Job Discussion Forums

[sheeba]

I'm not sure if I will ever return to China . I've come back because of health problems . It would be unfair to blame China and until I get to the root of my problem I won't make sweeping accusations against the place.It's nice to speak English to a doctor anyway !!

To be honest I won't miss daily life much apart from one big thing that sometimes really makes me sad - The language . I've been back two days but have already hit the books again .If my girlfriend finds out i'm neglecting the Italian she'd kill me . I've decided to concentrate on reading and writing Chinese for now and I hope to get a mandarin speaker from somewhere (maybe I'll just kidnap one) and get some spoken language practice .

I'd like to hear from people that have returned to their countries and have managed to maintain or improve their level of mandarin . How do you do it ? I have a feeling that it will be difficult for obvious reasons but I don't want to leave the feelings of satisfaction I obtained from this wonderful language. I've bought 4 books all in Hanzi . An accountancy book for Business, a war book, Chinese characteristics book and Yao Ming's autobiography . I've brought back 15 odd DVD's all in Mandarin .

Am I being a bit too optimistic here about my progress in the UK ?

[NateM]

Well, that kinda depends. How much progress did you make in China?

[sheeba]

My last day in Beijing I sat in the bar for 2 hours talking purely Mandarin to the barman . Ok it wasn't too technical and sometimes I worked from gist but I got by pretty comfortably . In Shenyang I regularly talked with taxi drivers and locals about current affairs , weather , learning Chinese , My country etc . I only really did about 8 months serious study whilst in the country on my own . Just listened to a lot of CD's and began to read grammar books . I've now got into reading and writing hanzi . I'd say I was a pre-intermediate speaker . I want to become fluent but don't know if I will be able to go back to China .I enjoy learning Hanyu .Don't want to sound big headed but I think that my pronunciation and ability to learn the language is above average.I am a bit of a perfectionist . I've heard some pretty woeful foreigners . It's no surprise the Chinese sometimes take the piss out of us !

Just a bit worried that my speaking skills will deteriorate . I remember coming back to the UK for a few months last year and my tones on return took a month to practice and sound right again.

[medea]

Don't want to sound big headed but I think that my pronunciation and ability to learn the language is above average.I am a bit of a perfectionist . I've heard some pretty woeful foreigners . It's no surprise the Chinese sometimes take the piss out of us !

sorry, sheeba, but I think you sound a little big headed!! you seem to learn just the language but you haven't learnt from the chinese how to be modest!!

[sheeba]

Yeah I've not learnt how to be modest but to be honest I'm glad I'm out of that awful pretence that lingers in China and among the Chinese. It's the worst trait in the world especially when exaggerated . There are only so many skills I possess and I'll blow my own trumpet if I believe I am good at something .Jeesh I am bad at enough things!! I actually think the Chinese have a confidence problem when learning English because of their inability to just admit that they may actually have a talent . I am not inclined to follow Chinese culture and change my personality in any way as I don't particularly admire their traits.

[sheeba]

[medea]

Yeah I dislike this trait as well, perhaps I have a confidence problem as the Chinese havewhen learning English,as I don't feel like you when learning Chinese. I just need to boost my selfesteem. So we can say you like learning foreign languages and you're good at it. Good for you! Have you got any suggestions to give me? What about Italian?

[sheeba]

My Italian sucks ! I have just started as my girlfriend is Italian . I got learning Italian books in Beijing for Chinese learners . That way I am practising both languages at once !! As I am not in Italy I am finding it much harder than I found my elementary Chinese . And I am looking forward to a much more in depth grammar system - NOT !

As you say medea the confidence thing is massive when learning language , especially Chinese . My advice would be don't let anybody put you down when learning . The Chinese can be terribly patronising and sometimes just rude commenting on your skills . My best friend in China always spoke English to me and he began to pee me off because he thought that this was of course the best way to communicate . In one and a half years after a long friendship he never learnt anything more than the basic crap he always used . I am positive if we had a relationship that involved us talking Chinese we would have had far more in depth and more communicable conversations but I believe that he thought that I was just incapable of picking up Chinese .

I remember some tool from Taiwan telling me before I went to China that I wouldn't learn Chinese . Far too many characters and all that garbage .I mean I don't even know meanings of all English words . Is English easy to learn ?I'd say it is harder than Chinese.

If you work hard and are dedicated of course you will learn it and well especially if you are there . I'd even go as far to say that Chinese really is not that difficult to learn but a lot of people just think it is . Set yourself goals and visualise yourself successfully conversing and it will happen.

[medea]

Thanks a lot Sheeba! I'll try to don't pay attention to the Chinese judging my skills. But as they are native Chinese speakers, to me it's important their point of view and I'd glad if they have some suggestions to give me. Problem is they always don't give you ANY suggestions and I am let on my own, trying to reach a target. But it's hard. Anyway I think you are right when saying Chinese is not so difficult, they seem to repeat always the same words, but I guess it's only because we are in an early stage of learning the language. I mean, chengyu,guanyongyu, siheyu, are largely used, that's the time when you get lost in the conversation. I think Western languages are harder to learn, especially for a chinese, as they have a long and various literary background. You can describe the same thing in many different ways in English, especially in languages with a Latin origin, like Italian. If you like challenges Italian is a good one! Such a lot of vocabulary and idioms, rich variety of expressions, you don't know which one you have to use, as all of them sound perfect for what you want to mean. But seems that in Chinese you have a standard way of communication and expression. I love it anyway! especially the hanzi!