through daily life. Weeks 3–8 run the loop, mostly on autopilot.

Weeks 1–2 · Days 1–14

Sounds & survival

Pronunciation, and the phrases you need tomorrow

壹

Two jobs. Get the sounds right first, while your habits are still forming — days 1–6 open with a pinyin unit each — and get through daily life in Chinese as early as possible. The tutor starts on day one. Every phrase you learn this fortnight, you use on a real person within 48 hours.

25
Tutor
min · 5× a week · evening
15
Pronunciation drill
min / day · evening
20
Phrases by ear
min / day · breakfast + gaps
40
Listening
min / day · commute
10
AI role-play
min / day · evening
1–3
Street reps
× a day · meals + errands

≈ 1 h 50 min · 50 of it at a desk

Weeks 3–8 · Days 15–60

The real routine

Talk, listen, review, repeat

贰

Now the loop — and it runs mostly on autopilot, because it's attached to your day. Breakfast is flashcards, the commute is listening, meals and errands are reps. The tutor moves from role-play to real conversation. The evening desk slot is the only thing you have to defend.

25
Tutor
min · 4–5× a week · evening
15
Speaking practice
min / day · evening
50
Listening
min / day · commute
25
Flashcards
min / day · breakfast + gaps
3
Street reps
× a day · meals + errands
60–90
Weekend
min · weekend

≈ 2 h on weekdays · 40 min of it at a desk

Day by day

Week one opens every day with a pinyin unit and follows the day-by-day table. From day 8 the calendar sets the shape: tutor weekdays, a social Saturday, a light Sunday.

Before you start

Day 0

0Setup — about an hour

Week 1

Days 1–7

On the street · Greet, point, order, pay: 你好 · 我要这个 · 我扫你 · 谢谢

Week 2

Days 8–14

On the street · Ask prices and places; tell a taxi driver where to go

Week 3· phase two begins

Days 15–21

On the street · Order without pointing; add one follow-up question; introduce yourself to your regulars

Week 4

Days 22–28

On the street · Ask a stranger for directions and follow them; collect a parcel with 取件码

Week 5

Days 29–35

On the street · Barber or pharmacy: describe what you want, or how you feel

Week 6

Days 36–42

On the street · A five-minute chat with a driver or shop owner — food, the city, their hometown

Week 7

Days 43–49

On the street · Fix a problem in Chinese: a wrong order, a return, something broken at home

Week 8

Days 50–56

On the street · A 10–15 minute conversation at a language exchange or with a regular

Week 9

Days 57–60

On the street · A 10–15 minute conversation at a language exchange or with a regular

Calibrated milestones

What sixty days at about two hours a day looks like — the honest version.

D14

Day fourteen

Every sound checked by your tutor, and every pinyin unit solid by ear. The survival pack, by ear. Ordering, paying, taxis and directions done in Chinese — with a script and some pointing. 150–200 words. The TonePerfect retest beats day zero.

M1

End of month one

350–400 words recognised by ear. Most daily errands without a script. You can introduce yourself and keep small talk going for a minute or two. You follow slow learner videos on familiar topics.

Locals talking at full speed: still noise. Normal.

M2

End of month two

Around 700–800 words. 5–10 minute conversations on everyday topics with a patient partner. You understand a good part of slow, clear speech aimed at you — and can ask for the rest.

Native-speed chat between locals is still mostly out of reach. That takes months more, not weeks.

Calibrated for about two hours a day, most of it woven into your routine while living in China. At one hour a day, expect slower milestones.