Huan yin, huan yin.
sfrrr
July 12, 2008, 11:05 PM posted in General DiscussionHi--first two members (besides me). I was so sure no one would want to join this group that I didn't check back soon enough. Sorry for the delay.
This group is my third or fourth attempt to find cpoddies in the SF Bay Area who want to form a conversation practice group--either meeting in some cheap cafe, meeting for yum cha (also calld dian xin or dim sum, or going out for food adventures (which sounds sort of expensive). We could meet once a week (or something) with or without a graduate student or someone (probably paid???) to correct our mistakes.
Does this interest either of you? Do you know of anyone else (cpoddie or not) in our region who might be interested in doing something like this? For this to work, we need many more people so that we have at least a few people at each meeting--no matter how hard it's raining.
What do you think?
Sandra
alanchan
March 20, 2009, 04:27 PMHi everyone,
So glad I stumbled upon this group. I am living in Milpitas right now, and would be glad to meet up with any of you guys to practice Chinese. Since I am pretty close to Fremont, I would actually prefer to join the Fremont group, but it's no biggie if the Oakland location works best for everyone else.
I am ethnic Chinese but grew up in Manila, Philippines (my grandparents emigrated to Manila from Fujian province in the early 30's).
I speak fluent Min-nan hua (similar to Taiwanese) but I am probably at an intermediate level in Mandarin. In terms of writing, I would rate myself as intermediate level too, and I am more at home with traditional Chinese (having spent more than 10 years at a Chinese school in Manila in the late 80's and early 90's at a time when simplified chinese was still viewed as "communist" characters), but I am now leaning more towards simplified characters (mainly through Chinesepod).
Hope to hear from you guys soon.
-Alan
sfrrr
July 24, 2008, 12:45 AMI'm back. It seems to me that we all need the following info about each other:
1. What part of the Bay Area do you hail from?
2. What level of Chinese proficiency have you hit for conversation? Reading? Writing?
3. Would you be satisfied with just a conversation group or are you also looking for help with reading and writing?
4. Have you had any formal schooling in Chinese or studied only on your own? Please add a few salient details. How long have you studied Mandarin?
5. Have you ever had your kouyin (accent) and/or fayin (pronounciation) critiqued?
6. Have you ever been to China? Under what circumstances? (And, next time, may I stow away in your carry-on?)
7. Are you ready to divulge your name to the rest of the group? (Perhaps by email or text message--too easy to steal on the Web.)
8. What else should I have asked?
My answers, until I'm interrupted again, are:
1. I'm in Berkeley. And I'm happy to meet wherever the middle of our group's territory is--as long as the place has decent cafés. Or we could meet in Oakland Chinatown--mu3dan4 ge1 or Restaurant Peony has absolutely wonderful dim sum, almost matching some of my Hong Kong favorites.
2. I have been studying Chinese (Mandarin) for more than 30 years, on and off, first at Cal, then on my own, and now, for the last ten years, with a private teacher. The last five or so years, my laoshi has had Parkinson's and so my lessons have been by phone once, twice, or three times a week, depending on the weight of my wallet. As a result, I'm a pretty weak reader, but not terrible.
3 and 4. Despite that fact, I'd prefer an emphasis on conversation, but I'm not wedded to that. I can see that we could help build each other's reading skills, and might have fun with a Mandarin-language book club.
5. According to my very picky laoshi, my accent etc is better than that of 80 to 90% of Chinese people. However, if I get excited, I get lazy.
6. I've been to China a few times, but never for longer than 3 weeks or a month: Hong Kong four times (including a month in April 1975); GuangZhou once; Shanghai twice; Nanjing once, staying with my then-son-in-law and his parents in their apartment for two weeks. I haven't been able to return lately because I'm a member of the sandwich generation--my kids and their kids rely on me, and my mother's verrrrrrrry slowly dying. And I'm glad I won't be in BeiJing this summer.
7. I'll tell if you will.
Looking forward to hearing from you all.
Sandra
mmcbridemd
July 26, 2008, 04:54 AMHi all,
I'm actually in the Sierra foothills, about 2.5 hours from the bay area. I'd travel in for an occasional meeting on a weekend, I imagine. But my utility to the group would be extremely limited by my inexperience and unavailability.
Beginner in Mandarin. Studying on my own - Rosetta Stone, Betterchinese, chinesepod.
I've been to China once for two weeks (Changsha, Guangzhou) 3 years ago to adopt my daughter. Will travel again this winter for our second (Kunming).
