User Comments - goulnik
goulnik
Posted on: The 80/20 Rule
August 28, 2008 at 4:24 AMthis is The Pareto principle, 帕雷托法则 (Pàléituō fǎzé):
The Pareto principle (also known as the 80-20 rule, the law of the vital few and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes... (wikipedia)
帕雷托法则（Pareto principle），也称为80/20法则，此法则指在众多现象中，80%的结果取决于20%的原因，而这一法则在很多方面被广泛的应用…(维基百科)
and the 'long tail' is basically the remaining 80%, 长尾 chángwěi.
Posted on: Language Power Struggle
August 26, 2008 at 4:06 PMI think that a lot of learners here are eager to read more about your experiences and your progress with the Practice Plan.
sorry, this will be a long post :hanyuxuesheng, you'd have to ask Vera 老师 about my progress... I must have shared my experience before, but recap is, I started with 8 weeks, took a short break, extended to 6 months, took another break, and embarked for another 12 months - I'm just about half way through that one.
After the first 8 weeks, I asked to switch from 5 to 4 sessions / week, proportionally longer (about 15 minutes). After an initial assessment where I felt 不好意思 clumsiness, the study plan was established as 2 x 中级(C) and 3 x 中高级(D) per week, then becoming 2 x 中级(C) and 2 x 中高级(D), on a variety of topics based on my stated interests.
Towards the end of the 6-months phase, seeing that I was publishing those 88news, Vera introduced one, then two 媒体(F) sessions each week. And recently, as I have decided to no longer listen to lessons that aren't Chinese only, she's switched to 高级(E) on a test basis, two each week with alternating 复习.
This shows responsiveness to my demands, though always put to the test, trying things for a few sessions / weeks to see how things go.
The process has similarly been evolving, we now review all studied lessons (at various time intervals) as I had quickly requested. First time around we typically have a free discussion on the lesson subject, comparing attitudes etc. in Europe, the second time the focus is on key lesson vocab.
Is it worth the money?
You can find cheaper offers, though the price recently dropped, but it works for me, very flexible to adapt to my schedule, taste, needs. And I'd be hard put to get similar opportunities here : individual (I hate group classes), flexible, loosely-structured.
I have have a 5-7 hours time difference depending where I am, which works well for me taking those calls before going to work in the morning. When I went to the US recently for a congress, we had 13 hours time difference which made this much less practical, but that would have worked with other teachers.
What I can say is we exclusively talk Chinese. I understand a lot more now, and when I don't I ask her to repeat, she speaks maybe not full speed but reasonably standard. This is within the context of a lesson topic, not completely free flow though. One thing I have to add is she calls over to my landline, not skype end-to-end, and the resulting quality varies tremendously. Static on the line sometimes makes this very challenging, probably the biggest hurdle (she has to call back every now and then).
How much time do you need and what do you do to get the best benefit out of it?
That really depends, but the more I put in, the more I get out. I spend at least an hour preparing for each session, probably close to 2 hours actually. I have developed a few tricks over time, the more I know what she'll want to focus on, the more I can prepare for it, the smoother it gets and the more I benefit.
Remember, it's 15 minutes (less in the basic plan) so you don't want to waste time thinking about an example, trying to formulate a question or answering one. So not only do I study all vocab, but also related ones to make sure I can express what I need to, neatly organized, and I now look up definitions in a Chinese-Chinese dictionary so I can explain the vocab, not just examples but also synonyms, rephrasing etc. (I can share example if there is interest as I do it all electronically). I also scan all (relevant) lesson comments for vocab.
The one thing you could question is lack of systematic approach across lessons, there is no actual build up, though I myself try and re-use previously learnt expressions. I guess this is a structural CPod principle though. Anyway, I am not particularly gifted, and I need to see / hear / use a word 100 times before it sticks. I am somewhat of a perfectionist (doesn't help with conversation) and certainly hard working.
Posted on: Language Power Struggle
August 26, 2008 at 10:51 AMThe trouble is, I simply can not crack the listening comprehension....
Anyone have any advice on this? Having spoken to lots of people already I am definitely in the minority....
I'm the same chris, with the additional issue that I don't live in China, and that I am extremely visual. I had spent so much time focusing on written stuff that it was a blessing to come across CPod nearly 2 years ago. I'm now over a year into the Practice Plan and those short conversations 4 times a week have boosted my confidence and ultimately my ability to speak.
