U.S. - China People-To-People Exchange

Meanwhile in America...

"The United States government is now sending more students to study in China than to any other country and welcomes more Chinese students who want to study in the United States."

"...enhancing ties between American and Chinese people at the annual U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange, which focuses on exchanges in education, science and technology, sports, culture and women’s issues."

"The 100,000 Strong Initiative, which seeks to increase the number and diversity of Americans studying in China, has received pledges of over $15 million from private donors since its inception in 2010."

U.S. - China People-To-People Exchange

U.S. - China People-To-People Exchange

Chinese lesson Australians must learn

Found this article which outlines some of the cultural ways of doing business with Chinese.  Chinese lesson Australians must learn

Highlights from the article;

"...in China, “yes” does not necessarily mean yes, contracts aren’t always binding and sharing a meal and booze with your Chinese counterpart doesn’t make you his best new mate."

"There is more to business in China than just dollars and cents."

"Relationships are key in China, but it takes time to build trust."

"“Confucianism puts emphasis on guanxi,” says Chen. “To maintain a good relationship is important to work efficiently in China."

From The Australian Financial Review - ROBERT GUY



Chinese lesson Australians must learn

I Do Whatever The Voices In My Head Tell Me To Do...

Learning a new skill? Talk to yourself about it

This interested me. Have heard that positive self talk is good for boosting confidence. Recent research shows that self talk may assist in in learning new skills.

"American magazine Time reports that instructional self-talk can enhance our attention, helps us regulate our effort and make decisions about what to do and how to do it..."

"Exercise Psychology finds that "self-talk" works best when you think about the goal for yourself and then make a mental plan for how to get there."

"While self-talking aloud may seem a bit crazy, it can also have benefits."
For my language learning I think I have been doing this for years...


Learning a new skill? Talk to yourself about it

MP Urges Schools To Teach Chinese

Meanwhile in New Zealand 

MP Urges Schools To Teach Chinese.

Quotes from the article.

"...schools need to "look to the future" and offer courses in Chinese as a way of boosting trade with China..."

"It is out of step that Nelson, with such a strong exporting and visitor industry, is not looking to the future and investing in Chinese language skills,"

"The economic benefit is that it [promotes] creativity and problem-solving. All those brain features are massively advantaged if you've learnt a second language."

"We have tried to promote the language and the culture through initiatives with the Confucius Society. The benefits and potential opportunities seem obvious, but parents and students seem reluctant to embrace the language."

"If we could encourage 20 students, even across a range of year levels, we would run the programme tomorrow."

Read more -->  MP Urges Schools To Teach Chinese

As I prepare for my looming CHIN201 exam...

Dropbox

As I prepare for my looming CHIN201 exam I am using every moment of my time to prepare. Something that is helping me a great deal is a free app called Dropbox. This is helping me automatically sync my flashcards, study notes, books, audio, video and other Chinese resources. It is able to sync between my home and work. It is also syncing all my files between my computer, iPod and iPad. If you sign up and install Dropbox you have 2GB of free online storage. So as long as I have placed things in my Dropbox folder I have access to my study material. I think this has helped me a great deal as I have no excuse not to study. 

Have a look at Dropbox.

我每天使用Dropbox的。

Wǒ měi tiān shǐyòng Dropbox de.

