User Comments - Tal

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

tingyun, you make some sound points here, I agree that using QQ (or anything similar really) to communicate with natives is truly useful. Over the last 2 to 3 years I've done quite a lot of that, and whilst it is definitely a struggle to begin with, it becomes part of the process of 'learning by doing'. You get the interactive 'correcting of mistakes' thrown in, and you gradually overcome the nervousness about making mistakes, maybe even become a little over-confident about speaking out... lol

As for all the posting in English on comments threads, well frankly I just think that on the higher levels folk should make an effort to create meaningful exchange in Chinese, and I don't see why that should be such a problem for learners at Intermediate level or above.

I am not condescending to anyone here.

Nor am I saying that there should not be posts in English. I just think that there should be more of a community feeling that it is appropriate and right to do so.

Occasionally I have shown Chinese Pod to Chinese friends of mine, and they nearly all say the same thing, something along the lines of: "interesting lessons and dialogs, but why do all the users talk in English all the time?"

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

"...his rather supercilious tone and the sense that he was dictating what others should and shouldn't be doing on any particular web page..."

Just in your mind 小弟, just in your mind. Try not to be so... ahem, insecure. Nevertheless your latest posts encourage me, well done for reaching out there.

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

Well I don't agree it's a waste. I think we learn best by doing, even if we make mistakes, even if those mistakes are not immediately revealed to us. I think this is especially true of language. I take the view that every time we open our mouth, every time we try and construct a sentence, every time we actually try and use that language, then it adds to our ability. And if more people did it, (as used to be the case, sorry to be dwelling on the past again), then maybe we could have a community feel for communicating with each other in Chinese again, maybe even the teachers and 'counselors' here would choose to get involved (assuming they are allowed to) and pick us up on those mistakes, make the whole thing more rewarding.

But if we simply take the attitude that it's not worth doing, then why study the language anyway? And I say again, at the Upper-Intermediate level, to see comments threads flooded with English is kind of absurd. That was just not the way it was when I first came to this place, and I do not think it should be that way now.

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

It seems that this part of the dialog has now been amended on both the dialog tab and the PDF. It now simply reads:

说的是，说的是

So it seems to have just been a typo after all.

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

哈哈哈！看来你被我都惹得。我心挺大的，所以就原谅你，接受你的感谢。坚持练习你的中文吧，不要放弃！而且你不用叫我主席，这个头衔不合适，我已经有《齐天大圣》了，不用别的。

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

You are clearly an insecure person. Your reaction is typical of such a mindset. I perceived no 'honest handshake', just more childish posturing which seems to naturally develop into mockery, safely delivered online from behind your persona.

The crucial word in the sentence you now choose to interpret as 'threat of violence' was 'if'. Because people like you don't come on like this in real life do you?

Try growing up a little bit sunshine. In the meantime you're welcome to 'wander' out whenever you feel so inclined.

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

I really have no interest in any adversarial exchange with you, certainly none in demeaning your contribution here. I'll answer your final question though. I invite you to compare comments threads from the current time with those from roughly a couple of years back. Just considering Upper-Intermediate podcasts, it seems clear to me that then there was a great deal more posting in Chinese. And really, at this level, shouldn't that be the most natural thing to do? I know it may be a challenge for some, but if you are going to make the effort to study an Upper-Intermediate level lesson, and then make a post, (even if it is just to say something funny or pointless), why not make the effort to try and express yourself in this language that you are supposed to be studying? Is that so unreasonable?

I also think there were a great deal more thoughtful, considered, and dare I say well-informed comments at that time, from people with both considerable ability in expressing themselves in Chinese and considerable insight into what lessons meant and how they related to modern China. Just look at the posts in response to this lesson. Is there any response or attempt to discuss the real subject of the lesson? (Which is not winning bags of money in Macau casinos.) Any reflections on how it relates to life in modern China, how accurate a portrayal it is, what it says about the society? No, none.

I have heard something about a clique of regular posters being discouraged and finally driven out. Well if that means an absence of thoughtful exchange and the lifeless conditions that currently prevail, then yes, give me the old days any old day of the week. Finally I'll simply ask you to drop the disingenuous tone, you really needn't give me this kind of 'paying respect to the elderly' bollocks. Age has absolutely nothing to do with it, and I would knock you on your ass if you spoke like that to me in real life.

Posted on: Money Laundering Operation

Ha ha. that is a golden oldie, isn't it. I was always partial to the Floyd. Hmm... maybe you misquote it there though old sport.

Yes you really shouldn't go taking things so personally, what I said was certainly not directed at you or any one individual. Obviously I am simply a regular user here, just like you probably. Please do not patronize me when I have made no mention of you personally. If you think that Upper-Intermediate lesson threads should be almost entirely in English, then that's fine, just go ahead. I'm sure however that I'm not the only user here (of long-standing, so sorry about that) who is occasionally nostalgic for the days when these comment threads were actually worth reading.

I do like your sense of humor, if that makes you feel any better.

Posted on: Sensitive Topics

呵呵，KTV 是个唱歌的地方，看一下这节课！

Chinese Pod Elementary lesson about KTV

Posted on: Sensitive Topics

Perhaps not. I may be mistaken but I believe young ladies who work at KTV places are often assumed to be ladies of easy virtue. This may even be true sometimes.