I think different channels need different practice activities: podcasts are fine for listening comprehension, but I think there's no way you will break the barrier unless you only listen to Chinese-only lessons. With CPod, it means Uppper Intermediate and above, which will take you way beyond your comfort zone in the beginning. I also suggest iMandarinPod, a little more formal and with none of the community experience you find here, but very effective (they offer full transcripts for free).
Posted on: Language Power Struggle
August 26, 2008 at 6:47 AM窍门是参加FrenchPod、ItalianPod等学别的语言，以后假装你不会说英文，不说中文的话没办法交流…是我的建议
Posted on: Beauty Pageant for Bloggers
August 25, 2008 at 5:00 PMHow about a beauty pageant for nuns: not invented yet ? check this article 这张文章 (short) 或者那张 (long). This has to make it to News - 新闻
Posted on: 多音字
August 22, 2008 at 7:50 AM几个练习 from a teacher's resource in Taiwan (converted from 繁体字 and 注音符号/bopomofo to 简体字 and 汉语拼音/pinyin)- note that they call them 破音字 (pòyīnzì) not 多音字 (duōyīnzì) :
《薛意梅》
按注音符号顺序排列， 答案中的数字代表声调
答案 (遮起来做答)
1. 那本书很便 [ ] 宜，你如果方便 [ ] ，请帮我买一本。
便 (pián) (biàn)
2. 那个门把 [ ] 上挂了一把 [ ] 扇子。
把 (bà) (bǎ)
3. 她由于心广体胖 [ ] ，又不爱运动，所以逐渐发胖 [ ] 。
胖 (pán) (pàng)
4. 包装很漂 [ ] 亮的一包漂 [ ] 白粉在湖面上漂 [ ] 着。
漂 (piào) (piǎo) (piāo)
5. 这两天天气闷 [ ] 热得令人心里烦闷 [ ] 。
闷 (mēn) (mèn)
6. 他天天埋 [ ] 首办公，这种好员工有什么好埋 [ ] 怨的？
埋 (mái) (mán)
7. 她的才干没 [ ] 人赏识，那公司真是埋没 [ ] 人材。
没 (méi) (mò)
8. 他是否 [ ] 能否 [ ] 极泰来，没人有把握。
否 (fǒu) (pǐ)
9. 别从门缝 [ ] 里瞧人，她结婚以后，还会缝 [ ] 窗帘呢。
缝 (fèng) (féng)
10. 我们要分 [ ] 工合作，把个人分 [ ] 内的事做好。
分 (fēn) (fèn)
11. 她的 [ ] 目的 [ ] 达到了，的 [ ] 确很开心。
的 (de) (dì) (dí)
12. 子弹 [ ] 射在钢板上又弹 [ ] 回来了。
弹 (dàn) (tán)
13. 我因为力有未逮 [ ] ，所以没逮 [ ] 着机会昇迁。
逮 (dài) (dǎi)
14. 他倒 [ ] 车时，一不小心把花撞倒 [ ] 了。
倒 (dào) (dǎo)
15. 考得 [ ] 好不要太得 [ ] 意，还是得 [ ] 继续努力。
得 (de) (dé) (děi)
16. 多伦多和温哥华都 [ ] 是华人聚居的大都 [ ] 市。
都 (dōu) (dū)
17. 那个大 [ ] 夫的架子好大 [ ] ，像个大 [ ] 上皇似的。
大 (dài) (dà) (tài)
18. 他生气的回答 [ ] :「我不答 [ ] 应！」。
答 (dá) (dā)
19. 他常用一己的尺度 [ ] 去猜度 [ ] 别人。
度 (dù) (duò)
20. 多 [ ] 美的景色，真多 [ ] 谢你带我来玩。
多 (duó) (duō)
21. 他很调 [ ] 皮，老师把他调 [ ] 到前面坐。
调 (tiáo) (diào)
22. 看到他到处吐 [ ] 痰，真想吐 [ ] 。
吐 (tǔ) (tù)
23. 他是个拘泥 [ ] 又拖泥 [ ] 带水的人。
