8 Useful Phrases for American Retailers

This is very clever.  I found it originally posted on Magnus and Mingxin's board on Pinterest.


It is the creation of Dim Sum Warriors who write a bilingual app. The aim of the app is to help English and Mandarin learners in a way that is innovative, effective and fun. Looks like an excellent idea. 

Read a Comic, Learn a Language

Speak the Language fast track ways to become a Polyglot

Speak the Language


Here is something interesting from a polyglot called Andrew Eli. Speaks Russian, Kazakh, French and Chinese.  He has some sound advice for language learners.

"Follow these easy steps to get on the fast track to Polyglot City."

1. Make the commitment
2. Take a hard class with lots of grammar
3. Open your mouth
4. Buy a ticket
5. Go on a date
6. Get a job
7. Don't lose it

The author of the article goes into details on each of the points above. I agree with most of what is written. It does have some practical advice and good strategies for language learning. 

Speak the Language

Is Sydney doing enough to attract Chinese tourists?

It seems that some in the tourism industry are preparing and encouraging Chinese tourism and business tours by having staff learn Chinese language and culture.   Is it worthwhile doing this? It is!

"...events estimated to be worth more than $90 million to the NSW economy. These events will attract about 18,500 visitors who will spend a combined 91,700 days in Sydney. About one in three of the events is from China."

"Sydney's events and tourism industry is making efforts to become ''China ready''. An increasing number of hotels, attractions and suppliers are providing Chinese language or cultural study lessons for staff, integrating Chinese language tours into their programs and rethinking menu and media options."

"On the supply side, we are working closely with industry partners to improve cultural awareness, language skills and support to service visitors' needs better."

Is Sydney doing enough to attract Chinese tourists?

Never too early to learn Chinese?

Meanwhile in Naselle, Washington...

"Instead of “Dick and Jane” and “See Spot Run,” the morning curriculum at Naselle for kindergartners next fall will be entirely in Mandarin Chinese ..."

"The district is considering implementation of dual-immersion education to kindergarten students whose parents choose to participate in the Mandarin Chinese program next year."

"If adopted by the school board, the program will be taught by a teacher from China and the students who voluntarily enroll will speak nothing but that language exclusively during their morning classes..."

I find "the sooner the better" trend being reported often across the globe. It is interesting that our opposition government in Oz has seized on this and made an election promise  Preschoolers to learn a second language .  While many places are implementing it is schools immediately.

In my humble opinion it is never too early or too late to learn Chinese Mandarin.

Never too early to learn Chinese?

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

Why immersing HISD pupils in Mandarin Chinese will enhance learning

Houston public schoolchildren will have the opportunity to learn the world's most spoken language in a new school that opens in August 2012.

Why immersing HISD pupils in Mandarin Chinese will enhance learning

Project rallies for China-US friendship Society

"The US State Department says 600 times more Chinese study the English language than Americans study Mandarin."

Project rallies for China-US friendship Society

谢天谢地 xiètiān-xièdī

2011 Reflections

I have had a very prosperous and beneficial year. Overall I have much to grateful for and so I am very thankful.

谢
天
谢
地

xiètiān-xièdī  Thank heavens

Mnemonics

谢
天
谢











地

Is it worthwhile learning another language?

Great podcast from the BBC that asks "Is it worthwhile learning another language?"

BBC - BBC Radio 4 Programmes - You and Yours, 31/08/2010

Tones are more important than you think - Hacking Chinese

This is an excellent explanation on why getting tones right is so important. It dispels they myth that you will be understood despite getting the tones wrong.

Tones are more important than you think - Hacking Chinese

Radical Ideas

I recently read an article recently about the lack of connection Australia has with Asia and in particular China Minding our languages. The article states that our language learning progress is and has failed for a number of years now. At primary, secondary and tertiary level we have failed to learn Asian languages. The main reason is too few teachers and too few students willing to learn languages.

To address this problem the idea is to stop spending money on language learning in schools and universities and send students to live and learn in Asia. This plan would be government funded. The proposal is to send 10,000 students a year. This may address the deficit we currently have in Asian literacy.

This is indeed a radical idea. However, for me it seems like something that might work. It is better than the stagnation and lack of interest in Asian languages and culture we currently have from many in Australia.

A similar news article, We must invest to latch on to the Asian century, also states very clearly that we must engage with Asia by investing in training and teaching Australians in Asian languages. The article has many facts and figures about the decline of Asian languages in Australian education. Apparently we are at the lowest point in Asian literacy since 1970.   

An alternative and ambitious plan from the Victorian state government to reverse the decline in language learning sounds similar to what I have seen before. Grants for Teaching Languages outlines the offer $ 1 million in grants to schools to halt the decline of language learning in primary schools. I am keen to follow the progress of this plan. It would be good if other state governments also implemented similar grants.