Best Way to Learn Mandarin

I studied with this school for a year and I can honestly say it's one of the best choices I made. I went in with an okay vocabulary from self study, and now I'm at a level that I can discuss almost anything with anyone and can be independent in China. Even before my Chinese was this level, the school and my teacher (Cristina) would help me manage things I struggled to do on my own. The school also offered fun activities and trips, such as pipa picking and doing traditional CNY crafts. I'm very sad I had to go, but it was for a good reason - with my better Chinese, I was able to enroll in a Chinese?university.