Nice to meet you.
sfrrr
July 27, 2008, 07:03 PMmmcbridemd--Congrats on your upcoming addition to your family. Baby? Toddler? Young child? Girl? Boy?
When you go to Kunming, won't you also have to spend some time in Guangzhou, where the US consulate that grants the baby citizenship is located? I can recommend some GZ restaurants that won't be on your tour circuit--unless your group is very Chinese-food savvy. Our group (when we went for my now-7-year-old granddaughter) was surprisingly unsophisticated and fearful even about foods that I thought were relatively common in the US.
I'm not sure this group will take off. As you can see, we don't have many members and we're already suffering from attrition. (Most groups are, I've noticed.)
But I'd be interested to read about your first daughter, what your interest in zhongwen is, etc.
And...living in the Sierra must be wonderful.
jamestheron
July 28, 2008, 01:59 PMHello All,
I'm in Fremont, at the intermediate level in speaking, reading and writing. I've taken classes on and off in the past 15 years. A few years ago I decided to buckle down, make a last serious attempt, and took some of the Chinese classes as San Jose State. I now use ChinesePod and have been trying the echineselearning.com live lessons over the summer.
I also organize a similar study meetup group (http://chinese.meetup.com/399). We often use CPod lessons as our discussion topics.
I've been to China once last year and will be leaving again in a few days to go to Shanghai and Kunming.
sfrrr
July 28, 2008, 10:11 PMJamestheron--Is your study group in Fremont? Is it open to new members? Etc? And how long will you be in Shanghai and Kunming and are you going fr business or pleasure?
obitoddkenobi
July 28, 2008, 11:04 PM大家好，I live in Casto Valley, I'm probably upper intermediate for conversation, advanced for reading, weaker for writing unless I have a computer. A conversation group would be fine. Studied Chinese at Michigan State University and University of Michigan in the 70s and early 80s. Then pretty much on my own reading Chinese news and magazines and listening to short wave...joined ChinesePod a year ago. I have been to China twice, 1976, and 1984, but it was only a month at a time. A lot of changes since then. Chinese people say my accent is "very good", or "better than mine" (Probably some kindness going on here) I think I foul up tones, but I try. Meeting in Oakland would be fine with me. I'd be glad to tell you my name.
sfrrr
July 23, 2008, 11:03 PMOK--we now have 8 members. Now we get serious. I'm also in the East Bay (Berkeley). What spot in the Bay Area do you other folks identify with. And what are your proficiency levels in conversation, reading, writing. OMIgod. My Chinese class just started. Back later
sfrrr
July 31, 2008, 12:28 AMAnyone else interested in a meeting in Oakland or jamestheron's Fremont meeting?
Obitoddkenobi--you and I could just meet in Oakland even if there are no other members in attendance. Would that be worth it to you?
I know there are other East Bay CPod xuesheng, but I don't know how to reach them. I don't want to spam people with invitations. Anyone got any ideas?
perle2
July 31, 2008, 01:36 AMOH! I am in the group now! I am in Benicia and would like to do some Oakland meetings. I usually work on Sat/Sundays during the day, but don't mind a little travel in the evenings.
I am an ellie- have been studying for a year as time permits.
Thanks to sfrrr for giving the group another go. I think we had some brief exchange just before the demise of the last forums.
There is a Mandarin speaking Chinese restaurant in Benicia- Robert's China Garden- a unique dining experience. Anyone up for a visit? Best when Robert or Chen are serving. Chen (older gentlement perhaps 60's-70's) loved my tortured attempts at Mandarin- really fun!
mmcbridemd
August 03, 2008, 05:48 PMWe've been wanting to travel to SF for a guided historical tour of china town (given by Chinese Culture Center of SF). I'd be game for setting up a same day Oakland, SF or Fremont dinner meeting with anyone else who was interested.
I like the idea of focusing the meeting around a shared discussion topic (CPod etc). That lets me prepare so that I'm not so much in the dark as a beginner.
ahorriblemess
August 29, 2008, 05:04 PMHi everyone. Sorry, I created a new post rather than just adding to this one. I'm new here.
Anyway, I'll answer those questions:
1. What part of the Bay Area do you hail from?
I'm in Berkeley, right on University Ave near San Pablo Ave. By next May I should be moving to San Francisco
2. What level of Chinese proficiency have you hit for conversation? Reading? Writing?
In conversation, I'm lower elementary I guess... in reading and writing I'm definitely newbie.
3. Would you be satisfied with just a conversation group or are you also looking for help with reading and writing?
Conversation group would be fine but I would really like to learn reading and writing.