泥 (nì) (ní)
24. 老板藉题发挥责难 [ ] 他，让他心里很难 [ ] 过。
难 (nàn) (nán)
25. 量 [ ] 量看，你的重量 [ ] 有多少？
量 (liáng) (liàng)
26. 他是一个乐 [ ] 山的仁者及快乐 [ ] 的爱乐 [ ] 者。
乐 (yào) (lè) (yuè)
27. 带这一大包东西逛街真是累 [ ] 赘，累 [ ] 死人。
累 (léi) (lèi)
28. 他真了 [ ] 不起，直截了 [ ] 当了 [ ] 结了 [ ] 纠纷。
123:了 (liǎo) 4: (le)
29. 太阳公公一露 [ ] 脸，树叶上的露 [ ] 珠就不见了。
露 (lòu) (lù)
30. 劳 [ ] 驾你们跑一趟，真该慰劳 [ ] 一番。
劳 (láo) (lào)
31. 他种的菜除了自给 [ ] 自足外，还送给 [ ] 邻人享用。
给 (jǐ) (gèi)
32. 看着他扭转干 [ ] 坤，众人也只有干 [ ] 瞪眼。
干 (qián) (gān)
33. 变更 [ ] 职业后，她回来得更 [ ] 晚，常三更 [ ] 半夜才到家。
更 (gēng) (gèng) (jiēng)
34. 他冻得手都龟 [ ] 裂了，好像乌龟 [ ] 的壳一样。
龟 (jūn) (guī)
35. 谢谢你的忠告 [ ] ，我一定会转告 [ ] 他不要冒险投资。
告 (gù) (gào)
36. 她写作刻 [ ] 画入微，令人印象深刻 [ ] 。
刻 (kē) (kè)
37. 我要去看 [ ] 病，请张太太帮我看 [ ] 孩子。
看 (kàn) (kān)
38. 妈妈没空 [ ] 做饭，我们只有空 [ ] 着肚子出门。
空 (kòng) (kōng)
39. 我最大的嗜好 [ ] 就是听些好 [ ] 音乐，看些好 [ ] 书。
好 (hào)23 : (hǎo)
40. 他蛮横 [ ] 不讲理，连开车都横 [ ] 冲直撞的。
横 (hèng) (héng)
41. 她和 [ ] 男友刚刚和 [ ] 好，两人一边和 [ ] 面一边唱和 [ ] 着歌曲，
准备挑个暖和 [ ] 天准备结婚了。
和 (hàn) (hé) (huò) (hè) (huo)
42. 他一面喝 [ ] 酒一面喝 [ ] 采。
喝 (hē) (hè)
43. 这本书你还 [ ] 没拿去还 [ ] 啊？
还 (hái) (huán)
44. 会 [ ] 计师在开会 [ ] ，请您等一会 [ ] 儿。
会 (kuài) (huì) (huǐ)
45. 在混 [ ] 乱的情况下，很多人混 [ ] 水摸鱼的鬼混 [ ] 。
混 (hǔn) (hún) (hùn)
46. 他降 [ ] 低了声音对太太说：老婆大人，我投降 [ ] 了！
降 (jiàng) (xiáng)
47. 他讲起话来结 [ ] 结巴巴的，结 [ ] 果没被录取。
结 (jiē) (jié)
48. 她和笔友间 [ ] 的通信从来没有间 [ ] 断过。
间 (jiān) (jiàn)
49. 我们几 [ ] 个人边走边聊，几 [ ] 乎没赶上车。
几 (jǐ) (jī)
50. 鲍尔将 [ ] 军是一位黑人将 [ ] 领。
将 (jiāng) (jiàng)
51. 她是教 [ ] 物理的教 [ ] 授。
教 (jiāo) (jiào)
52. 我觉 [ ] 得很累，想睡觉 [ ] 。
觉 (jué) (jiào)
53. 他说假 [ ] 话，他根本没有请假 [ ] 。
假 (jiǎ) (jià)
54. 藉 [ ] 口慰劳一番，他们把家里弄得杯盘狼藉 [ ] 。
藉 (jiè) (jí)
55. 我们要密切 [ ] 合作，互相切 [ ] 磋。
切 (qiè) (qiē)
56. 奇 [ ] 怪！他的手指怎么是奇 [ ] 数？
奇 (qí) (jī)
57. 这么漆 [ ] 黑一片，我怎么漆 [ ] 墙壁？
漆 (qǜ) (qī)
58. 那条路弯弯曲曲 [ ] 的，最好唱些曲 [ ] 子才不困。
曲 (qū) (qǔ)
59. 不要勉强 [ ] 他，他很倔强 [ ] ，什么都强 [ ] 出头。
强 (qiǎng) (jiàng) (qiáng)
60. 先把领带系 [ ] 好再打电话和他联系 [ ] 吧。
系 (jì) (xì)
61. 我相 [ ] 信她本人比相 [ ] 片更好看。
相 (xiāng) (xiàng)
62. 校 [ ] 长在校 [ ] 对新闻稿。
校 (xiào) (jiào)
63. 他的噱 [ ] 头最多，常惹人发噱 [ ] 。
噱 (xuè) (jué)
64. 歹徒恐吓 [ ] 说要杀害他家人，全家都吓 [ ] 慌了。
吓 (hè) (xià)
65. 像他这么鲜 [ ] 的人，还真鲜 [ ] 有。
鲜 (xiān) (xiǎn)
66. 他那德行 [ ] 居然在这行 [ ] 发起来，他还真行 [ ] 。
行 (xìng) (háng) (xíng)
