If you’re living in a Chinese speaking community and are looking for people to practice Chinese with, taxi drivers can be a great source. A talkative driver can give you great practice in answering questions. You can also practice by asking him the same questions in return. If you travel in taxis often, you can even try asking the same question to different drivers to see how their answers differ, and where they are the same.

Playing games (with adults or kids) is a great way to hear colloquial vocabulary. You can start off with simple games using a deck of cards (some games are universal, others would have to be taught). Later, you can move up to games such a Mahjong to get a real feel for local culture. During the games, watch for expressions of joy or frustration. If you get enough playing experience you may find yourself instinctively blurting out the same expressions in Chinese!