User Comments - johnrash

Posted on: Pageant Final Episode

US unversities are also looking to bring in more Chinese exchange students, as was reported in this recent report on NPR: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90931460

Posted on: Chinatomy: Chinese Gods and 'Shanghai Diaries'

Nice to see Aric taking 1/2 of the magic that was the greatest Saturday Show known to man (the other half being Jenny Zhu of course... and Colleen there at the end) and making something that keeps the world somewhat connected to a perspecitive on China not often heard.  Any Chinesepod users not living in China should make a great effor to use your rapidly improving language skills to make friends with Chinese folks in your community and you might understand why Sharon Stone should be burned at the stake for making such an absurd comment. (Hopefully you already know why, but having some Chinese friends will paint a new perspective on China for any of you still thinking in terms of your 10th grade World Cultures class).

Good job y'all.

Posted on: Regional Accents Part II

Why not a serial series with characters who speak in slightly different regional accents?  This is real world listening experience those of us not living in China seldom have a chance to hear and use.  In China these situations may all the time, and a series of dialogues (not just a list like this lesson) is real life listening practice.  I understand learning to speak a specific regional accent might not be effective learning or the goal of Chinesepod, but a series of dialogues could go far and beyond what this lesson provides in terms of really hearing the differences..  This lesson is wonderful, but can't nearly scratch the surface of hearing the differences that occur through numerous examples or dialogue. As a traveller I found certain places were easier to understand than others, and always wished I had more experience with this before actually landing in China and trying unsuccessfully to hear these regional accents.

Posted on: Yoga

For those asking, Hot Yoga is not a mistranslation or a slang term for any of the above guesses at what it might mean.  As Darylk mentioned above, Hot Yoga, is indeed a stlye of yoga that is practiced in an extremely hot room (105 F) to improve flexibility and intensity.  Hot Yoga is also known as Bikram Yoga.  You can see the WIKIPEDIA link on Bikram Yoga here.

Posted on: Aren't you.... （不是.... 吗）

This didn't come across in my feed.  Is that a problem with the site update?  Ive tried every way I know... still can't get my feed to grab this lesson.

Posted on: #43

I'm not sure about chinese-dubbed movies in the USA other than hitting up a VCD/DVD store at the closest available Chinatown (mine is 5 hours away by the way, so I usually stock up when I'm in a big city or in China). However, if you're a bit torrent fan, and want English movies with Chinese subtitles you can get them at btchina.net

Posted on: 无论 (wúlùn) No matter...

Thanks Connie... I was tricked by the ever elusive "了“ again. I'm not even sure why I added that on anyway.

Posted on: Cheering

Thanks Amber It was said in the lesson that anyone who cheers for a team is a 啦啦队, not just the pompom yielding type. Thus my confusion between 啦啦队 and 球迷.

Posted on: Bike Riding Rules and Living Quarters

Amber & babybaby... I had the same question.. sort of. Amber your pronunciation of 下次见。 sounds something like a phonetic equivalent to "Shy ci jian" (yes like the english word for "to be shy") but I always though 下 is something more of a "Sha" or "Shia" sound. Isn't 下次见 the same pronunciation as 下午 , 下个礼拜, or 下面？

Posted on: Cheering

Am I really expected to believe that a football hooligan (soccer hooligan for those of us in the USA), can be called 啦啦队? Seriously?