User Comments - bodawei
bodawei
Posted on: Podcast Language 2
June 6, 2009 at 4:26 PMThe above discussion on 'how best to learn Chinese' is very interesting - after all, I commit a fair bit of leisure time to exactly that. I feel for the 'analytical thinkers' because I often feel deep down that I should go the analytical route. But every now and then I hear good advice for me, or have an epiphany. Some views that I have come to adopt (but I try to be flexible): - there is no one way - you have to have multiple approaches - you need different methods at different levels of proficiency - the method used by trained Chinese teachers in China is an essential, or at least highly valuable, part of the learning experience (I expect lots of disagreement with that， but for me it is true) - immersion accelerates your learning experience, whatever your 'native' ability - you need a coach, teacher, whatever - 自己学 has its limitations (interestingly I believe that even a trained teacher with no Chinese can help with setting learning plans and reviewing progress)
Posted on: Podcast Language 2
June 6, 2009 at 4:05 PM@zaphekiah I make do with the MS Windows system and yes it has lots of characters missing from its database. But they are usually characters that are rarely used. There, I've probably started an argument. However 略 actually works fine - just type l, u, e; don't use the v. I don't know why; must be a bug.
Posted on: Delegating Tasks
June 6, 2009 at 3:54 PM@siteng 我觉得是对的，可是我也多半想错了！ 对我都中文句子是对的，都可以说差不多。 说实话我知道中文的语法。 我知道中国交通规则比中文语法规则多。
Posted on: Podcast Language 3
June 6, 2009 at 3:01 PMI've enjoyed these QingWens on language used in lessons, thank you. I have written my own tongue in cheek take on measure words at http://tinyurl.com/r9lg6d. I keep few MWs in my head but they are a good talking point - I find Chinese people love to correct your measure words. There are of course many uncommon MWs & it's fun to explore them. I like the phrase 形势一派大好 (..the situation is excellent). 还有一个固定搭配 gùdìng dāpèi (fixed expression) 对吧？。。 like Pete's favourite expression 各位朋友，各位领导，大家好 (Friends, leaders, hello!). Someone explained to me that this phrase 形势一派大好 is almost exclusively used by Government! Is 一派 pai a MW for Government use? :-)
Posted on: Who are You Looking For?
June 6, 2009 at 9:10 AMWhen a stranger knocks on your door late at night can you dispense with the polite 请问你找谁？ qing wen, ni zhao shei (please, who are you looking for?) and, instead, just yell: 谁啊 sheeeeeeeeiaaaah! (who?/who IS it?/ WHO do you want?)
Posted on: Delegating Tasks
June 5, 2009 at 3:12 PM@siteng In Australia we tend to use both 'meeting' and 'conference', because of the common practice of people phoning in. If there is a phone-in, the meeting becomes a phone (or less commonly video) conference. Even a meeting between just three people on the phone is a 'phone conference'. Conferences are also quite formal, and usually longer, 'meetings' - these are actually junkets to reward hard working staff. :-) Also know as 'talk-fests'. WE also have the term 'caucus'， as both a verb and noun, which is what happens informally before a meeting. As in .. 'the boss prefers it if we don't caucus before the meeting'. Caucusing is something that was particularly common in the public sector but I think the term gets more use these days. Don Watson (a political speech-writer) wrote a wonderful book on management terms - he called them 'weasel words'.
Posted on: Buying a House
June 4, 2009 at 8:52 AM@shenyajin Abolishing the 户口 system would in principle benefit migrant employees - education and health for their children etc. in their adopted provinces. The system has served China well in some ways - but I can imagine that an abrupt halt of the system would wreak havoc on the services for ordinary people (while rich people would hardly be affected.) On the plus side, China would be a fairer country with greater equality of access for its citizens.
Posted on: 赤壁之战
June 3, 2009 at 12:41 PM@changye Also 赭 zhe3 (burnt ochre) a colour often associated with 澳大利亚土著人, I think because of the prevalence of this colour in the Australian landscape. But interestingly ochre is not on their flag. 除了黑以外黄和红都是澳大利亚土著人旗的颜色的。 近朱者赤 近墨者黑 Did I get it right this time?
Posted on: Why are You Studying Chinese?
June 3, 2009 at 9:28 AM@stevec I'm tempted to say 'never too old' to start learning, but I once had a guy in a class who was maybe in his mid-80s, and he had been attending Chinese classes for about 10 years at that stage. Only problem was that he was quite deaf (therefore very loud) and a little bit grumpy. Seriously, age is a problem as your hearing deteriorates. I complain that I can't hear in 听力 classes(!) but I have the same problem in English; I am better in face to face communication. @engama 我的照片两年前照相了。。 he he!
Posted on: Why are You Studying Chinese?
June 7, 2009 at 2:16 AM@dangrayson 'so to prepare for that I hired a tutor and studied the language for 4 months' Makes me smile - like the book I have seen on the shelves called 'Learn Chinese before You Land'. I like the fact that Chinese is a life-long learning experience. I am also interested stories about your job - did you keep a blog? Hope you get your wish for 'extended stays, studying Chinese and thinking about maths.'