Years ago it was hard to find Mandarin books.  Years ago it was hard to find books with actual PINYIN.  Years ago it was hard to even get Chinese on your computer.  Heck it was hard years ago to even distinguish between Japanese and Chinese!

Amazing how things change in a few short years on this INTERNET.

Now, there are numerous places across the web that anyone can study Chinese.  That means everyone CAN study Chinese if you really want to.  Chinese is no longer an elusive language.  That means no more book and no more workbooks if that is the way you learn.  But the sites out there are really really fun and very informative.

I put a list together to introduce the 6 websites that I use or have used or you can use to study Chinese.  Go ahead and take a look.

6.  World Learner Chinese: I believe this website is based in Taiwan.  A long introduction and some of the programs are pretty good.  They often go on tangents.  Their higher level lessons are usually split into two shows.  When I posted comments they were quick to respond.  Recently they took a long break.  Now it’s somewhat difficult to even enter into the website without having to sign in.

5.  iMandarinPod: These people are from Tianjin and their podcasts are pretty good if you have some knowledge of Chinese.  If you are a beginner, don’t bother because it will only be frustrating.  Some of the programs are really long but I prefer the shorter ones.  I do like the fact that many of their programs introduce phrases that are not necessarily useful in everyday spoken Chinese but that all Chinese know and give you insight into the language and culture.

4.  CSL POD: Chinese as a Second Language podcast. They’ve got a nice new site design and upgrade I believe these people are from Beijing and their programs are a standard beginner, intermediate and advanced.  Advanced is just an article that they read, short and sweet.  Their intermediate is pretty good since they only speak Chinese to explain Chinese.  So if you are an intermediate or want to get there you should listen to these.  Their beginner lessons have both English and Japanese so I’ve actually learned a few words in Japanese from their beginner level.

3.  Melynks.com: I can’t tell if this guy is in the mainland China or from Taiwan.  Plus I can’t make out this guy’s accent in English.  I don’t know where Serge Melynks is from and I don’t think he tells us.  Even though his website numbering system is all messed up he makes a pretty good program.  He challenges you and his topics are always interesting.  MX says that his Chinese is really good even though his English leaves something to be desired.  The comments on his YOUTUBE videos are pretty hilarious but you feel sympathy for him.  But he doesn’t care because his Chinese is much better than yours!!  I enjoy listening to his programs especially the practical ones.

2.  Pop up Chinese: This is a new one that I’ve recently found.  I think I found it on a GOOGLE ad, which is pretty funny.  They are from Beijing I believe and the two foreign hosts are very knowledgeable about Chinese.  One American guy and one Canadian guy plus a Chinese girl named ECHO create a really good show.  Their education is pretty good and sometimes the foreigner tells the Chinese girl something about China or Chinese that SHE DOESN’T KNOW!!!  Hilarious!  They have a variety of levels, a story podcast, and HSK listening podcasts which is pretty cool.  If you want to feel really discouraged, try out the HSK Beginner level listening activity and found out how bad your listening really is!!

1.  Chinesepod: Everyone knows Chinesepod.  If you don’t, and I find people here and there who don’t know about it, than just click and go find out yourself.  They have a lot of money and a lot of people.  If you are lucky to have an account then you are good.  If you don’t want to pay money, then there’s not much for you.  Chinesepod is part of Praxis Language which also creates a plethora of other languages podcasts.  MX enjoys the Frenchpod but I try to focus only on Chinese… since learning one language is enough for me.  Recently they switched to taking most of their programs off the free area and you have to pay if you are elementary or higher.  There are some programs that are free here and there but the bulk is a pay for service.  The community area is quite active and interesting to look into now and then.  Recently their most popular show, THE AMBER SHOW and one of my favorites, was stopped because the host up and moved away.  Nothing really is filling the gap that the show created.  Chinesepod seems to start and stop with many ideas.  They did a cooperation with Shanghaist.com where they were doing a quick 4-5 minute show about current events in China and giving us the words in Chinese.  It suddenly stopped.  They started videos which promptly ended.  Then they started a RADICAL show which again promptly ended.  Now they have a show about Chinese Poems which most foriegners learning Chinese are not ready for.

0.  Shanghaihua: I had to put this one in because we are unique.  M and MX provides a little hobby for all of you.  Our FREE weekly podcast teaches you simple Shanghainese.  We speak both English and Chinese on the podcast so no matter who you are you can learn Shanghainese!  It’s one of a kind!

Now it’s easy to find Mandarin books.  Now it’s easy to find books with actual PINYIN.  Now it’s easy to get Chinese on your computer.  Now it’s easy to differentiate Japanese and Chinese.  Amazing how things change in a few short years on this INTERNET.

SO get studying and listening and speaking the fastest growing language on planet earth!!!

 Loading ...

Happy Valentine’s Day!  Valentine’s Day in Shanghai is BIG!  Girls who have everything want more for Valentine’s Day.  Everywhere you so pink, red, chocolates, flowers and men hurrying along with bouquets of flowers and girls waiting impatiently.  Good luck trying to find a restaurant on February 14th… NOT A CHANCE.  But all in all, the Shanghainese say this in a special way.  This is good for everyone because LOVE crosses all language borders!

情人节快乐！在上海情人节越来越大。 所有的上海姑娘特别喜欢情人节。 你要在外面吃饭，祝你好运！ 很难找到一个空的饭店！ 上海话“我爱你” 怎么说？

Subscribe on iTunes!

Download here.

Peek a boo!  How do you say that in Chinese?  Our little boy is growing and making us laugh.  He is eating tons and we’re really enjoying him.  After work MX will get dropped off and our little guy will wait at the window for her.  His face brightens up when she shows up.  It’s pretty cute.

