How did the writer overcome the communication barrier with her teacher?

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She overcame the communication barrier by learning Mandarin through practice until she could communicate in writing.
The writer said that when she started English-medium school in 1963, she spoke only a couple of Chinese dialects, so she and her Indian teacher could hardly communicate at first. She said it did not take long for them to break that barrier, and she later described years of consistent Mandarin practice that helped her read and write Chinese. She also said it took her at least two years of constant practice—singing along and copying down Mandarin song lyrics—before she could write a simple Chinese letter to her mother.
She started with limited shared language, but the barrier was short-lived
In 1963, the writer faced her biggest challenge because her class teacher was an Indian woman while she spoke only a couple of Chinese dialects. With that mismatch, communication was difficult at the beginning. She then stated that it did not take long for her and her teacher to break the communication barrier.
She built Mandarin ability through sustained practice using songs and lyrics
The writer described how she developed Mandarin during her teens, saying she fell in love with Mandarin movies and songs influenced by Chinese-educated friends. She said it took at least two years of constant practice—singing along and copying down Mandarin song lyrics—before she could write a simple Chinese letter years later. She highlighted that she felt proud to be able to read and write simple Chinese.
She connected later literacy skills to her earlier language learning journey
The writer noted that even when she was 16, she could not write her own Chinese name, which underscored how much she progressed. She said Mandarin was not strictly necessary early in her hospitality career, but it later opened doors for her. She pointed to a 2001 assignment in Shanghai where she managed the successful rollout of a hotel system for a sister property.

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How did the writer overcome the communication barrier with her teacher?

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