Reading texts in Chinese

Excellent work.

I thought I would try a group on reading the bible. http://www.88groups.com/chinese-bible-chapters I'm planning on posting one chapter per lesson in Simplified and English, and also include a link to audio.

Oh yes, your 88news is a great place to read Chinese texts. I agree that these groups are neglected at present, maybe because they tend to be a little outside of the main focus of CPod - understanding spoken Mandarin.

Marcel, on the other hand that may be the strong point of the 88groups. Those of us who are interested in reading and writing characters could probably get a lot more out of them than is the case right now. It may take a little time and some patience but I'm sure they'll prove very useful. A few people are already doing a lot of work but they need our support!

Lunetta, that "support" thing sounds really good.. than you might come over and help us to read some Chinese at the Contemporary Literature group? It does not matter if you don't like the particular text we are looking at now. I'm sure that we could find other interesting texts.

I really would like to be more supportive myself but to be honest I find both the contemporary Chinese literature group and the 88-news group to be too difficult for me right now. I could probably get a lot out of them but it would require a lot of hard studying and I don't have the time for that right now. I'm hoping John B. is going to resume posting soon, in the character insanity group, because one new (difficult) character a day is more manageable for me. I would love to create some group for practising reading but the texts have to be a lot more simple and based on limited number of characters. It's a lot of work maintaining a group all by yourself, finding the relevant material and so on, and I know I can't do it all by myself but maybe someone else would be interested in co-administrating such a group?

Fair enough... Yes, I would like to help to maintain a less difficult reading group, it would be good practise. I am sure that there are also others here that would also be interested. Any takers?

I'm the same, I would find 88news too difficult, wouldn't want to belong to a group that has me as a member either, but the value to me really is in the doing / making of the news. Lunetta is right, it's a lot of work to find and prepare material, and I only publish a tiny part of what I come across. Very difficult to demand a simple reading level too (particularly on Chinese sites).

I've been posting a comment about another 88group earlier today --albeit self-serving. I also emailed John (the 'other', 88John) as I t think 88groups is a well kept secret, a great concept that's not getting much publicity. I know that everyone on the Practice Plan has their own private group, there may be others, but in general this seems like a under-utilzed resource. The interface could also use a few improvements, but probably for the same reason it seems rather neglected.

... and another one on German call for the abolition of poultry cages!

These days I'm mixing my study time between ChinesePod intermediate, a few business sources such as the University of Texas-Austin project and .... children's books! Most are in hard copy, but you can find some online too; for example, here you can find a half-dozen or so translated English-Chinese short stories starting with The Red Shoe: http://www.gushi8.com.cn/html/tonghuagushi/antushengtonghua/antushengtonghua_yingwen_/2006/0530/2335.html

marcelbdt, I am very intrigued by this reading group - the 王 小 波 novel. I have read it in a Chinese paperback edition-- after a manner - and would love to go over it again with someone to answer questions and discuss contents. What do I do? So far it looks as if it was just you and bokane --- Does one just loosely flit in and out or is there a format to be observed? I am just a bit hesitant because I do not know how much time I would be able to invest on a regular basis.

You are very very welcome! There are no rules as far as I know..:) I would like to continue going through the novella chapter for chapter asking questions in the hope that bokane or someone else will answer them. My next post will be about chapter 2. If you have any questions or answers, that is wonderful. Maybe it would be easiest for me if you kept commenting on the chapters I post about, but as I said, there are no rules..:)

Marcelbdt, thank you for posting this information. I have been using 88Groups in a limited way because my practice plan sent me there and I never really understood why I had to be "isolated" from the Chinesepod site. I really didn't get, still don't, but your post lets me know that 88Groups may be a good thing. Your literature group is too difficult for me, but I might be able to handle an easier reading group. I wish someone would point out the benefits of 88Groups to the rest of us and more detailed instructions on how to create and participate in groups. I'm embarrassed to say, but I'm still learning how to maneuver around Chinesepod. Springing 88Groups on me with no explanation really confused me, so any opportunity to understand it better is really appreciated. Thanks for for enlightening me somewhat.

Marcelbdt, thanks for the welcome --- I have started working on Chapter 2 and will watch out for your next post in the 88group.

liansuo> I just posted some questions and comments about chapter 2 over at 88groups.. It would be great if you (or someone else) had any questions or comments on chapter 1 or chapter 2! I'll absolutely do my best to try and answer them - if I can.

Lunetta, watch out for my short story on the New York 'no trousers in subway' story next week. I'll try and stick in such short stories + pictures on a regular basis, alternating with more 'serious' news pieces