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Learning Chinese Language Sometimes I feel I'm fooling myself. Can I really learn Chinese language? I am using the Pimsuleur CD's, which seem very good. I have started and stopped and started again many times. Now I'm determined! I do wish they had a PDF of the lessons included, this would be so easy and helpful. So I've made my own. Unfortunately there are very few Chinese speakers in the area I live in. My first goal is to get to Lesson 30, at which point Pimsleur states I'll be able to carry on a basic conversation. Really? We'll see. Then there is the writing! OMG! I will say it is fun learning to write the characters, but can I memorize a few thousand? Seems really daunting. But I'm sticking with it for now. I decided that watching hundreds of movies on Netflix is entertaining, but I'm not learning much, even though I try to watch a lot of Chinese language films. One of my favorite Mandarin language romantic movies is Springtime in a Small Town. But some of the best Chinese movies are in Cantonese (Guangdonghua). I'm a big fan of Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng and others. I doubt I will never learn Cantonese even though I have lived with Cantonese speakers, so can catch a few words. I love it in Hong Kong movies where they mix up English and Cantonese. Too many to mention them all, but Infernal Affairs was great. |
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"have you try Rosetta Stone to learn Chinese ? unsure if they are easier or not? When I was in high school , I learned to speak and write Japanese Hiragana and Katakana , Oh boy that was tough !!! English is far much easier language to learn.." I haven't tried Roetta Stone. But it, like Pimsluer, is pricy. So for now I'll stick to Pimsluer. Also, I have some other Chinese language books and cassette tapes. I took Japanese for two years in college. It seems much easier. At one point I could write all the katakana and hiragana. I could still not read Japanese. 
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To ifyoubuildit - I have watched a lot of Korean movies and tv shows on netflix. I do not know Korean language, but have looked up some words I hear a lot to see what they mean. There is a whole list of honorifics different age groups. South Korea looks like a great place. Wish you success in learning the language! Ok, maybe I will do a blog on words I'm learning.
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Thanks pandagf. your comment " 学中文找老师教吧。" I have no idea what this means! I think it says something like, Get a Chinese teacher? Good idea.
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Thanks for the encouragement TAKE5OR10. I'm sticking with it. I got a set of 250 flash cards too and am beginning to work on memorizing them. No way around it, this will take years.
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Thanks youyougofor. Yes, I can imagine that learing English is not so easy too. You are right, the best way to learn is to be in the country where it is spoken. But that is not always possible. I am using the Pimsleur language CDs and now I am on Lesson 8. I also translate each one into pinyin and simplified Chinese characters, so I can learn to read as I go through the course. If you need any help with English, let me know.
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Thank you rongrong. You posted the same thing on my other blog entry. For those who can't read it, it says "Success is not what you do, but who you know." There is certainly some truth to this, depending on what you are trying to accomplish and in what field. Starting with extreme examples, Michelanglo, the great Italian sculptor, was undeniably great. Would he have been able to have the time and space to create his great works without the people who supported and commissioned his works? Does any artist have to know influential people to achieve whatever recognition they deserve or have inspired? There are probably great people we will never hear of in life, who for whatever reason, do not progress beyond their small sphere of reality. But I believe that many artists and creators, simply create and share their works, and if this brings recognition, then they know their communication has been successful. In politics who you know is very important. Taking G.W. Bush the 2nd, who he knew was everything and it brought him to ultimate power. It's doubtful he could have achieved success otherwise. Nice for him I suppose and all those who supported him. He certainly left a mark on the world that will long be remembered.
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