I like Chinese Sing Along....Wo Ai Zhongguo Ren....

I have always liked this video and oldy but a goody....I also wish I could learn more Chinese....but instead, I make excuses and spend my time doing this WoW Laolongwang

Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships Ends

Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships Ends

Following the announcement of the Commonwealth 2015-16 Budget, the Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships (ELTF) programme will come to an end July 2015 with no further scholarships offered for 2016 and beyond.

The Australian Government is ceasing funding for the Endeavour Language Teacher Fellowships (ELTF) from 2015-16. Scholarships will not be offered for January 2016 and beyond. This decision was announced in the 2015-16 Budget.

Should more Australian pupils be learning Mandarin?

Should more UK Australian pupils be learning Mandarin?

I was really inspired to see this news item about dedicated students learning Chinese in England. There wasn't anything really new or outstanding about a small group of  enthusiastic students learning Mandarin.  I am sure there may be a similar project in Oz, though I have never heard of one. 

It is a pity that the majority Australian parents and students do see language learning as important.  Still it is good to know that some people (like the students and teachers in the video) do see Chinese as important to the future.

What do you think?

Should more UK pupils be learning Mandarin?

Diablo III is sold as Big Pineapple 大菠萝 online in mainland China

Diablo III is sold as Big Pineapple 大菠萝 in China.

The Chinese Ministry of Culture hasn't approved the sale of Diablo III in mainland China. So online vendors are marketing Diablo III as 大菠萝 Dà bōluó.  I think this was a clever word play.

Be Happy 快乐

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #6

Wǒ de shǔxiàng shì lóng.
你 的 属相 是龙。
Nǐ shǔ shénme?
你  属      什么？  
Wǒ shǔ niú.
我   属   牛。 
My Chinese zodiac animal sign is the dragon.
What is your Chinese zodiac animal sign?
My Chinese zodiac sign is the ox.

让我们玩蛇和梯子吧。 Ràng wǒmen wán shé hé tīzi ba。

让我们玩蛇和梯子吧。 Ràng wǒmen wán shé hé tīzi ba。
走吧。 Zǒu ba。

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #5

Blogger Tags: 春节快到了, Chūnjié kuài dàole, Chinese New Year

太 惊 讶 了! tài jīnɡ yà le!

tài jīnɡ yà le!
太 惊 讶 了!

Great!

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #4

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #3

Blogger Tags: Chinese New Year, 春节快到了, Chūnjié kuài dàole

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #2

春节快到了 Chūnjié kuài dàole Chinese New Year is coming #1

Who has a “I will learn a second language” as a 2013 resolution?

I have never been one for setting resolutions at the beginning of a new year. However, many people do and I started to wonder about learning resolutions.

In particular Who is thinking;

“I will learn a second language” as a 2013 resolution?

Here in OZ we are living in a land of contradictions in regard to second language learning. I have been trying to make sense of it for over ten years and I am no wiser as to who, what, where, when and how Aussies should learn languages.

Learning languages is indeed a conundrum, an enigma that at present can not be solved.

Who

Who should learn a second language in Oz?

Well we all should be learn one (maybe two). This year we have had two policies state that children should learn a second language. Launched quite recently is the “Australia in the Asian Century” where we are told that all Australia children will be given an opportunity to learn an Asian language. The White Paper states Priority Asian languages include Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Indonesian and Japanese.This year the Australian Curriculum announced that Chinese Mandarin and Italian will be our educational focus. However in the future, curriculums will be developed for eleven foreign languages. 

What

Now we are getting into what languages should be taught and learnt. Here is a list (in no particular order);

• Chinese (Mandarin)
• Japanese
• Korean
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
• French
• German
• Spanish
• Arabic
• Modern Greek
• Vietnamese

Reasons behind these choices can be found here; Chinese, Italian lead new curriculum. So here we have some conflict. One hand we are told engage with Asia and at the same time we shall teach all these other languages (maybe more) too! The White Paper says one thing the Aussie Curriculum says another. Conflict conflict everywhere. One says focus on Asian languages the other says learn all the languages….the more the merrier.

Where

Where shall we learn languages? Well in schools of course. Haven’t you been paying attention. I am going to go out on a limb here. Australian Children make very poor language learners. A decade and a half or so ago I taught Japanese. It was the lingua franca in Ozzie schools. The language of choice. The Japanese economy was booming. We should all learn Japanese. Well I am now meeting the generation of students who were at school when this was the language fad. They can say hello in Japanese and maybe (maybe) count to ten.

On hearing that I was a Japanese language teacher I often hear the following story from some grinning baboon; 

“I learned Japanese when I was at school and I remember nothing”

…and am I supposed to be impressed?

All I hear is that students will be able to learn languages at school. They will be forced and there will be a lot of gnashing of teeth and pulling of hair because they have to learn language X.

Who (again)

I put it to you that perhaps our target audience language learners should be willing adults (young and old). I am happy for willing Children to learn language X too. I just think that willing receptive adults in Oz adults should be encouraged to learn languages. Our colleges, our night schools, our language clubs even our Universities should be given funding and resources to teach languages.

When

Now of course. We have had a decade aptly called by language teachers “The lost decade of languages” (perhaps they are the captain obvious language teachers). This lost decade has seen a decrease of funding and importance of languages in education. We hit the lowest point ever this year. The media proudly announced Lots of stats and facts of how we are the worst at learning teaching languages. Well perhaps that is over now. Perhaps…

Why

Why well we need captain obvious again here. China will  soon be a world superpower. Enough said.

