tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post9154559768436574031..comments2023-10-29T21:14:24.325+08:00Comments on SHE in China: They are just trying to scare us, right?Jonna Wibeliushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-89614897890711769412009-02-26T16:02:00.000+08:002009-02-26T16:02:00.000+08:00David Sedaris' book, 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' has ...David Sedaris' book, 'Me Talk Pretty One Day' has essays about his learning French while living in France. He has similiar experiences in class and it is hilarious. I highly recommend your read it. It is an easy read and won't interfer with working and schooling-worth every minute.kaseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08312379226769365893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-33065524623001939912009-02-25T07:45:00.000+08:002009-02-25T07:45:00.000+08:00Jewels -actually, u are spot on. I am always like ...Jewels -actually, u are spot on. I am always like that. I get so stressed out about things, and then 6 months later I look at back at my behavior and think to myself: 'oh my, what was I stressing about? I am such a drama queen.' I'll keep that in mind today. New mantra. :)Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-54608117604482794392009-02-25T06:57:00.000+08:002009-02-25T06:57:00.000+08:00Again, thanks for all the comments.. I guess one o...Again, thanks for all the comments.. I guess one of the reason why everything seems so 'over the top' is because it's right in the beginning, and I am yet to get to know my smart classmates.. I am sure it will work out well with time. But I really, REALLY have to work on my listening skills. Podcasts and TV will HAVE to become an daily part of my life... (why is it so hard to push new habits into your life? I was doing well there for a while with the Chinese kid's show, but then I forgot all about it and went back to reading books and watching Friends.... )Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-67464008251779579892009-02-25T03:33:00.000+08:002009-02-25T03:33:00.000+08:00Very interesting blog chinese people are very swee...Very interesting blog chinese people are very sweet :)<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.totnews.com/" REL="nofollow">See my interesting</A>Enver Gökmenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14745533938804532872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-84638365317693667212009-02-25T02:09:00.000+08:002009-02-25T02:09:00.000+08:00This post reminds me of nightmares in French class...This post reminds me of nightmares in French class! I don't even have my English grammar down, never mind another language! You seem to have the gift for languages though, I'm sure you'll be fine. You'll look back and say, "I can't believe I was so stressed!". Good luck!Jewelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05893540249055609385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-85223543655511776752009-02-25T01:08:00.000+08:002009-02-25T01:08:00.000+08:00Jonna, Its is so awesome that you have advanced to...Jonna, <BR/><BR/>Its is so awesome that you have advanced to such a high level in learning Chinese that very very few Westerners ever get to. You have alot to be proud of!! Best of luck with the new level.<BR/><BR/>I love following your blog and am an avid follower. There is a chance my husband and I will be sent to Suzhou for a work project for a couple years. I am scared to death I will not even be able to master even basic Chinese language skills for survival. I don't want to live in an expat bubble and would love to learn to communicate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-20142952252500695182009-02-24T21:58:00.000+08:002009-02-24T21:58:00.000+08:00Hi Jonna, As before, i published the comment. And ...Hi Jonna, <BR/><BR/>As before, i published the comment. And later on i think it's quite a bit strange that it's full of chinese sentences on your blog as not all readers could know the characters all over world. <B>No need to publish it up,</B> all the sentences are just translated for your words literally. I hope there is no offensive to you. I say sorry if it could be.<BR/><BR/>All in all, it means you could do the same while you are really familiar another language and culture. Cheer up.<BR/><BR/>Just a friendly question: What do you think you could write down a few sentences everyday and practice to say them regularly? it worked out for me while I needed to speak Tagalog in Manila, Philippines.Larryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02225665628424128925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-5075704356256429722009-02-24T21:49:00.000+08:002009-02-24T21:49:00.000+08:00This post reminds me my student times. I rarely as...This post reminds me my student times. I rarely ask questions to the teachers. It looks like it’s a universal fact that many Chinese teachers (not all of them) don’t know how to encourage their students and bring the fun of learning to them to provoke their interest after the enquiries. And I always felt grateful that I sat next to the ambitious top 5 classmates (as a mediocre student, comparison is meaningless to me. 人比人, 比死人. Comparison kills people). I would ask them any questions (as well as avoiding the potential risk of gaining the enquiry of how-can-you-not-understand-this-easy-question from the teacher) once I found out that I couldn’t figure it out on my own. And they were willing to answer my enquiries and share their study tactics with me. I asked them why they would like to waste time to help me. They said they could not always memorise stuff that has learn, and they can review and remember them by answering my questions.