Good question! The main way to learn chinese is Pinyin-spoken read and write.So most of the learning materials are dessingned for this oder . of course , it also have problems :maybe pronouce the sound not decent(you know pinyin is romaniztion of Chinese sound ,it is not really chinese sound it self.) but the most big proble with this way is : make the chinese characters very very hard to learn~__~ Character first ia a experimental way ,it is said very good .It must use special textbook s . I just heared about one book in this way ,but I have nverver usd it . So there is no best way to start Chinese learing.The way be suitable to you is the the best ,maybe. For example if you just want to simple communicate in Chinese , sound (pinyin)is OK. Nevever mind the characters.at all.

When it comes to learning chinese you need to try the listen an repeat method. for example listen to a chinese conversation (a you tube video, or from a CD) then repeat what they say. mimic the speakers inflections tones etc. Don't worry about the meaning as much as the way a they speak it. try not to translate so much. for example learn lots of nouns. they are very easy to learn and your brain can quickly except the nouns new meaning. For example a TV, Chair, Fork, Light, Etc.

I'm a Chinese girl. I think the best way to learn Chinese is to speak more and more.You can communicate with others in Chinese in any possible situations.I'm now learning English,and I also don't kown how to learn English well.Only way I kown is to speak more and practise more. Whenever you have difficuities in learning Chinese,you can ask me. May be I can give you some suggestions.And you can teach me English.Let's work hard together.Come on!

i think the most effective way is communication with someone good at chinese, example :me! haha

come to China,hehe