The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Do you have...? Newbie
In the hierarchy of language learning, there are the 'haves' and the 'havenots.' The 'haves' are those that know how to ask for something. The 'havenot' is that guy over there wildly gesturing, grunting, pointing and flailing at the laoban. In China, of course, as a 'have', you may find you can't always get what you want; but if you try you can get what you need... by listening to this Mandarin lesson.
food, shopping, beer
Superstitions and Business Trip Tales Dear Amber
From innocuous looking white flowers to foreboding clocks, in this week's Dear Amber we discuss some of the many Chinese superstitions. Learn how to stay lucky while you're here. Plus our poddie Walt Olson (a.k.a. "wolson") came in and regaled us with some of his interesting stories from business trips to the far flung corners of China. Listen in and come visit us in the comments section to share your experiences as well.
#44 Movie Madness
Boxes, guns, and angry people. A short clip it is not, but that gives you all the more clues to what this movie gone Mandarin could be. If you guess correct, you get a free month of premium access to ChinesePod. So get your guess in to either Amber of Clay, and best of luck to you.
Yang Jie's Diary: The Final Episode Elementary
All good stories have to come to an end, including the saga of our friend Yang Jie. She kinda got sick of writing, as diary-keepers usually do. Plus, we were starting to feel like creeps, slinking into her room every night to sneak a peek. In this podcast, find out how things turn out for Yang Jie and co-stars. How do you say in Chinese: "She's not that into you..."
feelings, relationships
Train to Beijing Intermediate
There is no greater social environment than a crowded Chinese train. You may think you're the shy sort, but after the first 24 hours with 36 to go, you'll be grateful for the five watermelon seed-cracking drinking buddy card players lounging with you on your bed. In this podcast, learn how to get your ticket, hop on, and hole up with your new-found friends for the journey. Invest in some baijiu--a one way ticket to party central berth.
transportation, tickets
Ending Your Sentence with 吧 (ba) Qing Wen
Ma, Ba, De, Ne, Do-Re-Mi-Fa-So-La-Ti-Do.... What in the world are the little guys at the end of sentences I'm always hearing on Cpod dialogs? Well, it's not easy changing the your tone of voice like we can in English. You don't want to call your mom a horse by accident. So you have to add something to alter your "tone". These sentence enders can help you do the trick. We bring you 吧 (ba) this week, with more to come in the weeks ahead.
He's Not In Newbie
You've arrived, and want to fit in, so start with the national Chinese pastime: cell phone talking (well, it's better than taking up smoking). First, you're going to need a partner in conversation, so pull out one of those linty business cards you shoved in your pocket days ago, any one will do. If you can't read it, no problem, chances are his name is Mr. Li. Now, plug in this lesson and you're set... pick up the phone and pray he's not in.
business, home and office, greetings
Detroit Intermediate
Take a ride with ChinesePod on the Freeway of Love to Detroit, Michigan. We get to Motown, the Motor City, the 3-1-3. Though we're slightly apprehensive due to drive-by shooting cliches, we hang in there practicing our tones to stay calm as we drive though Greek Town and past Joe Louis' arm. Now, you may be on Nanjing Road or 8-Mile Road. Either way, this is the lesson for you. Learn in Mandarin about a place far, far away from your dumplings and rice... Detroit.
location, music, town and city
Tomb Sweeping Day Elementary
Today is Tomb Sweeping Day. The special day of paying respect to ancestors, lighting incense, making burnt offerings, and, like any self-respecting Chinese holiday... lighting off firecrackers. The holiday also favored by those with money to burn. So open up your wallet, light up your money, and listen to this podcast to learn more in Mandarin about the traditions of tomb sweeping.
culture, family, holidays
Chinese Parks and Working as a Tutor Dear Amber
Spurred on by the Spring that keeps tempting us but refusing to arrive, today on Dear Amber we enjoy the fun of a day out at a Chinese park. Relaxing--maybe not... Never a dull moment--definitely! You'll never think of a park in the same way again. Plus, we give some tips on how to find tutoring jobs in China, for those of us considering earning a little coin on the side here in the Middle Kingdom. Don't forget to visit the comments section and share your experiences, as well!
Can you Speak Chinese? Newbie
Answering the question "Can you speak Chinese?" in the affirmative is always a proud moment. Perhaps, yes, literally, one moment. Let's call the inevitable next moment, with its subsequent barrage of language, ear assault. But hey, you're already ahead of the game because you have this podcast to learn the art of how to keep the Mandarin flowing, and you have and will perfect the invaluable fake 'i understand' head nod.
ability, language
Saved by the Gong: Math class Upper Intermediate
You thought the abacus was some sort of Chinese percussion instrument and that the guy in the market sign-languaging you number signals was challenging you to a game of rock, scissors, paper. You didn't take math in China, and you're gonna keep getting outnumbered till you can keep up. In this podcast, get back to remedial class and accomplish the feat of relearning all those math formulas you can't even remember in English.
Saved by the Gong Series, numbers, studies
April Fool's Elementary
Being a new language student, everyday can feel like Fool's Day, so think of today as a day to celebrate fools. Take your turn laughing at someone else. Pull the worst fool-causing prank you can, and spend the next year reliving it during those moments of Mandarin learning mortification. In this podcast, we help, with the ole not-so-original but oh-so-easy-to-pull-off Chinese 'hot-sauce-in-your-food' prank.
celebrations
You Must Listen to this Episode - 非...不可 (fēi...bù kě) Qing Wen
In line with this sentence pattern, 非...不可 (fēi...bù kě), Clay and Amber made a pre-QW recording truce to absolutely certainly at any cost not degenerate once again into their familiar dysfunctional banter patterns. But, alas, old patterns die hard... and not just sentence patterns. All in the name of learning. Listen in and learn how to express certainty beyond all certainty, in Chinese!
Scandal in the Pageant Intermediate
Back on the beat of the Blogger's Beauty Pageant and the Edison Chen story is looking more and more banal by the day. This time, ironically, it may be the internet that brings our techie contestant down. Listen to this podcast and follow along in the drama of photoshopped pictures and the seedy underworld of typing for a living, in Mandarin.
news, relationships, Beauty Pageant Series
Are You Tired? Newbie
Discovering these 800-plus podcast lessons, likely you've been up for days, listening. You're not tired yet, due to the language-learning high that doesn't wear off until after lesson 452. However, a language full of sh's has been known to produce a trance-like sleepy state. The cure: just turn up the volume and let this podcast wake you up. Learn how to talk tired, in Chinese.
feelings, people
Online Shopping Upper Intermediate
Having enough stores to service 1.3 billion people is one thing, having same 1.3 billion people crammed in a frenzied mall on a Saturday afternoon leads to other logistical challenges. Solution? Whether you want to buy a used wedding dress, a kidney, or Britney's gum for $263 American dollars, learn how to shop online in Mandarin. In this podcast, buy low sell high and enjoy the quietude of Chinese internet shopping.
internet, shopping, business