Learning the language...

I've always heard people learn a language best  from hearing it spoken repetitively. Context is the first thing I've picked up at an attempt to learn Mandarin. If you know the context of the situation you can more easily figure out the words, or at the least, the proper response.
After a month in China, here is what I can say in Mandarin. 
(I am not going to type pin yin for you. This is just for an idea of how complicated the language is for me.)
So far I can say:
hello/how are you
no
thank you
cat 
dog
this/that 
handsome/beautiful/cute 
he/she is cute/handsome/beautiful
coke
water
goodbye
My name is Amie
I am American
I am a teacher
I don't know
Let's go
Cheers (empty your glass)
Right?
How much?
I love you
And on a good day I can count to 10 :)

Now, I can say all of those things, but let's keep in mind my accent. The tones are key in learning to speak Mandarin. For example, I was practicing with my Chinese friend and showing her how proud I was to be able to say, "I'm a teacher." She laughed at me and said, "You have to poop?"
So, you can see how it is important to nail the correct tone. Imagine if I'd said that to a stranger and their child on an elevator or the subway. Awkward...

There are four tones: flat (1st), rising (2nd), rise then fall (3rd), and fall (4th). You could have the word "wu" but depending on the tone above /u/, it has a completely different meaning. 
I just copied this from an Internet site. I have no idea what these words mean. This is just to give you an idea of what is going on. 

Here is how understanding the process of basic communication is working for me inside the classroom and outside the classroom. 

Outside:
Last Wednesday I went to buy some new running shoes. The shoes were clearly separated by women's on the left side and men on the right side of the table. I picked out some cute purple and grays from the left side. When I signed the Chinese number nine to the attendant, she smiled and shifted to the right end of the table. I understood that this meant, "Damn, you have a big foot. Only men's shoes come in those sizes." 
With not much of a choice, I shifted right and found some aqua and gray Nike Frees for $50/USD. I don't care if they're knockoffs or the real deal. All I care is that I can go running in a brand new pair of kicks that I can say were $50 Nike Frees. :) 

Inside of class: 
Teacher is "lao shi" in Mandarin. When I hear "lao shi" in my class I know the students are speaking to me (or about me.)
"Bu zhi dao," means "I don't know." When I hear this I know my instructions weren't clear or they need more specific directions.
The students go pretty easy on me to be their new teacher. I replaced a teacher who has been at my school for three years.
I am learning as much each new day as my students are. During class, if a student says "bu zhi dao" toward me, I am pleased they at least recognize me as their teacher and I find a small piece of satisfaction in that. 

Each day I am learning a new word or phrase from my coworkers and friends. I am taking mental and physical notes all throughout the day. I get advice from friends who've been in China longer and combine them all to find what works in making the language stick. I don't expect to be fluent next month, or at the end of the year, but I want to be able to make a point and communicate when I can.