r/ChineseStudyGroup

Hello! I have been studying Mandarin for around two months now, not following any specific textbook or strictly adhering to the HSK curriculum (however, I think that I would be somewhere around HSK 2-very beginning HSK 3.) Speaking, listening, and typing have been my only focuses- I have not learned handwriting as I felt it would take up time that I could be spending becoming more conversational. I've primarily been using podcasts, videos, music, and flashcards to study alone while also chatting with native speakers daily and a tutor weekly.

I am having a bit of a hard time deciding how I should go about improving my Mandarin when I start university in the next couple of weeks. I originally figured that I would take Mandarin classes as soon as I started, but after emailing the undergraduate coordinator, I was told that I would likely be placed in the absolute beginner level class because I do not have experience with handwriting. This is a concern for me because I do not want to 1) lose the vocabulary and whatever proficiency I currently have and 2) fall behind in learning new vocabulary/becoming more fluent because I am in a beginning class.

I hope to study abroad in China sometime in the future (maybe in the next 2 or 3 years) for the language immersion and because I would like for Mandarin to become a part of my daily life, including my working life (maybe some kind of international job.) For this reason, maybe it is necessary for me to bite the bullet and study Mandarin at my university- but I really am unsure. I would truly appreciate any help or insight at all, thank you in advance!