User Comments - abelle

Posted on: China Street Smart with John Chan

Hi, Jenny,Matt and other CPoders:  I just got back from spending a few weeks in Costa Rica.  I took 2 years of Spanish in high school so understand some of the language,  and was ready to switch to SpanishPod after that vacation.  But then I listened to this great Jenny show and so will stick with Chinese for now. Looking forward to more installments in the series!  --Mystic

Posted on: Surfing the Internet (original)

Xiexie for the definitions, Connie.

Posted on: Surfing the Internet (original)

An oldie but goodie.  I've been going back to the first lessons made 3-4 years ago.  This has been one of the more interesting Newbie lessons I've come across.

I have one question:  what is the difference between shangban  vs. bangongshi?

Posted on: A Texan Visitor

Congratulations ncmuck for completing the newbie level. How did you find the time to do it and work at your job too?  What's your secret? I am still struggling to finish the newbie level.  I thought I would have lots of time this summer while off from college to study Chinese.  But my family and I have been traveling a lot this summer.  I go away for a week and forget what I've learned.  I try to get back up to speed, then we are off again for another week (we were recently in Utah and believe me, I saw no Asians there).  So I cram as much studying as I can while I'm at home, but that doesn't seem very efficient to me.

Posted on: Mobile Repairmen and AZERDocMom

I liked the second part of this podcast with azerdocmom and Josh.  He sounded really cute and it was interesting to hear his views of China.

Posted on: Language is Music

I got more info and here is the channel I have access to:

MHz8 Metro Chinese Network
MHz Networks 8 is Metro Chinese Network, a channel of United States Broadcasting Corporation, a private, independent American television station. MCN broadcasts programs from Beijing, Taipei & Hong Kong, and original content from their production centers.

I turned it on this morning and it was a news broadcast in English, though the newscaster was Chinese.  I still couldn't figure out from where it was originating.  So I was disappointed that it was in English, but will check in again later to see if a Chinese-language program will come on.

Posted on: Language is Music

Ni, hao:  Last night I took Suzanna's advice and actually found a Chinese-language channel through our Verizon FIOS service here in the US.  There was soap opera on:  2 women arguing, a young couple having relationship problems, a man being beat up by a gang, police involvement, etc.  I didn't understand any of it, just recognized a few words here and there.  It helped that there were subtitles with characters.  So I will put that channel on in the background when I'm doing other things, as Suzanna's suggested.  I couldn't figure out if the channel is actually from the Mainland or Taiwan.

Posted on: Pinyin Section 4: R

Ni hao, one of my teachers (has a master's degree but didn't finish her Ph.D.) at the local college where I have taken Chinese courses says that in China the kids don't actually learn pinyin.  From the very beginning they learn the characters.  Pinyin is for foreigners who want to learn how to pronounce the characters, according to her.  I think she said it's the same in Taiwan.  She is an American but has studied in China (junior year abroad program in Nanjing) and lived 2 years in Taiwan after university.  I was very interested to hear that.  Not that I would doubt my laoshi, but is that true?

Posted on: Language Exchange

Mike:  You're right.  I had to run off to get ready for work and didn't have time to listen to the dialogue.  After listening to it, it makes sense now.

Posted on: Language Exchange

Ni hao, in the PDF file, the first sentence is all in English, with no Chinese translation:  "I am a software engineer".  Hasn't anyone else noticed that??

Xiexie.