The Latest Mandarin Chinese Language Lessons
Excellent Materials for You to Learn Chinese Mandarin Language
Latest Lessons
Here is your change Elementary
Surely you never thought that having change could be so important. However, when you pull out one of the “hundred dollar bills” (not as much as it sounds), you just may be leaving without anything. In this podcast, you’ll learn how make sure you’ll be able to use your Mandarin Chinese to get all of your coin back… plus, we finally find out *why* Jenny loves chocolate so!
shopping
Standing in Line Intermediate
Back in the day it was one bus per hour, which explains the, erm, shall we say, “lack of formation” in that ticket queue. In this podcast you will obtain some cultural insight and learn a few stinging phrases in Mandarin Chinese to bring line etiquette to the attention of the offender. Would that relieve some of that stress? It’s Dr. C. Pod to the rescue.
money,
Vegetarian Eating Newbie
In a country known for its “Beijing Duck”, Inner “Mongolian Hot Pot” and “Pork Dumplings,” should you not be a carnivore, you’ll need to know how to say “vegetarian”–a lot vegetable dishes even have a smattering of meat. In this podcast, we help you learn how to explain in Mandarin Chinese that you don’t eat anything with a face.
health, food
Introducing Hotels Intermediate
With only a single letter difference between “hotel” and “hostel,” a lesson in Mandarin Chinese on where you lay that head of yours whilst on the road might come in handy, lest you find yourself trying to decide on where to use that spare change (snack machine or vibrating bed). In this podcast you will learn useful terms in Mandarin Chinese to aid you in finding a desirable (or less than, depending on your price range) place to stay.
travel, accommodation,
Cooking Pre Intermediate
How and where did “chow main” get its name? “Kung Pao” is a dish and not a (brilliant) film? Someone must have their mouth full of “kuaizi” and not the proper tones. However, not to worry…in this podcast Ken takes off the apron strings and Jenny puts down that ladle for a Mandarin Chinese lesson on cooking.
directions, food, ability
Exchanging Money Newbie
If you visit Shanghai, we expect a visit. Here’s all you have to do: 1. Take the Maglev magnetic train to Longyang Lu (50 yuan) 2. Take Subway Line 2 to People’s Square-change to Line 1 (4rmb) 3. Exit Huang Pi Nan Lu, take a taxi to Huangpi and Jianguo Lu …easy, right? You betcha--as long as you have 54 kuai. What? You forgot to exchange your money? To think that’s what kept you from meeting Rian the Intern. Tsk. Listen to this podcast to learn how to use your Mandarin Chinese to exchange that cash.
money, business
First Aid Upper Intermediate
With the popularity of the previous lesson on visiting the doc (a lot more popular than actually visiting the doc), we decided that a health-laden week was in order. In this podcast, Nurse John and Candy Striper Jenny teach you words in Mandarin Chinese about First Aid. Open up and say: ‘Mandarin on your terms’.
health
Going to the Doctor Elementary
A big house full of needles, beds with restraints and gloves that are lubed for a reason and you still think “winging it” at the hospital will get you by? For those less confident, it’s Dr. Ken and Nurse Jenny to the rescue, in a Mandarin Chinese lesson on visiting the man who didn’t attend eight years of medical school to be called “xiansheng”.
health, doctor, hospital, body
Girly Talk Intermediate
Combine Alicia Silverstone with Wang Faye and you will start to understand the crux of this podcast…oh yeah, and throw in a 6’4” laowai--now you understand. In this Mandarin Chinese lesson, John and Jenny dissect their Chinese sisters’ girl talk.
communications, culture
Finding a Seat Newbie
Ask anyone who’s braved an hour long subway ride at rush hour here and you’ll understand the need of finding, and securing (politely) a seat. In this podcast, we walk you through a Mandarin Chinese lesson on sitting down.
transportation, etiquette
He's boring Elementary
Hard as it is to believe, as we look out our window to people doing tai chi in pajamas and 6:00am ballroom dancing with perfect hair--there might be a few “dullards” in your life. In this far from boring podcast, we liven things up a bit and help you to talk about someone boring, using Mandarin Chinese. You’ll never be bored again.
people, etiquette
Bargaining Upper Intermediate
You’ll get here and pay 15 yuan for a DVD and wonder why people laugh when you tell them. We don’t want people laughing at you--thus the lesson of the art of the haggle. In this podcast learn some hard-core bargaining phrases in Mandarin Chinese.
clothes, shopping,
Allergies Newbie
Sure, some might think this a niche lesson, but consider the alternative: (In Mandarin) “To tell you the truth, doc, I’m not sure if it was my inability to be around cats, or my violent reaction to shellfish--I just can’t breathe.” …or you can simply follow along in this podcast, where you will learn how to use Mandarin Chinese to explain that you have allergies. Up to you.
health
Baby Talk: Your baby looks like you! Elementary
Explaining in another language that you “have your father’s eyes” is dangerous, seeing as a simple grammatical mistake could mean you actually took them from him…which won’t get you invited to stay in anyone’s home. We don’t want things to be hazardous for you--thus the lesson. Learn how to talk about which parent a baby looks like…however, any comments about us having our mother’s hips will result in a beating.
children, family
Where's the bathroom? Newbie
Despite our professional image (ahem) we confess to laughing like schoolgirls anytime someone attempts to act out this phrase. So, listen in to this podcast and get the education in the things you really need to know in Mandarin Chinese. If we didn’t teach you, who would?
location, directions, bathroom
Street Food Intermediate
While most “laowai” that live here might have trouble explaining the directions to the sidewalk vendors, you can bet they know the entire selection by heart. From morning buns to early morning kebabs (and other parts of a lamb should you ever brave Longfusi Lu in Beijing), a knowledge of a portable kitchen menu is a must. In this podcast, learn some of the names of these tasty treats in Mandarin Chinese, as well as get an introduction to the art of street-side dining.
food
Haircuts Elementary
Few things in life are certain: 1. Life 2. Death 3. A non-English speaking barber might struggle in getting that “feathered” look you’re after So, it’s John and Jenny to the rescue, in the wind-blown form of a lesson on “getting a do”. In this podcast learn how to communicate some essentials to your friendly neighborhood barber cutting right there on the sidewalk in Mandarin Chinese. ChinesePod--not afraid to wear ours up, and away from the face.
money, appearance
World Cup Football Upper Intermediate
To be honest, we have had this lesson ready to go for a month, and would like to say we timed it for the first week of Germany’s World Cup Football events--but it simply took 30-odd days to explain the sport to our North American staff. Nonetheless, for this podcast put on that foam finger and learn how to talk trash to the other countries teams’ fans in Mandarin Chinese.
sports, culture, geography, football
World Cup Football Terms Newbie
Despite the majority of our staff being passificus apatheticus when it comes to soccer football--we simply couldn’t ignore that World Cup thingy. In this podcast, Jenny, John and Aric teach “let’s go”, “great shot”, “REFEREE!!!”, and more, all in Mandarin Chinese. Now, if you’ll excuse us, there are some baseball reruns to catch.
sports