<![CDATA[Comments on: Female takeover of ChinesePod!]]> Virtual School class! Sarah's also got lot of news regarding changes to the site and some things we're all looking forward to in the upcoming year.]]> 2010-02-06 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: Keth]]> Great show- interesting and fun. I think the exam thing in China is very difficult for people in the Europe to understand. It is a real cultural difference and makes learning exchanges difficult, because students in China are just locked into rote learning with no free time to explore other interesting topics if they are not part of their exams.

]]> Great show- interesting and fun. I think the exam thing in China is very difficult for people in the Europe to understand. It is a real cultural difference and makes learning exchanges difficult, because students in China are just locked into rote learning with no free time to explore other interesting topics if they are not part of their exams.

]]> <![CDATA[By: evgeniyazhu]]> Thank you Jenny, Catherine and Sarah for the show :)))

Yeah, this is very difficult for Chinese people, especially, children to explore something new. They don't seem to be able to organise their time for studying and having a rest, which is not healthy at all. They just study all the time from very early age. Probably, that's why many Chinese people wear glasses.

I'm looking forward to studying the coming lessons :))) I agree, we are nerds in a good sense of the word :)))

]]> Thank you Jenny, Catherine and Sarah for the show :)))

Yeah, this is very difficult for Chinese people, especially, children to explore something new. They don't seem to be able to organise their time for studying and having a rest, which is not healthy at all. They just study all the time from very early age. Probably, that's why many Chinese people wear glasses.

I'm looking forward to studying the coming lessons :))) I agree, we are nerds in a good sense of the word :)))

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> We're nerds in the best sense of the word! What can be cooler than language learning mixed with technology? It's like a really fun form of sociable geekery :-)

As for children's work-life balance in China, I wouldn't say their lack of "free" fun time is a question of bad time-management skills (poor kids shouldn't need to worry about organising their time anyway, surely?); I just think their parents and teachers pile on the work, so much so that they have no choice but to study round-the-clock.

If they're not at school or doing homework, then they're learning to play the piano, or sing, or paint, or whatever else that will give them a competitive edge when they finally graduate. It's tough, especially as most will be the only child in the family (cannot imagine the pressure).

]]> We're nerds in the best sense of the word! What can be cooler than language learning mixed with technology? It's like a really fun form of sociable geekery :-)

As for children's work-life balance in China, I wouldn't say their lack of "free" fun time is a question of bad time-management skills (poor kids shouldn't need to worry about organising their time anyway, surely?); I just think their parents and teachers pile on the work, so much so that they have no choice but to study round-the-clock.

If they're not at school or doing homework, then they're learning to play the piano, or sing, or paint, or whatever else that will give them a competitive edge when they finally graduate. It's tough, especially as most will be the only child in the family (cannot imagine the pressure).

]]> <![CDATA[By: jinkeli]]> Plumber's crack...'nuf said. :)

]]> Plumber's crack...'nuf said. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: thinkbuddha]]> Nothing wrong with a nerd. The geeks, as we all know, will inherit the earth.

]]> Nothing wrong with a nerd. The geeks, as we all know, will inherit the earth.

]]> <![CDATA[By: simonpettersson]]> I'm pretty sure they already have.

]]> I'm pretty sure they already have.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> Nerd in Wikipedia :
Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age-inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people.

]]> Nerd in Wikipedia :
Nerd is a term often bearing a derogatory connotation or stereotype, that refers to a person who passionately pursues intellectual activities, esoteric knowledge, or other obscure interests that are age-inappropriate rather than engaging in more social or popular activities. Therefore, a nerd is often excluded from physical activity and considered a loner by peers, or will tend to associate with like-minded people.

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> jajaaaah, but once we are all nerds, we are social again :D

]]> jajaaaah, but once we are all nerds, we are social again :D

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> What are you talking about--? Learning Mandarin (on, or off, CPod) is such a popular pursuit it's fairly embarrassing, if you are a nerd and have appearances to keep up.

]]> What are you talking about--? Learning Mandarin (on, or off, CPod) is such a popular pursuit it's fairly embarrassing, if you are a nerd and have appearances to keep up.

