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Q: Any advice for studying Chinese?
Been studying for some time now, very much up-hill and not helped by my advancing years. My speaking level is about that of a 7 year old but i'm losing interest; all my study material is in files on my phone and i'm opening them less and less. Certainly can't take time off or afford to go to college, so what advice can you offer? Any online sites that might be of interest? I'm bored with it.
11 years 34 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - China
If your going to study Chinese use a video camera
because nobody outside of this form will believe you
(See you are not the only one who can tell bad jokes)
You've got a nipper haven't you? How about you start reading to him each night, (in Chinese), that should help your reading skills.
Take up calligraphy as a hobby, that should improve your writing.
Now listening and speaking, you could become a porn actor?
No? Ah well 50%!
Try http://www.skritter.cn (or .com if you can get there)
It's a shockwave app that teaches writing, while simultaneously enforcing reading and listening comprehension. (Speaking, you're on your own)
It's a subscription site, unfortunately, but runs about $10 US a month. They've also just released a standalone iApp so that you can use the program without being online (the app is free, but you still need a paid account to use it. And they've only made the app available to iPad/Pod/Phone. No love for Android people, Hissssss.)
I've found it invaluable, and it's fun, too.
:
Not trying to shill for The Man... I just think the program is fun. I do wish they hadn't dropped the android app plans, though. I don't always have access to the 'net, and my "study gadget" of choice runs on android.
...and I refuse to drop a couple hundred bucks on an i-whatever, just for one program.
Go to classes where the teacher is nothing more than a dancing monkey. Watch lots of Chinese television programs (though this can cause you to pull your own brain out via your nose). And then, to complete your education, stop random people on the street (especially if they look busy or are talking to someone else) and get them to help you practice your Chinese.
Seriously though, I stopped at the survival level. I talked to a bunch of people who can read/write/talk like a native and they all said the same thing, "It just isn't worth it." Not one of them could say that it has helped their life or career in any tangible way.
mArtiAn:
I'm not looking for it to change my career, i'm able to teach in Chinese when it's necessary; I just want to reach a level where I can 'fluently' interact with the world around me.
Xpat.John:
I understand. If your goal is to be fluent because you 'just want to' rather then 'think you need to', then it is a worthwhile goal.
Brain transplant with a Chinese, no ? Then give up, Google translator rules !
stop people in the street and ask silly questions ahahah just kidin but isnt that what the chinese students do, just make more friends i say preferably a friend who majors in chinese
Why?!!........you want to start telling jokes in chinese?!!.....just playing....seriously mate practice makes masters.....so practice and practice and practice.....starting talking ito everyone in chinese.....the supermarket clerk.....the taxi driver....the plumber who fix your crapper,.........even if it was just geniuine bullshit (which you sometimes also say in English)......LOL...........god bless you mate and good luck
Whatever you study..never forget to revise it. We all know "Practice makes everyone perfect".
mArtiAn:
Yep, I say the same to my students; you learn something once, you practise it 100 times. Becomes a drag though sometimes. Seems the trick is to cultivate and nurture your own 'interest' in the language you're studying. Without that you may as well be climbing Everest with a piano strapped to your back. Naked. It's harrrd.
Hugh.G.Rection:
Not when your climbing Everest too cold to get hard!
