I was in a situation where I was all set up to learn basic/introductory mandarin in person in a classroom setting for no cost but my time, and covid hit and wrecked everything.

that opportunity is gone now, but if I can every orchestrate something like that again, I am going for it.

I've tried conversational audio lessons on my own, and have done that for basic skills in a few other languages... but the tonal thing with mandarin throws me and I can hear myself as being way off. baby needs in person instruction!