User Comments - goulnik
goulnik
Posted on: In-Laws and Drinking
September 8, 2007 at 8:48 AMChinese women being trained as a child? See recent frightening story of that girl age 8 or something who ran 3500km all the way to Beijing 'encouraged' by her business father... Question to the Amber cultural show : last year in a park in Zhengzhou I watched a guy with a giant brush (more like a mop) doing calligraphy with water on the ground (concrete). With the heat this wouldn't remain very long, but he moved along, writing more little pieces, which few people seemed to pay attention to (until I was asked to join, which suddenly attracted a bunch of people). Is this traditional / common, what is it called, what is it for?
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 8, 2007 at 7:35 AMas wildyaks I strongly believe you can't and shouldn't correct EVERYTHING. Not only does it get too discouraging, it's also very disruptive. In my morning lessons with Vera she seldom correct tones (though I know they can be off) and does only correct certain words or sentences, often by subtly rephrasing them after me. But I would contend that having a host make uncorrected errors that will stay for posterity points to a fundamental flaw in course design. However much repeat there is of Chinese words and patterns, this should only be with native-like fluency and intonation (errors included).
Posted on: Saying Sorry
September 8, 2007 at 5:39 AMthe iPhone madness is good news, set to do to mobile phones what the iPod did to podcasting. but remember there are dozens of serious mp3 brands out there. similarly with phones - iPhone not widely available, does not and will not run Pleco, a major issue for anyone who's serious about learning Chinese. my HTC smartphone is not half as sexy as the iPhone but does all of this, m.chinesepod and all.
Posted on: ChinesePod on the iPhone
September 8, 2007 at 5:39 AMthe iPhone madness is good news, set to do to mobile phones what the iPod did to podcasting. but remember there are dozens of serious mp3 brands out there. similarly with phones - iPhone not widely available, does not and will not run Pleco, a major issue for anyone who's serious about learning Chinese. my HTC smartphone is not half as sexy as the iPhone but does all of this, m.chinesepod and all.
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 7:27 PM入乡随俗 （rùxiāngsuísú） ： when in Rome, do as the Romans do。 Why bother with 咖啡，糖 or 牛奶，just 淡饭粗茶 （dànfàn-cūchá） plain tea and simple food。
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 12:48 PMStarbucks is 星巴克 （xīngbākè）literal-phonetic translation
Posted on: How do you take your coffee?
September 7, 2007 at 11:43 AM哎呀，Starbucks？what's it got to do with coffee？
Posted on: In-Laws and Drinking
September 7, 2007 at 11:29 AMHow about meeting your boyfriend's parents ...is it only 老外 men developping 恋爱 with Chinese women， Amber?
Posted on: Applying For a Visa
September 7, 2007 at 8:06 AMother useful vocab，ｌｉｆｔｅｄ ｆｒｏｍ ｖｉｓａ ａｐｐｌｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｆｏｒｍ ａｎｄ ｒｅｃｅｉｐｔ： 一/二/多次入出境 (yī/èr/duō rùchūjìng) single/double/multiple entry 加急 (jiājí) attr. urgent / express 特急 (tèjí) extra urgent / rush 取证单 (qǔzhèng dān) pick up form / receipt 取证日期 (qǔzhèng rìqī) pick up date
Posted on: In-Laws and Drinking
September 8, 2007 at 6:21 PMhere's a picture of a sidewalk calligrapher at work