User Comments - xiaophil
xiaophil
Posted on: Lessons and Comment Policy
July 12, 2009 at 2:35 PMI hope you can find the right balance with this new policy. Even though I sometimes participate in the tangents to be found in the comment section, I often think later, why am I really here? Answer: to learn Chinese. So I do support you guys trying to focus on what we really should be doing. I gotta admit, though. It does seem risky and could backfire. Tread carefully. (Or should I say, un-thread carefully?)
Posted on: No TV Before Your Test!
July 10, 2009 at 10:56 PM@chiongzibide
What you said reminded me of something. Near the end of the Roman Empire, the actual Romans didn't want to fight anymore, so they paid foreigners to do it. Now in the West, we don't want to think tediously, so we pay foreigners to do math and all those "I don't want to do it" kind of stuff. It is obviously dangerous to hand over the weapons to foreigners. In the modern world, it is also obviously dangerous to hand over technical expertise to foreigners.
That being said, as an American, I say an American is an American. If Asian Americans are doing better academically than those of European ancestry, well kudos to them. (Just wanted to make clear I'm not getting racial here.)
On a highly related note, when I worked at a Shanghai university, I noticed that the best students at technical subjects were often not from Shanghai. I also have heard some people from Shanghai complain that Chinese from outside of Shanghai are stealing all their good jobs. It sounds all too familiar.
Posted on: No TV Before Your Test!
July 10, 2009 at 5:11 AMEdit - I think there are two extremes.
Proof of my poor study habits.
Posted on: No TV Before Your Test!
July 10, 2009 at 4:54 AMI think it is two extremes. Chinese children are packed with too much information that only a small part of which will ever be used. Western children often get a free ride but in the end can't even spell well. (I know I can't.) Overall though, I think too much is better than too little. I think we will realize that in the upcoming years because a day of reckoning is coming.
Still, we Westerners have some advantages. I had several jobs before I graduated from college. I have talked to countless Chinese students who never had a job until they were around 22 years old. Perhaps it's just my prejudice, but I think learning how to work is just as important as learning lots of stuff.
Posted on: Lao Wang's Office 12: A Dodgy Opportunity
July 10, 2009 at 12:36 AM@sebire
I think it is:
我和他一起工作。
Although, you can definitely get around it by saying:
他是我的同事。(He is my colleague.)
Posted on: Ordering Songs at Karaoke
July 10, 2009 at 12:22 AMI'm kind of surprised how many King Crimson fans there are here. Perhaps a lesson on said subject? The vocabulary on Fripp's guitar work would be insane. (haha, I really can't see it happening, but a funny thought.)
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 3-4
July 10, 2009 at 12:16 AMI think that some of you who are having trouble with knowing how to make a sound should not focus too much on placement of tongue, lips, teeth and so on. If you have trouble with a sound, just a) find a reference point to start with (i.e. ts in worts when trying to master the pinyin c sound), b) force yourself to listen to the sound and then c) do your best to copy it. At first it is hard for humans to distinguish sounds they aren't used to, but given time, hearing and speaking them should all fall into place without large instruction manuals and diagrams.
That's my two cents, but of course, whatever works for you.
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 3-4
July 9, 2009 at 3:58 AM@jobe
If you go here, you shall find a pdf that meets your requirements.
Posted on: Pinyin Sections 3-4
July 9, 2009 at 3:42 AMIt was precisely 2:06. If you aren't having problems, I will assume it is my browser.
Posted on: 沙漠寻踪四
July 13, 2009 at 2:29 PM我真希望我们不会发现它们麒麟人是误导的环境保护论者。它们应该百分之百邪恶，不要把环境保护论者的名声破坏了。
（不过，我还是喜欢这个系列。）