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> not where I come from, not where I come from :)

]]> not where I come from, not where I come from :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: svik]]> The ladies have raised the stakes for visitors bearing gifts to the Chinesepod office. :-)

]]> The ladies have raised the stakes for visitors bearing gifts to the Chinesepod office. :-)

]]> <![CDATA[By: jennycrm]]> I am still haunted by exam memories till this day. The worst part is that you have to bring home the test paper for your parents to sign and see. 

]]> I am still haunted by exam memories till this day. The worst part is that you have to bring home the test paper for your parents to sign and see. 

]]> <![CDATA[By: simonpettersson]]> Seems Wikipedia is in need of an update. It's been a long time since I heard the word "nerd" being used with a derogatory connotation. Nowadays people usually use it to describe themselves. "Nerd pride" liberated the word a long time ago. To see the negative associations of the word, we have to go back to American high school and college movies from the 80's and 90's.

*Starts humming the "Revenge of the Nerds" theme song*

]]> Seems Wikipedia is in need of an update. It's been a long time since I heard the word "nerd" being used with a derogatory connotation. Nowadays people usually use it to describe themselves. "Nerd pride" liberated the word a long time ago. To see the negative associations of the word, we have to go back to American high school and college movies from the 80's and 90's.

*Starts humming the "Revenge of the Nerds" theme song*

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> You didn't mention that movie, no you didn't! Yes you did... I loved that movie back then. Guess I still do.

]]> You didn't mention that movie, no you didn't! Yes you did... I loved that movie back then. Guess I still do.

]]> <![CDATA[By: hughborg707]]> The last time I was in Shanghai doing network engineering for my American friend for his China based company, he pointed out one of the reasons he brought me from the states. 

He said that the local engineers he had met would be able to do exactly what he asked, but no more.

In other words they seemed to not be able to conceptualize "what-if scenario" based questions to expand his network. That seems to follow the learning by rote memorization that earlier posts pointed to and its unfortunate because expansive thinking is important in my field.

The problem I see is I'm not sure its a skill you just learn on demand. It seems to me to be more of something you're raised with. :/

]]> The last time I was in Shanghai doing network engineering for my American friend for his China based company, he pointed out one of the reasons he brought me from the states. 

He said that the local engineers he had met would be able to do exactly what he asked, but no more.

In other words they seemed to not be able to conceptualize "what-if scenario" based questions to expand his network. That seems to follow the learning by rote memorization that earlier posts pointed to and its unfortunate because expansive thinking is important in my field.

The problem I see is I'm not sure its a skill you just learn on demand. It seems to me to be more of something you're raised with. :/

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> we were all thinkin' it.

]]> we were all thinkin' it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> @hughborg707

I'm no expert, but I'd agree with the connection you've made.

Kids in Chinese schools are so busy learning, but are seldom encouraged to question any of it. Your experience highlights the result of this type of education (and the continued influence of Confucius!).

]]> @hughborg707

I'm no expert, but I'd agree with the connection you've made.

Kids in Chinese schools are so busy learning, but are seldom encouraged to question any of it. Your experience highlights the result of this type of education (and the continued influence of Confucius!).

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> Hi Simon,

I also saw the evolution of this word in some english speaking media and understand what you mean. But as a non native speaker of english who communicates mostly with non native speakers of english, for the sake of mutual understanding I always consider any local evolution of the english language as part of a dialect (even if it comes from its birthplace).

]]> Hi Simon,

I also saw the evolution of this word in some english speaking media and understand what you mean. But as a non native speaker of english who communicates mostly with non native speakers of english, for the sake of mutual understanding I always consider any local evolution of the english language as part of a dialect (even if it comes from its birthplace).

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Interesting comment.I think I understand what you mean but am not certain.I think you're saying that because you're a non native speaker and communicate with other non native speakers you are not part of the evolution of the word and thus stick to the original meaning of the word and consider any evolution like learning a dialect.Have I got that right? Of course what is derogatory all depends upon your point of view..it is extremely subjective.I recommend watching a reality tv show called "Beauty and the Geek" for some insight into this and a few laughs. :)

]]> Interesting comment.I think I understand what you mean but am not certain.I think you're saying that because you're a non native speaker and communicate with other non native speakers you are not part of the evolution of the word and thus stick to the original meaning of the word and consider any evolution like learning a dialect.Have I got that right? Of course what is derogatory all depends upon your point of view..it is extremely subjective.I recommend watching a reality tv show called "Beauty and the Geek" for some insight into this and a few laughs. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> I used to be in a band that had sort of a Devo meets Kraftwerk vibe to it. One of the songs I wrote was 'Ride the Square Wave'. It was a tribute to the fact most of my instruments were digital and that I rather enjoyed nerdy/square things.

