ㄅㄆㄇㄈ or Bopomofo

Learning Chinese in Taiwan is made easier....The system used to train kids how to read is the equivalent to the phonetic system in English ( more or less). Although it is nice for learning pronunciation in a Taiwanese way it is definitely not a means to the end of learning Chinese.

The picture is an example from a children's book. Notice the Chinese and then those more "simple" looking symbols on the right. Once you learn the phonetics then you can learn the Chinese on the left by association.
Granted one must practicing writing to quicken the mind's reconition just as you did in elementery school for your native tongue.

The interesting thing about bopomofo(Abc's) properly termed Zhuyin Fuhao(Alphabet)--is it's presence in the daily lives of the Taiwanese. It can be seen on billboards occasionally and on TV shows or even be used in daily speech. I guess the last would be nearly impossible to know unless you are certain that no such Chinese word exists. For example I have seen on TV in the subtitles the expression ㄟ or "A" (prounounced like the ketter A). Still not sure if it is nonexistent or just shorthand for that expression though.

When I can find a picture with billboards using bpomofo I will post it here.

In the end I think bopomofo is the one true way to learn the sounds of Chinese. And since it is a limited letter source of 36 letters why not kearn it? It easier than struggling through the pinyin system where one all too easier falls back to the ( in the English speaker's case) English pronunciations of those letters. 36 letters....easier than passing a driver's exam. Lol