<BR/><BR/>Look at the bright side, jonna. I think these ambitious classmates can bring you more help than stress. We Chinese know it’s difficult to learn mandarin. But obviously we don’t know how exactly difficult it is. This European guy surely has faced some similar hardness like yours before. If you enquire him politely and constantly, I think you surely can get some new tactics and a shortcut of studying Chinese from his western perspective answers. He also can review stuff that he has learns by answering you. 温故而知新嘛。Besides, gentlemen always like to help beauties.<BR/><BR/>In order to cheer you up, here are two funny Chinese websites I recommend you to enjoy:<BR/>http://kisshi.com/ 河蟹娱乐<BR/>http://lengxiaohua.net/ 我们爱讲冷笑话<BR/>They provide jokes and funny videos. Some of the articles are a little bit too long and involved with Chinese slang. But I’m sure you can find something to enjoy. Hopefully, eventually you can understand them all.斌https://www.blogger.com/profile/13785413768128925039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-88540416889809170622009-02-24T20:04:00.000+08:002009-02-24T20:04:00.000+08:00I think you can also improve your Tingli by listen...I think you can also improve your Tingli by listening to Chinese music and read the lyrics, sometimes it might be easier to memorize a song rather than random texts, there are many good traditional Chinese songs out there. You should definitely check out Wang Fei (Faye Wong) and Deng Li Jun (Teresa Teng), my favourite Chinese singers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-11730454429293943222009-02-24T18:43:00.000+08:002009-02-24T18:43:00.000+08:00dot(.) is used in India, UK and USA for decimal po...dot(.) is used in India, UK and USA for decimal point, little bit confused first time :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-11490144366608217322009-02-24T18:40:00.000+08:002009-02-24T18:40:00.000+08:00Jonna,don't worry that much.I think you've done a ...Jonna,don't worry that much.I think you've done a great job already.Chinese teacher are very strict,sometimes,that's true.But they are not really mean to.I didn't realize how nice my vocal teacher was until several years later.At that time,she asked me to learn the say,Bel canto,but I think it's too hard for me,and then I just quit.(it's a pity).Sometimes the hard teacher makes a good student.It's kind of Chinese culture,I might say.Your Chinese teacher is trying to scare you,I think.Just enjoy the moment of learning and if I could do some help(you have lots of Chinese friends in here),feel free to contact me:)heyjuliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10470150209581765771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-50978372550147385192009-02-24T15:13:00.000+08:002009-02-24T15:13:00.000+08:00>stupid questions are not acceptableVery "...>stupid questions are not acceptable<BR/><BR/>Very "customer oriented service", uh?<BR/><BR/>>in order to expand my world-view<BR/><BR/>Interesting expression. I would say "to broaden my horizons":-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-72193088790039191092009-02-24T13:59:00.000+08:002009-02-24T13:59:00.000+08:00Anonymous: yeah, what else would it mean?Anonymous: yeah, what else would it mean?Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-4730680776197809662009-02-24T13:23:00.000+08:002009-02-24T13:23:00.000+08:001,5 years means 1.5 years?1,5 years means 1.5 years?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-51313628916550819672009-02-24T13:20:00.000+08:002009-02-24T13:20:00.000+08:00Fyingfish -well, truth to be told I envy them for ...Fyingfish -well, truth to be told I envy them for how well they speak and how they seem to understand every single little thing the teacher says.. I've been the 'underdog' in my class since level 2 so it is getting a bit tiring to be the one who is always struggling meanwhile everyone else find the texts 'so simple'.. but u r right, there is no point to compare myself with them. We are all studying for different reasons. <BR/><BR/>After today's tingli class I doubt someone would like to be in a study group with me. :/ Oh well. I just have to watch more TV/hang out more with Chinese people. And remember that if there is a will there is a way.Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-10183126574018351512009-02-24T13:07:00.000+08:002009-02-24T13:07:00.000+08:00You know we're all cheering for you, girl! (And s...You know we're all cheering for you, girl! (And since you have, like, one of the most successful blogs in the sinosphere, that amounts to a LOT of people in your corner.)<BR/><BR/>About the Chinese studies people: don't be too hard on them for taking the class with you even though they have had much more training than you have had. I'm in roughly the same position as they are, and if my circumstances allowed me to do so I'd probably take a class as well, not even thinking about the impact on the other students in the class who have less training behind them. Just don't get into a comparison game, and you should be fine. After all, comparison makes no sense. They're in the class for their reasons and you're in the class for your reasons. It's an apples-and-oranges situation.