User Comments - doodle16

Posted on: Chinese Graded Readers and ACTFL

@John: I absolutely love this idea for intermediate targeted Chinese books. I have always wanted to read but it has been difficult to find a book series that's both low in characters but mature in concept (I'm really tired of reading the Hungry Caterpillar in Chinese).

But not all of the books are available in iBooks. Should I be expecting an expansion of mediums in the future? I will admit I was slightly heart broken to see Sixty Year Dream was not available for my iPhone :( :( 

Posted on: Classical Chinese vs. Modern Chinese

Thank you! When I actually adopted that name as my 姓 I had many a strange looks. I picked it because it sounds like my last name and because I have a great passion for history and admiration for 武则天. Maybe someone for me to live up to? ;)

It's actually kinda strange though when you take into account that I am a guy.

@tingyun: Thanks for the information! and please allow me to come to the defence of my name sake. She may not be a modern feminist but I would go far as to say she is a particularly bloodthirsty tyrant. There have been many grizzly tails written about her but not all of them necessarily have a basis in fact (such as the story of her killing her daughter which has no true evidence of happening). Past rulers are often written out to be far more tyrannical than they really were to the benefit of their successor (such as horrific portrayal of Caligula and Hannibal).

I would like to go as far as to say that when it came to her rule, she was neither particularly forward thinking nor particularly brutal. She was just like all the other emperors. In the end she is the same, and that should say something about women when it comes to leadership.

Posted on: Classical Chinese vs. Modern Chinese

I absolutely love these historical/classics lessons! I eat them up. Can we expect more of these kinds of lessons? I know besides this classical Chinese lesson there is also a romance of the three kingdoms lesson. I wouldn't mind seeing a 红楼梦 Lesson in the near future :P

Posted on: Talking About Mistakes (Part 2)

On a similar note to the "secret" error, I once heard a Canadian make a mistake when ordering. Hoping to ask for “鸡肉,” the poor newbie instead ended up saying "鸡鸡."

Posted on: Something about Drinking

As a muslim I can't drink. If I decline all drinks offered to me in China will my religion be a reasonable excuss or will I just come off as a wuss?

Posted on: Dream Girls

Chinesepod user since I was 16.... and proud.

Posted on: ChinesePod Jobs in New York! In Shanghai!

You people must open a new office in Vancouver! Then I can actually apply!! ><