User Comments - henning
henning
Posted on: Taking the HSK
November 3, 2008 at 7:57 AMchenlei,
let me defend the HSK. From the mockup tests I did so far it is actually equivavent to similar proficiency tests for English or German. What the Intermediate test does is to test whether you are ready to follow standard news on radio or TV, read a newspaper, understand an article in a magazin, or everyday announcements (e.g. library rules...).
This is 100% in line with the objective of the test: To measure whether or not you are able to follow an University class.The only reason it seems to be "unsuited" for us Westerners is that it obviously expects you to master 汉字.
Granted: That test is not sufficient - you additionally need to add speaking and listening practice and immersion. But I would rather hire the 哑巴汉语 guy, because he has the foundation to reach real proficiency - and he already got it certified.
Posted on: My Foreign teacher
November 2, 2008 at 3:43 PMI am convinced that the biggest hurdle for listening is a lack of familarity with the words and phrases used, an added ingredient being the ability to accociate certain words or phrases with the context they usually appear in. Just listening again and again doesn't help me at all without any further explanations or look ups in the dictionary.
So, the script is definately a fair way to go. After you know what you hear, listening again and again is indeed fine. So is reading.
Reading is the key.
Posted on: DVDs and the Mao Suit
November 2, 2008 at 10:00 AMWah - I can't edit, because the system claims my post is not a minute but an hour old! I really need to replace "warehouse" with "department store".
Posted on: DVDs and the Mao Suit
November 2, 2008 at 9:58 AMA friend of mine once bought "Men in Black" on DVD in China - it turned out to be recorded in an Arabian cinema with added Chinese subtitles. A gem for the language lovers among us, I guess.
But even if in English - beware of the subtitles. I once got me 十面埋伏 / "house of the flying daggers" in an "offical" warehouse in Beijing - Chinese with English subtitles. I got suspicious when that poetic dance scene in the brothel came with subtitles like: "Give me some cover! I take it from here" - "I am running out of ammo...I am running out of ammo!"
But why talking about the power of translation? Just sing along and "say a word in heart"!!
Posted on: Battling Internet Addiction
October 31, 2008 at 2:28 AMSo do you think we MAUs should start second careers as pinup models? What is pinup in Chinese anyway?
[When the new CPod lesson pops up and you are sitting in a German city it is definately time to go home and get some good morning sleep]
Posted on: 鲁迅
October 29, 2008 at 7:15 AMDavid has that story on his site.
Posted on: Interview with Cassie
October 26, 2008 at 5:49 AMThanks for coming on the show, Cassie! I am looking forward to the day that my Chinese is half as good as your English!
:)
Posted on: Military Training
October 18, 2008 at 10:29 AMGood to see an "Upper Intermediate" Video (we had Newbie" and "Elementary" before).
Suggestion: I would really love to see a small "listening comprehension quiz" and a transcript.
Posted on: Saved by the Gong: Chemistry
October 17, 2008 at 2:19 PMAnd here the periodic system (化学元素周期表) in Chinese.
Posted on: My Foreign teacher
November 3, 2008 at 8:01 AMHi Xiaohu,
thanks for sharing your study strategy. I will definately copy some parts of it. As I wrote elsewhere, I am currently restructuring my learning slot and try to weave in some more systematical and formal elements (starting in 2 weeks).
What textbook do you use?