67. 老板看到生意兴 [ ] 隆，高兴 [ ] 得閤不拢嘴来。
兴 (xīng) (xìng)
68. 那个打着 [ ] 领带衣着 [ ] 整齐的男士就是令人着 [ ] 迷的
着 [ ] 名歌星，我总算见着 [ ] 了。
着 (zhe) (zhuó) (zháo) (zhù) (zháo)
69. 她长 [ ] 大了，头发也留长 [ ] 了。
长 (zhǎng) (cháng)
70. 这笔生意很重 [ ] 要，请你再重 [ ] 新计算一下。
重 (zhòng) (chóng)
71. 正 [ ] 月初一，我得了五百元正 [ ] ，正 [ ] 好买相机。
正 (zhēng) (zhěng) (zhèng)
72. 他把家当都折 [ ] 腾光了，只有折 [ ] 本打折 [ ] 廉售。
折 (zhē) (shé) (zhé)
73. 他考中 [ ] 那所有名的的高中 [ ] 。
中 (zhòng) (zhōng)
74. 他有口吃 [ ] 的毛病，可是谈起吃 [ ] 来却滔滔不绝。
吃 (jí) (qī)
75. 他自称 [ ] 最称 [ ] 职，做什么事也都称 [ ] 心如意。
称 (chēng) (chèn)
76. 这兄弟俩的调皮如出一辙 [ ] ，老师被整得没辙 [ ] 。
辙 (chè) (zhé)
77. 他朝 [ ] 我叹道:「朝 [ ] 九晚五的工作真枯燥！」 朝 (cháo) (zhāo)
78. 大家在传 [ ] 阅鲍尔将军的自传 [ ] 。
传 (chuán) (zhuàn)
79. 为了创 [ ] 作，他牺牲很多，到处创 [ ] 痕累累。
创 (chuàng) (chuāng)
80. 他讲话冲 [ ] ，冲 [ ] 着你的面子，我不和他冲 [ ] 突。
冲12: (chòng) (chong)
81. 他每天都要去办事处 [ ] 处 [ ] 理公务。
处 (chù) (chǔ)
82. 她的差 [ ] 事是把差 [ ] 不多五千张参差 [ ] 不齐的卡片归档。
差 (chāi) (chā) (cī)
83. 数 [ ] 数看，人数 [ ] 有多少？
数 (shǔ) (shù)
84. 他盛 [ ] 情招待，盛 [ ] 了一大盘菜给我。
盛 (shèng) (chéng)
85. 满地可银行率 [ ] 先降低利率 [ ] 。
率 (shuài) (lǜ)
86. 沈 [ ] 太太终日沈 [ ] 迷于打麻将。
沈 (shěn) (chén)
87. 听他演讲的男女老少 [ ] 还真不少 [ ] 呢！
少 (shào) (shǎo)
88. 他比我更胜 [ ] 一筹，当然可以胜 [ ] 任。
胜 (shèng) (shēng)
89. 你要反省 [ ] 一下，你家人这么节省 [ ] 你却乱花钱。
省 (xǐng) (shěng)
90. 我不要一兵一卒 [ ] ，就杀的对方仓卒 [ ] 而逃。
卒 (zú) (cù)
91. 小偷在银楼墙上钻 [ ] 了一个洞，把钻 [ ] 戒偷走了。
钻 (zuān) (zuàn)
92. 参 [ ] 加人参 [ ] 园旅行的人水准参 [ ] 差不齐。
参 (cān) (shēn) (cēn)
93. 她很从 [ ] 容的上台，把事情从 [ ] 头到尾讲了一遍。
从 (cōng) (cóng)
94. 那个满脸于思 [ ] 的客人在角落沈思 [ ] 。
思 (sāi) (s1)
95. 请拿扫 [ ] 把来，把地扫 [ ] 一扫 [ ] 。
扫 (sào)23: (sǎo)
96. 你不要 [ ] 要 [ ] 胁我，我不会答应你的要 [ ] 求的。
要 (yào)23: (yāo)
97. 答应 [ ] 别人的事就应 [ ] 该做到。
应 (yìng) (yīng)
98. 她因咽 [ ] 喉发炎，痛得哽咽 [ ] 失声，食难下咽 [ ] 。
咽 (yān) (yè) (yàn)
99. 他的行为 [ ] 为 [ ] 大多数人所唾弃。
为 (wéi) (wéi)
100. 他除了遊山玩 [ ] 水外，还喜好收集古玩 [ ] 。
玩 (wán) (wàn)
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Posted on: 易中天看“三顾茅庐”
August 19, 2008 at 10:49 AMrjberki, translation aside, I think there is value in spending countless hours listening to these youku videos. There is indeed a lot of vocab and chengyus, but also much repetition (which seems to be the Chinese rethoric way), and once you get into it, it's relatively easy to understand.
