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heidihcb
Joined: 23 May 2007
Posts: 10
Location: CA
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 Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:09 am Post subject: |
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Learning Chinese is mostly about pronunciation. Tones, tones, tones. If you get the tones right then everything else will fall in place.
However, I don't agree with the method of studying ONLY tones for the first few months either. I think you need to learn the basic vocabulary and sentence structure of Chinese so that you can begin to build up your listening skills and pick out words. Listening and speaking were the skills that I mainly focused on though.
I personally didn't study much reading and writing. Mainly because I didn't find it be very useful. I thought it was best to devote my attention to listening and speaking and study some reading for the purpose of street signs, bathrooms, etc. However, I had some friends that focused more on reading and writing characters and loved it. I think that my speaking ended up being better than theirs even though they had a better vocabulary.
The best way to learn Chinese is to use many different methods. Get a formal teacher, a language exchange partner (a real one), and self-study. Also, on that point, my friends who had Chinese girlfriends (or boyfriends I guess but that's more rare) learned Chinese a lot faster. Also, my friends who had lots of Taiwanese friends in general tended to catch on a lot quicker. Since you're in Taiwan, take advantage of the full immersion environment and get out and practice. People won't understand you for a good while but you'll improve rapidly.
Good luck! Mandarin is a really fun language if you get into it. :) |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 4:12 am Post subject: |
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| steve_c wrote: |
I've seen my city spelled Luzhu (Hanyu Pinyin), Lujhu (Tongyong Pinyin), and Luchu (someone's own idea?), all within the same block.
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No kidding - we live in Jhudong / Chutung / Zhutung / Chutong / Zhudung - apparently... |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Sat Apr 24, 2010 10:33 am Post subject: |
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| yamahuh wrote: |
| steve_c wrote: |
I've seen my city spelled Luzhu (Hanyu Pinyin), Lujhu (Tongyong Pinyin), and Luchu (someone's own idea?), all within the same block.
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No kidding - we live in Jhudong / Chutung / Zhutung / Chutong / Zhudung - apparently... |
I simultaneously occupy the following places:
- Cijin
- Qijin
- Chi-jin
- Chyi-jin
- Chi-jihn
For some reason, I can only remember five spellings off the top of my head, but plan to update this list as I see more on various signs (I know it's more than just five). |
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killian
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 937
Location: fairmont city, illinois, USA
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:44 am Post subject: |
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yep. westerners overthink chinese. 1.sumthin billion babies all did it in quick time.
get a pocket phrasebook and hit the streets. carry your address in your wallet. go out and get lost. use "the natural" approach. note the characters/phrases. tones will come with time. character recognition is a snap with flash cards. just gotta spend the face time. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 10:28 am Post subject: |
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| killian wrote: |
yep. westerners overthink chinese. 1.sumthin billion babies all did it in quick time.
get a pocket phrasebook and hit the streets. carry your address in your wallet. go out and get lost. use "the natural" approach. note the characters/phrases. tones will come with time. character recognition is a snap with flash cards. just gotta spend the face time. |
That is a lot of face time. I don't think that the average foreigner plans to stay in Taiwan for 14 years. Fourteen years is what was quoted in one book I read about reading problems. It gave figures for how long it takes for a child to read with accuracy in their language. Chinese took the longest. Furthermore it takes native English speakers a lot longer to read accurately than people who grow up learning Spanish or Italy. It is much easier to read accurately in Spanish and Italian since every letter in these languages only represents one sound. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Fri Apr 30, 2010 6:42 am Post subject: |
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| killian wrote: |
yep. westerners overthink chinese. 1.sumthin billion babies all did it in quick time.
get a pocket phrasebook and hit the streets. carry your address in your wallet. go out and get lost. use "the natural" approach. note the characters/phrases. tones will come with time. character recognition is a snap with flash cards. just gotta spend the face time. |
Hmm...
Characters are over-thought, and I agree with you on this. You only need to know 2,500 characters to have 99% comprehension. That's only 3 - 4 characters a day for two years.
However, I worry about your "natural approach" statement. What exactly do you mean by this?
I've met plenty of guys who say "language classes are a load of crap, all you need is to drink up at a bar with the locals and get a good phrasebook." Funny how those guys always seem to have awful language skills...
My personal language-learning philosophy is to get the fundamentals down using a traditional method (uni classes, buxiban classes, textbooks, audio CDs, etc.) and then graduate to the natural approach after attaining intermediate level. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:56 pm Post subject: |
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Rooster,
I am currently reading 歷史地理 from 香港城大學.
After I finish this book I plan to read a biology textbook. Reading books like this is how I intend to really be fluent in Mandarin. There are ancient Chinese words in this book like 京師 instead of 首都. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 5:08 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
Rooster,
I am currently reading 歷史地理 from 香港城大學.
After I finish this book I plan to read a biology textbook. Reading books like this is how I intend to really be fluent in Mandarin. There are ancient Chinese words in this book like 京師 instead of 首都. |
Someone is coming from the states at the beginning of summer whom I have known for a long time and he studied Chinese up to 202 at a US uni.
If I don't bone up significantly and best him, I'm NOTHING!