<BR/><BR/>In fact, they probably really do feel bad that their Chinese isn't as good as it "should be," given what old hands they are. You are the lucky one. You've only just started, and look how much progress you've made! Perhaps not as quickly or as smoothly as you'd like, but still, you're moving forward all the time. And, because you only started recently, you haven't had time to collect any baggage on the way -- something that is unlikely to be true in the case of the degree-sporting Chinese studies folks. <BR/><BR/>I think Desire's suggestion about a study group is a great idea. Good luck with that.<BR/><BR/>Are you planning to take the 高级 HSK this May?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-40789847453095619932009-02-24T12:35:00.000+08:002009-02-24T12:35:00.000+08:00Thanks ya all for your lovely, encouraging comment...Thanks ya all for your lovely, encouraging comments. I am not going to lie: I felt like screaming out loud (in frustration) today during our listening class. We were listening to a long section about farming cabbage and afterwards the teacher asked some questions (that everyone except for me ad 2 other students managed to answer) and finished it all off by saying: 'well this little story was so simple!' Sure, my listening skills are not great, that comes as no surprise, but holy s*** what an awful feeling it is to sit there and feel that 'I just don't get it!' meanwhile everyone else does!! <BR/><BR/>Kanmuri -don't encourage me to whine, then that's all I'll do this semester!! <BR/><BR/>But, I am no stranger to this feeling: it will get easier with time. I know it. And of course I have to study hard. No, harder than hard. Or something like that. Then we'll see. <BR/><BR/>But really, thanks for all the useful advices and encouragements. I wish I was in your class instead of the one I'm in now :)Jonna Wibeliushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08954672453008704738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-41456055612199338702009-02-24T12:31:00.000+08:002009-02-24T12:31:00.000+08:00Good luck! You are amazing to be doing this! I wou...Good luck! You are amazing to be doing this! I would love to learn a new language, and took 3 years of French, but I don't speak it at all! Moving to where the language is spoken must help a lot! Sounds like a lot of hard work, but I'm sure it will be good for you.Colleenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03450477695869735124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-17648529513114582552009-02-24T12:12:00.000+08:002009-02-24T12:12:00.000+08:00That sounds crazy. Reminds me of my Japanese clas...That sounds crazy. Reminds me of my Japanese class at Waseda university. I took a test and was put in level 11, but a week later I decided to move to level 10. It was a bit easier, but I never regretted it because the people were really nice and I made nice friends.<BR/><BR/>In your case though there is no changing levels, eh... Well, I guess it will be hard but you'll come out a whole lot better. Ignore the Chinese study people and work hard. <BR/><BR/>And whenever you need to, come here and complain, we'll be waiting for you :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-43741962227490687572009-02-24T12:00:00.000+08:002009-02-24T12:00:00.000+08:00Hang on JW. I was the only non-Japanese in my leve...Hang on JW. I was the only non-Japanese in my level 4 class. Their writing was awesome, but their tingli was terrible. As well they didn't like studying or talking Mandarin, so over the space of a a few weeks I caught up and then passed them. Then they followed me to level 5!<BR/><BR/>The only thing I could say in Japanese at the time was "Toyota".<BR/><BR/>Stick your nose to the grindstone and get a Chinese friend to tutor you. There are no shortcuts to Chinese. Don't try to reason with a character, just cram it between your ears, and move on.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-28636548393468414772009-02-24T11:49:00.000+08:002009-02-24T11:49:00.000+08:00Good for you and I remember classes like that when...Good for you and I remember classes like that when I went back to school after 6 years. I was like, "I'm supposed to know what?".Gifts of Naturehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04818559999152919110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-79337116601044740882009-02-24T11:42:00.000+08:002009-02-24T11:42:00.000+08:00I'm still impressed with your mastery of English. ...I'm still impressed with your mastery of English. Mandarin must be so different from your own language and English and any other languages you have worked on. Best wishes and good luck with those teachers!Leeniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17655189620056032790noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-76886349158596918422009-02-24T11:19:00.000+08:002009-02-24T11:19:00.000+08:00+U +U !!+U +U !!Nielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12569467401330845632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-55540386870139531152009-02-24T10:42:00.000+08:002009-02-24T10:42:00.000+08:00Hey dont worry!That is exactly how i felt when i w...Hey dont worry!That is exactly how i felt when i was in 2nd year of my french class.Initially you find everything just going overhead but you get on you'll it easier.All the best!!CJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07633291405359858121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8491088023973371313.post-47827283612929216482009-02-24T10:22:00.000+08:002009-02-24T10:22:00.000+08:00i like your determination!go for it and nothing wi...i like your determination!<BR/>go for it and nothing will stop you!!!Vittoriohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00218389147439575076noreply@blogger.com