User Comments - mark

Posted on: Taking the Plunge into Intermediate

I too live in the US and have been trying to learn as much Chinese as I can. It would be easier, if I moved to China, but the rest of my family doesn't share my interest. So, I make do. Anyway, even a stay at home like me can benefit from intermediate level lessons, and beyond.

Posted on: Checking out at a Hotel

块 is a measure word for money; pieces of money, if you will. If the currency is not clear from context you may have to clarify that part.

Posted on: Focus and Specialization

I have completely exhausted CPod's back catalog of lessons. So, a week without new material is a sad thing.

Posted on: Focus and Specialization

The explanation of the levels etc. is fine. I just think it isn't a good substitute for having actual lesson content.

Posted on: Focus and Specialization

I think my motivation is sufficient.  I would rather have had a real lesson then a pep-talk.  The holidays are usually a drought with regard to my opportunities to interact with native Chinese speakers.  In past years, I have used Cpod to fill the gap.  There really isn't any study material within this week of "special" lessons.   So, this year is an especially severe drought of Chinese study opportunities.

On a different subject, I think the level of skill required to make use of the Cpod UI lessons is much less than what John defines as arriving at the UI level.  I have made use of the UI lessons as long as have existed, but I still have a small amount of doubt that I meet John's definition of being at UI level.  I often still have difficulty in discussing abstract topics in Chinese.  I can usually get my idea across, but often very ackwardly.  Conversely, I can often get the gist of Media and advanced lessons on first hearing, and seldom have any difficulty in reading the transcripts in 汉字。

Posted on: Matchmaking in the Park

I hope I don't have to start developing an "authentic" aged accent.

Speaking of authentic, I can tell that Greg's accent doesn't sound quite native. It is probably similar to mine. Anyway, I suppose it is a kind of progress for me that I can tell, but it grates a little bit, and makes me appreciate John more, because his accent doesn't sound "off" in the lesson banter, or if it is, I haven't got to a level where I can tell, yet.

Posted on: Preparing for Pain

I went to a pharmacy in Nanjing, because I had a headache.  They asked me a few questions, then gave me some pills.  I have no idea what the pills were, but they worked better than anything I've tried before or since.

Posted on: Water

The difference between a sea and and ocean is also a matter of regional usage in English. When I go to the beach, I go to the ocean, but someone living in England would go to the sea, even though the Atlantic and Pacific are both immense bodies of water.

Posted on: Water

I would guess that if you 出汗 enough it will become 流汗 and flow off your body.

Posted on: 虎妈狼爸

@ConfederateSinophile, "touchy feely liberalism"? I think that is a bit unwarranted. We obviously travel in different circles. What I related was my experience of the usage of the phrase, "spare the rod and spoil the child". I think one thing that makes this phrase a little over the top, is the implication that even if the child is perfectly well behaved, you should still give them a few whacks, just for a good measure. I have heard it used by parents when they are being overly indulgent to tease their children and let the child know they are getting away with something, e.g. "Spare the rod and spoil the child, ok, you can take a piece of candy." and to criticize someone else's parenting. e.g. "She is a spare the rod and spoil the child kind of mother." meaning that she is overly strict and inflexible. I've never heard anyone use the phrase seriously, lest they appear ridiculous, regardless of their personal stand on corporal punishment. Then again, I don't know anyone who would want to be associated with the Confederacy, lest they give the impression that they think slavery was a good thing. I obviously, have never lived in the Southern US. So, there may well be regional differences in usage.