According to the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute, Chinese is a Class III language—the most difficult to master—and requires 2,200 hours of rigorous study to gain general proficiency. Luckily for procrastinators with tickets already booked to Beijing, a new design-focused learning system called Chineasy can teach students basic literacy in a matter of days. (Graphic cue cards)

http://www.wired.com/design/2013/08/chineasy-teaches-chinese-language-visually/