User Comments - ancalagon
ancalagon
Posted on: How Long?
March 19, 2009 at 1:14 AMHow do Beijing's fares compare to those of Shanghai? (I ask as I'll be in an intensive Chinese language program in Beijing over the summer).
Posted on: Sympathy for the Farmers -- 悯农
March 19, 2009 at 12:39 AMJenny, upload them!
Pete, are you now fully able to read complex, college-level non-fiction books in Chinese? If so, how long would you say it took you to get to that point?
Posted on: Stopping at a Friend's Farm -- 过故人庄
March 3, 2009 at 10:46 PMPete, major props for your substle condemnation of America's idiotic and nefarious War on Drugs. I'm not a user myself, but as a liberty-minded individual I feel compelled to show my appreciation. So thank you, and keep up the good work.
Posted on: Seeing off an Old Friend 渭城曲
January 27, 2009 at 2:11 PMJust as another bit of praise, the music in the background of the recitals of the poetry really gives it an Ancient Chinese vibe. Very, very cool.
Congratulations on another winner!
Posted on: Farewell, Son 游子吟
January 25, 2009 at 12:09 AMWhen can we expect the next Poetry with Pete? (The excitement is palpable).
Posted on: Good, Bad and Otherwise
November 3, 2008 at 1:51 AMApologies in advance for this being off-topic.
I'm looking to ask a 中文老师 for a letter of recommendation (which is for an intensive Chinese language program in 北京 this coming 夏天）. What would be the best way to ask this in Chinese?
可不可麻烦你写一封letter of recommendation?
Pretty sure I'm not on the right track, but it's a start. Appreciate the help, and great 请问。
Posted on: My Foreign teacher
November 1, 2008 at 2:26 PMJohn (or anyone else),
Like Artkho my reading skills are definitely more advanced than my listening skills. While I realize there's no shortcut in this or any aspect of language learning, do you have any tips for improving one's listening comprehension? I think part of my present problem is that I'll try and translate a sentence in my head, perhaps taking a few seconds to do so (and perhaps failing altogether), and all the while the dialogue is moving forward and I'm missing more material. I feel like the translation-in-your-head process is only natural in language learning, but it seems to inhibit fuller understanding when listening to a lengthier piece.
Thoughts?
Posted on: Good Night
October 13, 2008 at 4:03 AMStefani, I believe it's 晚上好（wan3 shang4 hao3), but it's possible I'm wrong.
Posted on: A Very Special Day
October 2, 2008 at 11:15 AM祝你们生日快乐！！ Here's to a thousand more! 干杯！
Posted on: Hong Kong Visa Run
March 25, 2009 at 3:58 PMI'm in the very beginning stages of having to deal with the visa process, and I'd love it if anyone had some preliminary advice for me.
I'll be attending an intensive language program in Beijing over the summer through the Central University of Nationalities and Columbia University. They are in the process of helping me procure a visa that will last the two month duration of the program.
Herein lies the dilemma of sorts: I intend to stay in China following the program to teach English. Provided I find a teaching job from my current (USA) location, will said job work with me to extend my short-term summer visa? Will I need to leave China (make a run to Hong Kong?) for a time in order to have it extended? What kind of time frame should I be bearing in mind with all this stuff?
我很紧张!