I must study hard... |
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asianconsultants
Joined: 30 Jul 2007
Posts: 9
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 5:39 am Post subject: List of where and how to study Chinese in Taiwan |
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Hello,
Glad you will be coming here to work and learn Chinese! Check out this section for a complete listing on where you can take Chinese classes, along with links to each institution. You can find out on pricing from the school's official website. I am not sure where you will be living, so I figured this link would be beneficial.
http://www.asianconsultants.com/learn-chinese
Need further help feel free to email me: [email protected]
Best wishes!
Julie |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 2:20 pm Post subject: |
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| Rooster_2006 wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
Rooster,
I am currently reading 歷史地理 from 香港城大學.
After I finish this book I plan to read a biology textbook. Reading books like this is how I intend to really be fluent in Mandarin. There are ancient Chinese words in this book like 京師 instead of 首都. |
Someone is coming from the states at the beginning of summer whom I have known for a long time and he studied Chinese up to 202 at a US uni.
If I don't bone up significantly and best him, I'm NOTHING!
I must study hard... |
Rooster, Chinese 202 in the US is baby stuff. I am working on reading real Chinese books that even non-university grads may not completely understand. I am studying with a retired guy who brings several historical dictionaries along if something complicated pops up. |
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Rooster_2006
Joined: 24 Sep 2007
Posts: 984
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| Rooster_2006 wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
Rooster,
I am currently reading 歷史地理 from 香港城大學.
After I finish this book I plan to read a biology textbook. Reading books like this is how I intend to really be fluent in Mandarin. There are ancient Chinese words in this book like 京師 instead of 首都. |
Someone is coming from the states at the beginning of summer whom I have known for a long time and he studied Chinese up to 202 at a US uni.
If I don't bone up significantly and best him, I'm NOTHING!
I must study hard... |
Rooster, Chinese 202 in the US is baby stuff. I am working on reading real Chinese books that even non-university grads may not completely understand. I am studying with a retired guy who brings several historical dictionaries along if something complicated pops up. |
True, I remember all the students coming to study in Korea who had awful Korean after taking K classes in western units, and I'd imagine Chinese is similar. However my current Chinese level could also be termed "baby stuff..."
I'm sure you could blow this guy out of the water if you're reading those things.
I need to hit Anki hard. Cram the top 1K characters (I already know them, but with K pronunciation, which is somewhat similar to Taiyu and not Putonghua).
My favorite way to learn Chinese characters is the Korean game Mabeop Cheonjamun DS. AWESOME game. I mastered 1,000 that way. However, that's for the hanja pronunciation, not Mandarin... |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| True, I remember all the students coming to study in Korea who had awful Korean after taking K classes in western units, and I'd imagine Chinese is similar. However my current Chinese level could also be termed "baby stuff..." |
I remember studying in Berlin after two years of university level German in the US. That is when I first learned that two years of university level languages classes are nothing.
Actually, learning any language up to a conversational level is nothing. That can be done in one to two years as long as you use the target language when you have the opportunity.
If I stay in Taiwan long enough I hope to have a similar level of Chinese as a high school graduate. I know that my pronunciation will never be like a native speaker but I hope to understand and to be able to use Chinese similar to a high school grad or maybe someday even a university graduate.
Rooster, you can use this phrase if your girlfriend and her friend ask who is more beautiful. 你们，各有千處 (sorry I think this is the wrong chu first tone). I forget what character that chu is. |
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zipper
Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Posts: 237
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 7:57 am Post subject: |
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| JZer wrote: |
| "snip" you can use this phrase if your girlfriend and her friend ask who is more beautiful. 你们，各有千處 (sorry I think this is the wrong chu first tone). I forget what character that chu is. |
You�re right. We all have good points and lesser points, and it would be nice if people on this dying planet would always appreciate each others� finer points instead of criticizing the short points.
Also, when I Romanize the sound of what you are saying I tend to get a �chiu� type sound; like Chee-o similar to the sound of this character 秋
Well, you braggers sound like you are doing a great job with the Mandarin studies. I am putting an effort into learning Taiwanese for personal and social reasons of course. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:37 am Post subject: |
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| zipper wrote: |
| JZer wrote: |
| "snip" you can use this phrase if your girlfriend and her friend ask who is more beautiful. 你们，各有千處 (sorry I think this is the wrong chu first tone). I forget what character that chu is. |
You�re right. We all have good points and lesser points, and it would be nice if people on this dying planet would always appreciate each others� finer points instead of criticizing the short points.
Also, when I Romanize the sound of what you are saying I tend to get a �chiu� type sound; like Chee-o similar to the sound of this character 秋
Well, you braggers sound like you are doing a great job with the Mandarin studies. I am putting an effort into learning Taiwanese for personal and social reasons of course. |
秋-actually this might be the correct character. The sound is chiu. I have this phrase written somewhere. I just did not want to spend the time to look it up. |
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JZer
Joined: 16 Jan 2005
Posts: 3898
Location: Pittsburgh
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| Posted: Fri May 07, 2010 10:39 am Post subject: |
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The meaning of the phrase is that they each have their own different beauties which are many(a thousand). I know that is awkward English.
Last edited by JZer on Fri May 07, 2010 1:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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