4. Have you had any formal schooling in Chinese or studied only on your own? Please add a few salient details. How long have you studied Mandarin?
No formal schooling. I've been studying on my own for almost two years
5. Have you ever had your kouyin (accent) and/or fayin (pronounciation) critiqued?
A little pronounciation correction, not much accent though. I've been told my tones are good, and that I just need to learn more vocabulary.
6. Have you ever been to China? Under what circumstances? (And, next time, may I stow away in your carry-on?)
Never been. My friend used to teach English at a shady school in Shanghai. Now he's getting married out there. I want to go to China so bad!
7. Are you ready to divulge your name to the rest of the group? (Perhaps by email or text message--too easy to steal on the Web.)
Absolutely
8. What else should I have asked?
I don't know, I think you've done alright.
nial
December 22, 2008, 05:59 AMI'm back. It seems to me that we all need the following info about each other:
1. What part of the Bay Area do you hail from?
I live in Monterey, a short jaunt to San Fran. I'd be more than willing to meet up with some cpoddies!
2. What level of Chinese proficiency have you hit for conversation? Reading? Writing?
Probably Intermediate for Writing, Upper-Intermediate/Advanced for Listening and the same for Speaking and Reading. Personally, I think my speaking is better than my Listening and reading.
3. Would you be satisfied with just a conversation group or are you also looking for help with reading and writing?
Don't matter to me. I usually start with speaking, since that's the one I care about the most.
4. Have you had any formal schooling in Chinese or studied only on your own? Please add a few salient details. How long have you studied Mandarin?
I have been studying Chinese for over 10 years, having graduated from the Defense Language Institue. I currently teach there, and am also attempting to learn Cantonese as well.
5. Have you ever had your kouyin (accent) and/or fayin (pronounciation) critiqued?
I think I am my own worst critic. I've heard people say that I have a slightly Taiwanese accent... but I wouldn't go that far. My pronunciation is not native, but I do strive for it to be as 标准 as possible.
6. Have you ever been to China? Under what circumstances? (And, next time, may I stow away in your carry-on?)
Never been to China, or anywhere west of Hawaii/east of Italy.
7. Are you ready to divulge your name to the rest of the group? (Perhaps by email or text message--too easy to steal on the Web.)
Yeah sure
8. What else should I have asked?
Age? dunno! Car make/model :)?
mmsans
January 08, 2009, 01:40 AMHi all,
Thanks, sfrrr, for the questions. Here are my answers:
1. What part of the Bay Area do you hail from?
SF Russian Hill. I'd love to have regular meetings in any of the following areas: SF Chinatown, North Beach, Russian Hill, Union Sq-Market St.
2. What level of Chinese proficiency have you hit for conversation? Reading? Writing?
I'm intermediate to upper intermediate in listening, speaking, reading. It's been a long time since I've had to write a paper in Chinese, so I'm sure that's quite low.
3. Would you be satisfied with just a conversation group or are you also looking for help with reading and writing?
I'm most interested in conversation, but if others want to include reading and writing, I'm up for it.
4. Have you had any formal schooling in Chinese or studied only on your own? Please add a few salient details. How long have you studied Mandarin?
Yes, I studied in school in Taiwan and China, though it's been years. I took my first class 20 years ago, but I couldn't say I've been studying that long. I did study intensely for a good 4 or 5 years, and my Chinese was advanced; alas, that was a dozen years ago.
5. Have you ever had your kouyin (accent) and/or fayin (pronounciation) critiqued?
My teachers said that my accent was biao1zhun3. I've always paid attention to tones, and native speakers are able to readily understand me, usually.
6. Have you ever been to China? Under what circumstances? (And, next time, may I stow away in your carry-on?)
I lived in Taiwan in the late 80's and in Nanjing for four years in the early 90's--as a student and later as a teacher. My work usually takes me to China at least once a year.
7. Are you ready to divulge your name to the rest of the group? (Perhaps by email or text message--too easy to steal on the Web.)
Ready.
8. What else should I have asked?
When are you most available to meet?
My answer: Days. Weekends are best, but I could do one weekday per week if that were the only option.
jamestheron
July 29, 2008, 03:18 AMsfrrr, the meetup is open to anyone interested and meets in Fremont, usually pretty close to the BART station. I'll only be in China for a week doing some Rotary work.
obitoddkenobi
July 13, 2008, 04:45 AMHi Sandra, I am interested... some of this depends on what level and where we meet, how much it costs. I live in the East Bay, (Castro Valley)....keep me posted.