Try Dropbox

Dropbox

泥娃娃 ní​wá​wa​ Clay Doll

泥娃娃 
ní​wá​wa​
Clay Doll

泥 娃 娃 ， 泥 娃 娃
ní wá wá ， ní wá wá
Doll of Clay, Doll of Clay

一 个 泥 娃 娃
yī gè ní wá wá
A Doll of Clay

也 有 那 眉 毛
yě yǒu nà méi máo
She has eyebrows

也 有 那 眼 睛
yě yǒu nà yǎn jīng
She has eyes

眼 睛 不 会 眨
yǎn jīng bú huì zhǎ
but eyes that cant wink

泥 娃 娃 ， 泥 娃 娃
ní wá wá ， ní wá wá
Doll of Clay, Doll of Clay

一 个 泥 娃 娃
yī gè ní wá wá
A Doll of Clay

也 有 那 鼻 子
yě yǒu nà bí zǐ
She has a nose

也 有 那 嘴 巴
yě yǒu nà zuǐ bā
She has a mouth

嘴 巴 不 说 话
zuǐ bā bú shuō huà
But mouth cannot speak

她 是 个 假 娃 娃
tā shì gè jiǎ wá wá
She's a fake baby

不 是 个 真 娃 娃
bú shì gè zhēn wá wá
Is not a real baby

她 没 有 亲 爱 的 爸 爸
tā méi yǒu qīn ài de bà ba
She doesn't have a dear dad

也 没 有 妈 妈
yě méi yǒu mā ma
There is no mum

泥 娃 娃 ， 泥 娃 娃
ní wá wá ， ní wá wá
Doll of Clay, Doll of Clay

一 个 泥 娃 娃
yī gè ní wá wá
A Doll of Clay

我 做 她 爸 爸
wǒ zuò tā bà ba
I'm her dad

我 做 她 妈 妈
wǒ zuò tā mā ma
i'm her mum

永 远 爱 着 她
yǒng yuǎn ài zhe tā
love her forever

| Repeat from start|

Free CML Blank Hanzi Worksheet

Free CML Blank Hanzi Worksheet

Free CML Blank Hanzi Worksheet

Free Chinese Lessons, Learn to Speak Chinese

Found this excellent resource for learning. Topic based practical lessons. Definitely worth a look.

Chinese Learner  Learn Mandarin Chinese  Online Free

Basic Chinese Expressions 36 lessons with audio

LEARN CHINESE: SPEAKING CHINESE 20 Lessons with audio files

Everyday Chinese 144 Lessons

LEARN CHINESE: CHINESE GRAMMAR

汉语语法入门 An Introduction to Chinese Grammar

Grammar 中文笔记 - 语法:

汉语语法入门 An Introduction to Chinese Grammar

Found this grammar guide in Chinese Notes. It is an excellent resource.

目录 Contents

1. 导言 Introduction
2. 词类 Parts of Speech
   1. 名词 Nouns
   2. 形容词 Adjectives
   3. 动词 Verbs
   4. 助动词 Auxiliary Verbs
   5. 代词 Pronouns
   6. 数词 Numerals
   7. 量词 Measure Words
   8. 副词 Adverbs
   9. 介词 Prepositions
   10. 连词 Conjunctions
   11. 助词 Particles
   12. 叹词 Interjections
   13. 象声词 Onomatopes
3. 词组 Phrases
   1. 主谓词组 Subject-Predicate Phrases
   2. 动宾词组 Verb-Object Phrases
   3. 联合词组 Coordinative Phrases
   4. 偏正词组 Endocentric Phrases
   5. 数量词组 Numeral-Measure Word Phrases
   6. 补充词组 Complementary Phrases
   7. 方位词组 Phrases of Locality
   8. 同位词组 Appositive Phrases
   9. 固定词组 Set Phrases
   10. 介词结构 Prepositional Phrases
   • 常见介词结构 Common Prepositional Patterns
   11. “的”字结构 的 Phrases
4. 句子成分 Sentence Elements
   1. 主语 The Subject
   2. 谓语 The Predicate
   3. 宾语 The Object
   4. 状语 Adverbial Adjuncts
   5. 补语 Complements
   6. 定语 The Attributive
5. 单句 Simple Sentences
   1. 动词谓语句 Sentences with a Verbal Predicate
   2. 形容词谓语句 Sentences with an Adjectival Predicate
   3. 名词谓语句 Sentences with a Nominal Predicate
   4. 主谓谓语句 Sentences with a Subject-Predicate Phrase as the Predicate
   5. 无主句 Subjectless Sentences
   6. 独语句 One Word Sentences
   7. 简略句 Elliptical Sentences
6. 句子用途 Sentence Use
   1. 陈述句 Declarative Sentences
   2. 疑问句 Interrogative Sentences
   3. 祈使句 Imperative Sentences
   4. 感叹句 Exclamatory Sentences
7. 动作的状态 Aspects of an Action
   1. 动作的进行 The Progressive Aspect of an Action
   2. 动作的持续 The Continuous Aspect of an Action
   3. 动作的完成 The Perfect Aspect of an Action
   4. 将来的动作 Future Actions
   5. 过去的动作 Past Actions
8. 用特殊动词谓语的句子 Sentences using Special Verbal Predicates
   1. “是”字句 是 Sentences
   2. “有”字句 有 Sentences
   3. “被”字句 被 Sentences
   4. “把”字句 把 Sentences
   5. 存现句 Existential Sentences
   6. 兼语句 Pivotal Sentences
   7. 连动句 Sentences with Verb Constructions in Series
9. 复句 Complex Sentences
   1. 并列复句 Coordinate Complex Sentences
   2. 偏正复句 Subordinate Complex Sentences
10. 表示比较 Expressing Comparison
    1. 用“比”表示比较 Using 比 to Express Comparison
    2. 用“跟”表示比较 Using 跟 to Express Comparison
    3. 用“象”表示比较 Using 象 to Express Comparison
11. 词汇 Vocabulary
12. 参考文献 References

新实用汉语课本 New Practical Chinese Reader 3

I have just started a new text book 新实用汉语课本 New Practical Chinese Reader 3. This is a sort of milestone in my learning. I think this is the last in the series that my University uses. Having started learning the first lesson there doesn't seem to be the sudden rise in difficulty that I found between the first and second text. Perhaps I have just become used to the methodology in the texts.