Maybe I have just been away too long, but I would think that the 'cool' kids aren't saying things like, "Yo, what up nerd!" and it is actually a friendly thing to say. I would guess whether one sees being called a nerd as positive or negative depends mostly on what a person sees as being 'cool'.

Ah philosophizing on the concept of nerd...

]]> I used to be in a band that had sort of a Devo meets Kraftwerk vibe to it. One of the songs I wrote was 'Ride the Square Wave'. It was a tribute to the fact most of my instruments were digital and that I rather enjoyed nerdy/square things.

Maybe I have just been away too long, but I would think that the 'cool' kids aren't saying things like, "Yo, what up nerd!" and it is actually a friendly thing to say. I would guess whether one sees being called a nerd as positive or negative depends mostly on what a person sees as being 'cool'.

Ah philosophizing on the concept of nerd...

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> Hi Bababarwan,

I only said that I use the new meaning of a word when this new meaning is already widespread among the native speakers of all english speaking countries. If this new meaning is not widespread among native speakers, I assume it's also not widespread among non native speakers.

If the evolution of a word is only used in an english speaking country or in a region of an english speaking country I will consider this evolution as part of a dialect based on common english. I already encounter local dialects from Singapore, Australia, South-Africa, Nigeria and South-California.

]]> Hi Bababarwan,

I only said that I use the new meaning of a word when this new meaning is already widespread among the native speakers of all english speaking countries. If this new meaning is not widespread among native speakers, I assume it's also not widespread among non native speakers.

If the evolution of a word is only used in an english speaking country or in a region of an english speaking country I will consider this evolution as part of a dialect based on common english. I already encounter local dialects from Singapore, Australia, South-Africa, Nigeria and South-California.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Right,I see.I would have a couple of thoughts on that.First that I would think that a little difficult to guage....or is it? For example I wouldn't have the foggiest about how a word like nerd is used in Nigeria.Do you have any insights on that front? Secondly,I would have thought in general though that this evolution of nerd was relatively widespread as the world becomes more homogenous and through the widespread exposure to,in particular,American culture.But as I say I think your interpretation of the word depends on context,intent,and your viewpoint.

]]> Right,I see.I would have a couple of thoughts on that.First that I would think that a little difficult to guage....or is it? For example I wouldn't have the foggiest about how a word like nerd is used in Nigeria.Do you have any insights on that front? Secondly,I would have thought in general though that this evolution of nerd was relatively widespread as the world becomes more homogenous and through the widespread exposure to,in particular,American culture.But as I say I think your interpretation of the word depends on context,intent,and your viewpoint.

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> The simpliest way to gauge whether the definition of a word is widespread or not may be to use a "common" (non-partisan) english dictionary.

For example, if you use "One whose IQ exceeds his weight" as a definition of Nerd, it won't be appropriate everywhere. ;o)

]]> The simpliest way to gauge whether the definition of a word is widespread or not may be to use a "common" (non-partisan) english dictionary.

For example, if you use "One whose IQ exceeds his weight" as a definition of Nerd, it won't be appropriate everywhere. ;o)

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> hehe,I like it,but you've got me a bit worried:is that pounds or kilos mate?

]]> hehe,I like it,but you've got me a bit worried:is that pounds or kilos mate?

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> If you use the Imperial Units here, I guess you're at a huge disadvantage. ;o)

]]> If you use the Imperial Units here, I guess you're at a huge disadvantage. ;o)

]]> <![CDATA[By: hughborg707]]> Yikes I should log into the web page more often instead of just listening to podcasts :) I totally missed your comment earlier.

What is the connection to Confucius and the educational system?

]]> Yikes I should log into the web page more often instead of just listening to podcasts :) I totally missed your comment earlier.

What is the connection to Confucius and the educational system?

]]>