User Comments - Mingmao

Posted on: The Courses of a French Dinner

Exactly: cheese. When I was living in France that was the most common "dessert" and I've never been to a French restaurant where a cheese plate was not listed among the after-dinner options. I was surprised they didn't mention cheese. Maybe French restaurants in China don't offer it with regularity.

Posted on: The Courses of a French Dinner

It's first/fourth. In the discussion David also pronounces it as first/fourth. The transcription is incorrect.

Posted on: Preparing Traditional Chinese Medicine

Is there a difference between 吐舌头 and 伸出舌头?

Posted on: Your Zipper Is Down!

Thanks, Jenny!

Posted on: Your Zipper Is Down!

What is the difference between 走开 and 滚蛋?

Posted on: Ways to Say "Stubborn"

In another lesson, 缺心眼 was used to describe someone as naïve. How does that play into its use as meaning "stubborn"?

Posted on: Ways to Say "Stubborn"

Hi David. I enjoy your additions to Qing Wen. Long ago there was a whole thread of Qing Wen lesson suggestions. I posted several questions, none of which have been addressed in Qing Wen. Are you guys still consulting that list looking for possible lesson topics, or did you forget about that thread, or have you decided not to use any more of the lesson suggestions from it?

Posted on: A Formal Apology

Hi mikeinewshot,

I listen on my computer, sometimes with headphones, sometimes without. In this lesson the music was so loud that I could easily listen to the rhythm and melody of the music, but had to concentrate very hard to block it out enough to listen to the speakers. Perhaps it is different on different systems. I found it very much in the foreground on this lesson.

Posted on: A Formal Apology

I don't know if other users have this experience, but I find the background music during the host discussion of this lesson very distracting, to the point that it's difficult to pay attention to what the hosts are saying. Following a Chinese conversation is challenging enough without distracting music. I would hope that the producers would consider that, while the music may seem quite innocuous to them (as they find Chinese easy to understand), any type of music that calls attention to itself will become the more salient sonic signal to someone who is already struggling to follow the conversation. I'm sure advanced students won't have this problem -- I concede that the music isn't loud -- but I'm sure there are others like me who have difficulty separating signal from noise when listening to material they find challenging. Background noise is the norm in daily life, and it's nice to have a place to come to focus on listening to the language exclusively and intensely. Perhaps the staff could consider using background music that is less exciting and more meditative, music that is actually intended as a background to provide a mood without being noticed, and not just play energetic music on low volume. Anyway, that's my two cents.

Posted on: "Warm" and "Speechless"