New Practical Chinese Reader: Textbook Vol.3

I really have only one crtiticism of these series of text books. I think that sometimes the books are not very practical. Vocabulary and conversations in the set text about Beijing opera, Shaoxing opera and classical novels I personally do not find very practical. I suppose that last sentence makes me sound like a Philistine, however I do not think I will have many opportunities to use 红楼梦 Dream of the Red Chamber (first completed edition 1791) by Cao Xueqin, one of the four great novels. Despite this the text is mostly practical and challenging enough to make learning Chinese interesting.

School pupils could be taught a second language from primary one in Scotland

Meanwhile in Scotland

The Scottish Government will now explore opportunities for all young people to start learning a second language from primary one.



BBC News - Call to teach second language in Scots schools

Four-year-olds to start learning two foreign languages


School pupils could be taught a second language from primary

It's never too late... monolingualism is easy to cure!

Network for multilingualism and linguistic diversity in Europe

Bilingualism Across the U.S. - Best Colleges Online

Bilingualism Across the U.S. - Best Colleges Online

This was recently sent to me by a blog reader.

I like this infographic. The overall benefits of bilingualism is interesting.


Via: BestCollegesOnline.com

The Coalition's Plan to Revive Foreign Language Study > Tony Abbott

The Coalition's Plan to Revive Foreign Language Study - Tony Abbott:

"The Coalition's Plan to Revive Foreign Language Study"

More details on this now controversial plan. Facts from the article include;

• foreign languages in schools has long been in decline
• China is Australia's biggest trading partner
• only 300 students not of Chinese heritage study Chinese in Australian schools
• Japan is Australia's second biggest trading partner
• 21% decline of students studying Japanese since 2001
• Indonesia a vital partner, but there is a danger of Indonesia will disappear from Year 12 studies in four years time
• Korea is our third largest trading partner. The study of Korean has all but disappeared from Australian schools

The Coalition Government (if elected) will reverse this trend and revive the teaching of languages in Australian schools.  This is a big election promise. Already there is a great deal of discussion about this.  

It was the Howard government that dismantled Australia's successful National Asian Languages and Studies in Australian Schools program in 2002, eight years into its 12-year cycle. That program had seen a doubling in the number studying Asian languages. When the program ended, the subjects suffered..

On the road to China, no Damascus conversion

Rudd took to Twitter to try to embarrass Abbott for an apparently abrupt conversion to the cause of Asian languages.

I wonder what the Government's response this promise will be?

Langauge expertise isn't there in Australia

"AUSTRALIA doesn't have the expertise to fulfil Tony Abbott's grand plan to have 40 per cent of students studying a foreign language in 10 years.
Thousands of teachers may have to return to university to get qualifications necessary to teach a second language, costing the nation millions."

Well this is an alarmist report adding fuel to the languages in school debate.  There are already at least two programs for teachers to gain accreditation and qualifications to teach Chinese.

Langauge expertise isn't there in Australia

It's adieu to the French language at schools as experts advise a shift of focus from European languages

Actually it was adieu (or au revoir) to French in the 1970s in Australia.  During the 1970s Indonesian was the popular language learned in schools. During the 1980s and 1990s it was selamat tinggal to Bahasa Indonesia and konnichiwa to Japanese. Japanese (and other LOTEs) was supported and funded until 2002 when most funding from the federal and state governments was discontinued. Languages have been largely unfunded and unimportant for many schools for a decade.The past decade  has seen a rapid decline in LOTE learning in schools and universities.

So the leader of the opposition has made an election promise.  To return languages to the curriculum. Quotes from the article include;

"Mr Abbott would focus on languages of key regional partners like China, Japan, South Korea and India (see the story at right).

 UNSW school of education Professor Chris Davison said anyone considering a career in business would have a competitive edge by being fluent in Mandarin, the most widely spoken language in the world."

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (Modern Grammars)

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (Modern Grammars)

As my Uni. exam approaches I am using this grammar book to study many of the new sentence patterns and structures. It is one of the many reference books that I use. I really find this book useful as a supplement to my set text book and Uni. resources.  

