Learning Mandarin with GNU/Linux

Greetings!

I need your inputs on learning Mandarin (spoken and
written) with GNU/Linux:

1. Any free/open source software for learning
pronounciation.

2. I am using Ubuntu Dapper Beta and have scim
installed. I am able to use Tamil language with gaim,
firefox, abiword, gedit et. al. How can we input
pinyin or Mandarin characters?

3. What is the keyboard layout to be used?

4. Vocabulary building software that you will
recommend?

Or if you have any suggestions for good books/CDs
(available in Singapore/Hong Kong) for learning spoken
and written Mandarin, I'd appreciate that too.

Thanking you,

SK

--
Shakthi Kannan
http://www.shakthimaan.com

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