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Better Know a… Province (Shanxi) Posted by sasha on Jul 14, 2014
It’s been a while since our last post in this ongoing series that’s taking us around China one province at a time. Last time, we visited Shandong province – home of Confucius and Tsingtao beer. From there it only makes sense for us to head next to the province that is “West of the Mountains”…
5 Awesome Beijing Day Trips Video Posted by sasha on Jul 9, 2014
There’s a lot to do in Beijing, but the traffic and the smog can be overwhelming. Never fear, as there are plenty of things to do nearby. Check out five awesome BJ day trips in this short video: the Fragrant Hills, Botanical Gardens, Ba Da Chu, Red Snail Temple, and Shi Du.
Great Ways to Learn Chinese – BBC Real Chinese Posted by sasha on Jul 7, 2014
There are so many ways to go about learning a language these that it can be overwhelming for people just getting started. Enroll in a traditional class, get a tutor, find a language partner, self study, get online, buy software – the list goes on and on. Of course, the best way you can learn…
Don’t Go Hungry – How to Order in Chinese Posted by sasha on Jul 2, 2014
We have to eat in order to survive. Perhaps that’s why food-related language is always at the top of any new learner’s to do list. When I first got to China and realized how little English was spoken and how it was virtually non-existent in restaurants, I quickly realized that I had to either learn…
20 Most Common Chinese Characters Posted by sasha on Jun 30, 2014
A few months ago, I wrote about the 100 most common Chinese characters. While that post is certainly useful, I decided it might be more beneficial for new Chinese learners to follow along on this list with videos. This way, you can focus more on the pronunciation of these characters and learn them in groups…
Tricky Chinese Tones Posted by sasha on Jun 26, 2014
For most learners of Chinese, mastering the tones is one of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of the language. Trying to remember not only words, but the correct intonation as well, often leads to misunderstandings when communicating with native speakers. We’ve discussed the four tones plus the neutral tone at length here already, so…
Highlights of Shandong Province Posted by sasha on Jun 23, 2014
Take a video journey through eastern China’s Shandong province. Climb Mt. Tai, the holiest Taoist mountain in the country, visit the home of Confucius for a lesson in history and culture, and then head to Qingdao to hit the crowded beach, feast on seafood, and get crazy at the annual beer festival. 泰安 – tài’ān…