Preschoolers to learn second language under Tony Abbott and the Coalition | The Courier-Mail

I will believe this when I see it. Some big pre-election promises from our opposition government.

• Plan for every preschool child to learn a foreign language
• 40 per cent of Year 12 students to study second language

However there are no specifics of how this will be done. 

The rest of the article is the rehash of the current 'doom and gloom' of the current state of our language learning across Australia. 

Read more here --> Preschoolers to learn second language under Tony Abbott and the Coalition

Another article, which quotes language experts, reports that;

• $2bn needed to achieve Abbott’s language vision
• Language experts have applauded Opposition Leader Tony Abbott’s pledge 
• Mr Abbott vowed to increase the number of Year 12 students studying a language other than English to 40% 
• Mr Abbott said he would also promote Asian languages from pre-school in a bid to improve the opportunities of Australians in the region 
• “His aspiration to have "40% of high school students learning another language” is absolutely achievable

$2bn needed to achieve Abbott’s language vision

Difficult Chinese

Difficult Chinese

Three sites discussing the difficulty of learning Chinese. This is probably something I should not be reading right now. In one month I will have my CHIN201 exam.  My Uni. has switched to trimesters. One of the changes is that there is no 'study week', the semester ends and exams begin. So the pressure is on to 天天学中文。(study Chinese daily).

For the time being I shall not concern myself with how difficult learning Chinese is or is not.

How difficult is Chinese?

Why Chinese Is So Damn Hard
How difficult is it to learn Chinese?

Why Languages Can Make Us Smarter, Safer, and Better Looking - Global Learning - Education Week

Some important issues are discussed in the Why Languages Can Make Us Smarter, Safer, and Better Looking  from Global Learning blog.

There are two basic arguments for second language learning;


One; learning a language is good for national security and economic competitiveness (this argument is a good one for politicians and business leaders)

"this can make our nation stronger"

Two; learning a language  is good for cognitive and cultural benefits (good for those in the arts and education business and parents)

"this can make my kid smarter"

Both arguments have received media attention in the USA. There seems to be much recent research about learning the language in the early years of school (the earlier the better). It is believed that starting language learning in middle school and high school is too late and not so beneficial. 

Read more details here;  Why Languages Can Make Us Smarter, Safer, and Better Looking 

Chinese Songs for Learning Mandarin

Chinese Songs for Learning Mandarin

For learning Chinese vocabulary singing songs is an excellent method. It is not really my prefered method for learning language. However, some of my fellow students really enjoy doing this. These sites will have a variety of popular and traditional songs.




Sing Chinese Songs - Listen to Chinese music and learn Chinese with famous Chinese songs

Chinese Songs - Chinese Tools.com

English and Chinese Conversation Topics

Found this practical list of sentences on 一步一个脚印 (One step at a time) blog.

100 English and Chinese Conversation Topics (with Pinyin) 


'via Blog this'

Chinese language learning in Ireland and Indonesia

Meanwhile in Ireland

"A growing number of Irish school students are expected to learn about Chinese culture and language as a result of a new programme that has been developed for Transition Year students."

New Transition Year course in Chinese culture and language 

Chinese culture and language course for Transition Year students

Chinese class will spread to 50 schools
Meanwhile in Indonesia

"Indonesians are going mad for Mandarin in record numbers as they look to give their careers a boost by taking advantage of China’s growing economic influence and its improved ties..."

Chinese language is playing a significant role in building business relations not only between the two nations (China and Indonesia), but also among business around Asia.

Chinese Challenge: More Indonesians Learning Mandarin

'via Blog this'

Being bilingual 'boosts brain power'

Interesting news about a study about bilingual and monolingual brains.

Extracts from the articles include;

• ...bilingualism is a form of brain training - a mental "work out" that fine-tunes the mind. 
• ...against a backdrop of noisy chatter, the bilingual group were far superior at processing sounds. 
• It seems that the benefits of bilingualism are particularly powerful and broad, and include attention, inhibition and encoding of sound. 
• Past research has also suggested that being bilingual might help ward off dementia.
• ...those who were fluent in two languages rather than just one were sharper mentally. 
• being able to speak, listen, and think in two languages and of using two languages on a daily basis appears to sharpen people's abilities to pay close attention to aspects of tasks relevant to good performance.
• It appears...that bilingualism helps to offset age-related losses.

Read more here

BBC News - Being bilingual 'boosts brain power'
BBC News - Research to find effects on brain of bilingualism
Being bilingual 'protects brain'


'via Blog this'