User Comments - RJ

Posted on: This Week's Lessons and Introducing Sarah

Gulam,

one of the great things about cpod is that we can rise above world politics and interact as people. This hopefully makes its own contribution to a better world going forward. I urge you to try and participate in this fashion. Here's hoping better days are ahead for you, but I have to agree with kimik and bbbw - surely sarah should not be held accountable for the reasons behind your bitterness. We are better than that. I hope. Take care.

Posted on: Stopped at the Gate

look_up_english

interesting that you are freaked out by air kisses but seem ok with the "bum" patting (God, I have used the word bum). I will wait anxiously for Jenny's answer but my guess is that it means the same as in the UK or anywhere else. No wonder you are getting air kisses. :-)

As for security guards, I just salute and keep walking with confidence. Have never been stopped yet.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

btw tvan,

sounds like you have had some interesting experiences in China.  I would love to hear your story if you are willing to tell it. How did you end up in China back in 81?

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

tvan,

It was clear to me that Xiaohu was talking in general and I know what John is trying to say but once you have reached your limit of understanding by listening you have reached your limit. Using a transcript at this point only helps to raise that limit for the next experience, including the one with the lady at the noodle stand. If you read the transcript first in a listening exercise, or after only a small effort,  I agree that you are cheating yourself but this is not the way I study. Not even close. And there is not only nothing wrong with using a transcript at this point but it is the right thing to do. Reading reinforces listening at this point and this ties to what Xiaohu was saying.

Your example requires repeated listening sessions in differnt contexts and eventually you fill in the gaps. We have the luxury of learning in a classroom environment where you can fill them in immediately. I do agree that most people in an advanced chinese class probably couldnt keep up with listening to a native speaker and that is why these story sessions are so valuable. I want to get the most out of them and a transcript helps me do that.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

Thank you Xiaohu, I couldnt agree more. Especially relevant was your comment: (allow me to repeat it)

"listening when you don't know what you're listening for is simply a waste of time.  That's like saying you can learn a language by process of osmosis, it simply WILL NOT WORK."

Its easy for those who already are at an advanced level to scold others for not just "listening until they get it", but if you are stretching beyond your level you need help.

I also agree with your entire post and I too have thought about this a lot. Everything I learn in all the areas of study (reading, listening, speaking, writing) support each other and allow for an interrelated stair step cycle of improvement. Each feeding the others.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

John,

you make using the transcript sound like cheating. When I say listen first until you can get no more I dont mean only 3 times. I agree you should struggle but there will be certain things you can not get even if you listen 100 times. After checking the transcript you can now learn to hear these things and hopefully will be able to catch them next time. Everyone learns differently however and it depends on how you define success here. If you are happy once you have the meaning, even if you are fuzzy on a couple words then maybe you dont need a transcript. I was shooting for 100%, not looking for an easy way out.

Posted on: This Week's Lessons and Introducing Sarah

far as I can tell, there was only one female smurf.  ("smurfete.") Pretty scarry.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

one small typo in the transcript.

她不会说中文，如果们说了中文 should read

她不会说中文，如果我们说了中文.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

 oh and thank you 娇杰 for sharing your story. good job.

Posted on: My Foreign teacher

ancalagon, tvan, my technique would be as follows:

listen over and over until you absolutely can not get any more out of it - then use the transcript to fill in the holes and listen over and over yet again. I do not recommend using the transcript until you have done all you can without it, but it does let you then go to the next level.