I did spend countless hours at night transcribing those two lectures, admittedly to prepare for my practice plan lesson, but the feeling of achievement having gone through it all was tremendous. I would argue that from a learning perspective, having fun is important, but doing things oneself has a higher return than relying one s.o. else doing it for you.
I hardly ever attempt to translate, and certainly not in this case, but equipped with transcripts and Chinese pera-kun or wenlin, it's really not that cumbersome.
And finally, whilst I don't have any particular interest in history, Chinese or otherwise, I really enjoyed the lectures, wouldn't mind going through all the others when (if) I find time.
Posted on: 易中天看“三顾茅庐”
August 19, 2008 at 7:24 AMThe lesson extract is only 2 minutes long (out of 40), I transcribed the full video, as well as a 2nd one 《能臣之路》 by mistake as the 1st link was wrong, you can download both transcripts (OpenOffice and MSWord).
以下是易中天“三顾茅庐”节目用的俗语和成语:
不求闻达 bùqiúwéndá f.e. not seek honors
不以为然 bùyǐwéirán f.e. consider sth. not so/right/acceptable
出将入相 chūjiàngrùxiàng f.e. have both civil and military abilities
从一而终 cóngyī'érzhōng f.e. be faithful unto death
大喜过望 dàxǐguòwàng f.e. be pleased beyond expectations
大相径庭 dàxiāngjìngtíng id. totally different
待字闺中 dàizìguīzhōng f.e. not betrothed yet (of a girl); One's daughter is still unmarried.
道貌岸然 dàomào'ànrán f.e. ①sanctimonious ②dignified
登门自荐 dēngménzìjiàn v.p. present oneself at the door
地地道道 dìdìdàodào attr. ①genuine; out-and-out ②outright; hundred percent
咄咄逼人 duōduōbīrén f.e. be overbearing/aggressive
耳熟能详 ěrshúnéngxiáng f.e. What's frequently heard can be repeated in detail.
风度翩翩 fēngdùpiānpiān f.e. be handsome and suave
恭恭敬敬 gōnggōngjìngjìng r.f. most respectfully
苟全性命 gǒuquán xìngmìng v.o. barely manage to survive
恍然大悟 huǎngrándàwù f.e. suddenly realize
建功立业 jiàngōnglìyè f.e. make great contributions and accomplish great tasks
将心比心 jiāngxīnbǐxīn f.e. ①judge another's feelings by one's own ②be empathic
礼贤下士 lǐxiánxiàshì f.e. treat the wise courteously and cultivate the scholarly (of a ruler)
淋漓尽致 línlíjìnzhì f.e. incisively and vividly; thoroughly
另一方面 lìngyīfāngmiàn f.e. on the other hand
沐浴更衣 mùyùgēngyī f.e. take a bath and put on clean clothes
燃眉之急 ránméizhījí n. overwhelming urgency
三顾茅庐 sāngùmáolú f.e. repeatedly request sb. to take up a responsible post
身经百战 shēnjīngbǎizhàn f.e. have gone through numerous battles
水泼不进 shuǐpōbùjìn id. not allow different opinions
行踪不定 xíngzōngbùdìng f.e. whereabouts unknown; here today and gone tomorrow
雄心壮志 xióngxīnzhuàngzhì f.e. lofty aspirations and high aims/ideals
以身相许 yǐshēnxiāngxǔ f.e. pledge to marry sb.
隐姓埋名 yǐnxìngmáimíng f.e. live incognito
Posted on: The 80/20 Rule
August 28, 2008 at 5:29 AMhenning, 按照现代汉语词典 (汉英双语)
成本 chéngběn : 生产一种产品所需的全部费用
total cost to manufacture a product
费用 fèiyong : 花费的钱; 开支
cost; expenses
开支 kāizhī : (1) 付出(钱) pay (2) 开支的费用
expense; expenditure: spending
[(2) is not infinitely recursive, refers to (1)...]