The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
The Doggy Bag Elementary
Oh sure – you come over with a good 6 inches on the average Chinese person, thinking that half-a-foot will make you the leader in FAT (Food Acquisition Tolerance), but that egg you’re eyeing is about to be on your face. They can put it away; you can’t. So either concede culinary conquest, or hide behind that doggy bag. You don’t know how to ask for one in Mandarin? We do. Listen to this podcast to learn how.
food
古怪食物 Advanced
一桌子的食物摆在你的面前，有穿山甲、猫头鹰、猫、天鹅、娃娃鱼、蛇、蜥蜴等等，你会怀疑是不是来到动物园了吗？这些可爱的动物们有时会被人们搬上餐桌成为“盘中餐”。以前广东人就特别爱好办这样的“动物大会”。如今，动物保护法让他们的饮食习惯发生了很大的变化。今天我们走进的是古怪食物的世界，一起来说说各自对吃野味的看法。
diet, ethics, Chinese medicine
Views on the News Upper Intermediate
“CCTV” is all the news here – not the “When Russell Crowe Goes Bad” type of CCTV, but the actual conglomerate of news stations. If you live here, you’ll learn to love it… well, most of it (read: Dashan adverts). So how about a newsworthy lesson in Mandarin Chinese on viewing habits? In this podcast, you’ll learn to talk about the tube, as well as learn how to talk about some current events in Mandarin Chinese.
news
How embarrassing! Elementary
Yes – we’ve prepared you for the language side of things, but there are some situations that just can’t be prepared for (see: using an “Eastern toilet” in a cocktail dress). So perhaps being able to react appropriately would at least slow down that rush of red to your cheeks? In this podcast, we’ll aid you in admitting embarrassment in Mandarin Chiense.
food, feelings
No, thank you! Newbie
Any stroll down Wangfujing or Nanjing Lu will tell you the shops aren’t the only ones selling. Constant “hallo!’s” tailed with “bag?” “watch?” and “DVD?” will follow you no matter what you do to escape. So, either learn how to walk faster, master the “laowai lookaway,” or simply find a brilliant podcast that will teach you “no, thank you”, in Mandarin Chinese.
shopping
Cooking Wings Intermediate
Granted, it goes against everything we stand for (at least the Southern boy Granted, it goes against everything we stand for (at least the Southern boy who writes these), but in today’s oh-so-spicy podcast, we fire up the grammar grill and invite you to sit down, have a cold “pijiu” and join us as we give you a step-by-step lesson in Mandarin Chinese on how to cook wings – Chinese style.
food
Too expensive! Newbie
We know you would *never* lower yourself to buying a “Rolax” here and passing it off as an original for someone’s birthday, but we’re sure that “friend of yours” will. So how to politely suggest that the opening bid might be a bit out of your range? A lesson on acting incensed by the price could save you a few “jiao.” In this podcast, learn how to tell someone “it’s too expensive” in Mandarin Chinese.
shopping, numbers
Pets Elementary
Granted, most dogs here look like they chase parked cars, but that doesn’t stop them from being a part of the family. In this podcast, learn how to talk to fellow pet-lovers about your pet, in Mandarin Chinese. Explaining to them that dogs actually *don’t* make the sound “wang-wang” is up to you.
animals
Discussing Photography Upper Intermediate
While it might come as a shock to you that “bunny ears” are not considered “photographically sound,” we’re sure that your composition and lighting are spot on. So, let’s see you follow a Mandarin lesson on the basic rules of the lens. In this podcast, learn to talk about the techniques and art of photography, using Mandarin Chinese. (Any photoshopping of John’s head to make it seem bigger than his body will result in water torture)
photography
What is this called? Newbie
Not that you’d ever find yourself in a position to identify what something is (this said we we’re still recovering from the “calf brain” we unknowingly tried last weekend), but should you wish to identify before ingesting, you might (burp) benefit from a lesson on asking what something is. In this podcast, learn how to ask what something is in Mandarin Chinese.
questions
Skincare: Sunscreen Elementary
Fact: Should you ever get away to the gorgeous town of Qingdao, you might be amazed at how many people aren’t on the beach during the day. Tan is most certainly *not* the new black here (read: umbrellas held while cycling). So, in this podcast, learn how to ask for sunscreen, using Mandarin Chinese.
weather, shopping
Teaching English in China Intermediate
Ken’s done it. John’s done it. Jenny still does it. (Aric padded his C.V. to make it look like he did it). You might do it. Any guesses? (Besides modeling, of course). It would be the world of English teaching--and a conversation that you will find yourself in. In this podcast, you will learn lots of useful vocabulary about English teaching jobs in China, except that you will be talking about it in Mandarin Chinese.
education, jobs
I'm here for an interview Newbie
You walk in, use your previously learned ChinesePod lessons to give the secretary your name and a quick “ni hao.” She does the same. What comes next? Most would think a reason for being there, but unless you thrive on those uncomfortable international moments (see: lesson on “Where is the Toilet Paper”), pay attention to this podcast, wherein you will learn how to tell someone that you’ve arrived for an interview, using Mandarin Chinese.
business, introductions, greetings
Traditional Residences Upper Intermediate
In the north, you’ll find yourself in a maze of “hutongs.” In Shanghai it’s the “longtang.” In this podcast, we’ll open the regional door and lead you through the ChinesePod courtyard in a tale of two city abodes. You will learn about the styles of housing and streets in old China, and how to talk about them using Mandarin Chinese
history, location, culture