learn Mandarin

Chinese was my best subject last semester – go figure! So I’m continuing on with it this term, and I think that after I graduate at the end of the year I’ll see if I can continue taking chinese lessons somewhere.

I’m taking Chinese as an elective at uni this year … sorting out my timetable has been kinda hard, since Chinese clashes with some of my other subjects, but I’m so excited to be taking it!

Actually sat down and did a good hour of listening to podcasts and practising writing some characters.

I would like to know though, which of England/UK/Britain does ‘Yīngguó’ best correspond to?

I am loving this goal at the moment! Now that exams are finished (last one was today) I can put some more time into it.

I keep mumbling random chinese phrases or words to myself – it won’t necessarily make sense either, just me practising the words I have learnt that day. I find that listening to the words and saying them over and over, I am more easily able to hear, and then use, the correct tone. Tones are definitely getting easier, especially if I don’t think about it too much.

I’d hate to think about learning Cantonese …

Have recently considered how lucky I am to have the university library at my disposal. It sounds silly, but I never even really thought about it before, except as a place I assocated with studying and therefore, a place I never wanted to be. I don’t know what changed my mind, but I seem to be hanging out at the various libraries on campus a lot more.

I borrowed a few different books on learning mandarin. I figured that’d give me a more comprehensive study aid than just using one. A major part of teaching language in which books must inevitably fall behind, is in conveying correct pronunciation. So I’m still trying to listen to podcasts whenever I can and (whenever my housemates are out) practise my speaking out loud. I gotta tell ya, those tones are giving me some grief!

A few days ago I discovered (via YouTube) the drama ‘E Zuo Ju Zhi Wen’. Such a cute lil show, and yet another source of hearing spoken mandarin.

So that’s where I’m at in terms of this goal! I hope the rest of you guys are also making some progress :)

Discovered a podcast on Mandarin Chinese Conversation … having some problems connecting my mp3 player to the computer however, so am only able to listen to them at home. Still good though, when I actually get the chance to sit down and listen to them.

Not sure exactly how I’ll go about this, I just know it’s something I’d love to do.