How

I still see our Oz media telling everyone engage with Asia learn a language (preferably Asian). I don’t see many schools teaching Chinese Mandarin. I do see a lot of schools clinging to Japanese.  I don’t see Australian governments throwing money at languages (yet).  I don’t see community groups and night schools (except small groups in the major cities) springing up to teach Chinese.  I don’t see our TAFEs (colleges) and Universities founding, encouraging and pushing language studies. I don’t see our libraries filling their shelves with learn language X books.  There is still a lot of talk about learning languages there is very little action. There is no price tag (except in the most negative and detrimental) way attached to our “Learn a Language.” push.

So back to my original question. Who will set “I will learn a second language (preferably Asian) in 2013” as a new years resolution? Almost no one. 

“To Get a Job in the 21st Century, Learn Chinese.”

 

Sound Advice from the U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. Speaking to a group of Chinese Mandarin learning students from New York Secondary Schools, He recommended to them

“To Get a Job in the 21st Century, Learn Chinese.”

Other advice to the students included;

• "[In the 21st century], learn about history. Learn about culture, and language," he advised. "If you can speak Chinese or Spanish, you are practically guaranteed a job in your chosen field."
• "The thing to understand," he told the students, "is that you have many possibilities throughout your life."
• "Get a good education.
• "you'll be set for life."

Inspired? Read more here;

Gary Locke Advises Students: To Get a Job in 21st Century, Learn Chinese

New Years resolution上天入地 shàng tiān rù dì - To go up to heaven or down to Hades

 

上天入地 shàng tiān rù dì

Literally to go up to heaven or down to Hades

Figuratively whichever way, I don't care / to decide to go ahead without foreboding.

As good as any news years resolution…..

上天入地 shàng tiān rù dì sing along.

Face The Challenge of Learning Chinese outside of China

 

I like many Chinese language learners face the challenge of learning Chinese outside of China. So I believe that to make Chinese part ‘real life’ or daily life has considerable challenges. February will be a major milestone for me, as I shall be a third year (final year) Chinese language student at my university.

It may help other Chinese language learners  if I share my list of many of the things that I have done in the past two years.

• Use technology where possible to aid or enhance the learning experience. Use Android and iPad / iPhone Apps, online dictionaries, online flashcards, etcetera.
• Learn something new every day. For example; a new grammar or sentence pattern, a short vocabulary list, new hanzi (there is always something that needs to be learned to progress)
• Make opportunities to try even the most basic Chinese. Join Chinese social networking sites. Live Mocha, Facebook, Google+ (many Chinese language learning and teaching groups are around).  Seeking like-minded learners to help makes you feel part of something.
• Get a teacher for one on one lesson. Skype allows you to have lessons at home at a time convenient to you. Shops around prices vary considerably.
• Use low tech too. Print flashcards, hang posters, print out and fill grids with hanzi, test yourself.
• Practice daily - a little bit of Chinese even 10 minutes a day is better than none that day.  Such is the way of second language acquisition.
• Seek opportunities for some study in China. I was lucky enough to find a course of Chinese (Diploma of Modern Languages) sponsored by the Oz Government. This year I was lucky to find an intensive study tour ELTF (also sponsored by the Oz government. Depending on who you are and how old you are Hanban and your local Confucius Institute (these are actually the same thing) also have sponsorship and scholarships for the serious Chinese learner.
• For those of you in major cities look for night schools and local community groups studying Chinese. If one doesn’t exist start one.
• Enrol in a formal course at University. People in Oz have a choice of two (maybe three) Uni’s offering online / off campus courses and degrees. I also know this is possible through the UK’s Open Learning. In my search I also found something from New Zealand and South African Universities.
• Watch and monitor your level of motivation.  If you feel it is ‘all too hard’ contact your support group. Perhaps review your study habits. Even review your goals.
• Set a very realistic goal. I will learn X amount of Chinese this week, this month, this year, this decade (for those in the long haul).
• Make learning Chinese a habit. A set time every day is better than leaving it to chance.

I could keep going with this list. However, I think I should stop. I could go on. Less is more.

If you want clarification or more do contact me.

I wish you all the very best for you Chinese studies of 2013.

乔纳森 AKA 老龙王

圣诞快乐 Merry Christmas in Chinese

How do Chinese celebrate Christmas?  I am glad you asked. Above is a video from Peggy (from Peggy teaches Chinese).

Some Christmas Vocabulary for you.

圣诞节 Shèngdàn jié

圣诞节快乐 Shèngdàn jié kuàilè

圣诞快乐 Shèngdàn kuàilè

圣诞夜 Shèngdàn yè

圣诞晚餐 Shèngdàn wǎncān

圣诞树 Shèngdànshù

圣诞礼物 Shèngdàn lǐwù

圣诞老人 Shèngdàn lǎorén

圣诞卡 Shèngdànkǎ

Christmas
Happy Christmas
Happy Christmas
Christmas Eve
Christmas Dinner
Christmas tree
Christmas gifts
Santa Claus
Christmas cards

Thanks Peggy for this list.

 

How to Say Merry Christmas in Chinese ?

祝你圣诞快乐 zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè I Wish You Happy Christmas

圣诞节快乐 Shèngdàn jié kuàilè Happy Christmas

一 只 小 鸟 告 诉 过 我是 你 的 生 日 。A little bird told me it was your birthday.

 

yì zhī xiǎo niǎo ɡào su ɡuò wǒ shì nǐ de shēnɡ rì.

一 只 小 鸟 告 诉 过 我是 你 的 生 日 。

A little bird told me it was your birthday.

 

wǒ chī le tā ！

 

我 吃 了 他 ！

 

I ate him!

Set of Flash cards NPCR 3 Lesson 34

 

I just created a set of Quizlet Flash cards for NPCR 3 Lesson 34