"Forget learning language as an investment in your future. Yes as a multi-lingual person you are more employable than a mono-lingual person. But there are limits."

Thanks, this is interesting. Would like to hear more on this, as well as any divergent opinions.

"For daily life in China, you can get by with survival Chinese. Until something goes wrong and needs fixing."

I might disagree with this.
You wont starve or die of course, but I think big obstacles (maybe the main ones) one faces here are isolation, boredom, and frustration.

As English becomes the standard language for the whole world, it would seem that people would study other languages less and less, or at least do so only as a hobby. Yet, it seems to me that people from all around the world are studying foreign languages more and more.

Is that really the case?

If so, what is going on here?

Someone once told me that studying Chinese was a waste of time, because in another 5 or 10 years time (5 years to become good at it, 10 to become great ) everyone will know how to speak English.

I have to admit, that I don't favor the idea of spending my life in China, and I don't feel passionate about the the Chinese language (it has it's charms, but I mostly see it as just another communication tool) .

Yet I have always held the view, that if I could speak English, Spanish (my second language), and Chinese, that this would be a really major investment in my future, from career prospects to traveling.

Is this still a sensible approach?

Where can I buy a stereo? You know, an amplifier/receiver, with speakers?

And does anyone know if turntables (not for a dj, just normal one for home use) are compatible with those little computer speaker/amps ?

You know, the ones that you can buy at the super market (usually Philips, sansui, etc) for 100-500 rmb? (they are usually like 25 watts or more).

a good 2nd hand electronic Chinese dictionary?

Some schools charge 300-450 for 1 to 1 with foreign teacher.
Keats charges 100 for 1 to 1 with a mandarin teacher.

Tiger Tiger is mistaken.
150 is the bare minimum, for anyone with solid experience. His grey hair teacher can charge 200.

OP, 150 is your answer.