He really enjoys his legos and he has a few cars now so that he’ll grow up to be a MAN!!!  This past week we discovered that he can stand without our help.  But when he looks like he’ll start walking… he just falls down.  It’s pretty cute.

There are words he knows now only in Chinese.  There are other words now that he knows only in English.  So he is already bilingual.  Cool!

When foreigners come to China for the first time they learn this phrase pretty quickly.  Do you have it or not?  In English it’s a bit too long and boring.  But in Chinese it is easy.  But with many of the phrases that we learn in Shanghainese, Mandarin is too long and Shanghainese is just more convenient.  I love to tell MX that there isn’t something in Shanghainese because I feel so lazy when I say it.  MMah.  That’s it.  No effort.  Thank you SHANGHAI!!!

Subscribe on iTunes!

Download here.

I’m always interested to hear about Chinese people who live and work in America and their experiences.  I had a number of years living in China and I know my experiences but what about the other way around?  I found this article the other day about Chinese students studying at John Hopkins University on the East Coast in America.

The article is basically talking about the Chinese students’ opinions about life in America, studying with Americans and the differences between studying in China and the US.

Of life in American schools, one of the students said:

“People individually choose classes and clubs or organizations to participate in…In Chinese universities there’s sort of a homeroom organization, and there’s more of a feeling of connection.”

Totally true.  When I taught in a university in Shanghai the classes were really tight and close knit.  They did everything together.  Good things and bad things.  Sometimes there would be bad blood and that would really spread through the class and hurt a lot of people.  A good time together is a good thing but when your whole class hates you…nothing you can do!

The student goes on to explain about the classes and the differences:

“We [students] feel like we’re family, and we influence each other, whereas here in America, there are only small circles of friends.”

Again, exactly right.  I had a small circle of friends when I was in college but they were from all different groups and classes and majors.  I personally think that is a better thing than only knowing your classmates.  Seems to me this is nothing different than Chinese high school.  Class 1 goes to this room and this class and this class… we never mingle with Class 2.

The title of the article is a bit misleading.  “Chinese students report discrepancies in education systems” sounds a lot worse than what they are really talking about.  Some of the students talk about not being able to really interact with American students.  Then the classic reason from another student:

“I spend more time doing research and studying so I haven’t been really engaged in any student activities.”

DING DING DING DING!  That’s the reason why you can’t interact with American students.  I bet if they interviewed the American students they would say… they are a bunch of book worms!!!

Later on a graduate student at John Hopkins says:

“I feel that most of the Chinese students have a hard time making close American friends…We can collaborate well at work, but there are some cultural differences that prevent us from becoming close, though we try very hard.”

Hmmm… no explanation of WHY or WHAT the differences are… but then she actually explains why very very clearly:

“I would feel bad asking someone to do me a favor, and even though people are nice, they are still very independent so favor-asking is much more rare…”

DING DING DING DING DING!!! That’s right folks.  Welcome to America!  So we can’t be friends with Americans because they won’t do favors for me??  What kind of a friend is that??  I feel bad asking someone to do me a favor?  SO DO MOST AMERICANS!!!  That’s not exactly what you have friends for!!  What kind of favors are you asking for or thinking about??

Talking about the actual classes and workload a student explains that:

“…classes at Hopkins are more challenging and more complete, particularly because lab research is a required in certain classes, in addition to attending class daily.”

Daily attendance makes classes in America more challenging???  Hilarious!  I’m sorry that you have to come to class everyday.  My students in China came to class but my class was actually interesting.  The other classes were described to me as less than interesting.  I walked by their classes from time to time to see them in class and I was shocked to see most of them either sleeping, sending short messages on their mobile phone or just chatting.  Welcome to America where studying in university actually means something!!!

The journalist goes on to quote other students saying:

“In his Chinese undergraduate university, one professor would teach all of his classes, offering only a general introduction to most subjects.”

This I don’t know to be true.  I doubt that this is true.  Does anyone know this to be true?

The end of the article explains that all the students who are studying at John Hopkins University would like to stay in America and get a job on the east coast.  Why?  With China’s development going like crazy over the past couple years you could go back and have a very good life in your home country!  You think American universities are culturally different… wait till you enter corporate America and start your life here.

Lastly I would love to ask this question.  When Chinese students go abroad to study in different countries do they go through some sort of training sessions or preparation training before going?  Are they told about the major differences between the two cultures?  Are they told about how Americans make friends?  Are they told what British don’t like?  Are they told the similarities?  Are they told to lower their expectations?  Or is it all word of mouth from other Chinese people who have lived and worked there and learned by making mistakes?

Well, if not, good luck to you all!

Anyone who is not Chinese needs to learn this word.  Everyone in China who is not Chinese is a foreigner.  Whether you like that label or not is not the point.  That’s what you are.  But you have to learn this phrase because it’s possible that people will be talking about you or about foreigners in general.

Subscribe on iTunes!

Download here.

Lately there’s been quite a few articles from the Shanghai Daily about the Shanghainese dialect and some people are not in favor of it.

The journalist Ni Tao talks about the “New Shanghainese” as feeling left out and alienated by “older Shanghainese.”

“That some “New Shanghainese” feel they don’t quite belong or are still perceived as outsiders is understandable.

What they should do is be more patient, delve deeper into the local heritage, explore for themselves both its merits and demerits before hastily denouncing anything Shanghai as patronizing and decadent. An attack on Shanghainese or Shanghainese dialect is beyond the pale.”

Amen to that.  And I hope that our podcast is a symbol to that.  Even though I am not really a “new Shanghainese” I have also felt alienated and an outsider but I wasn’t born in Shanghai!  Too bad!  If anything it drives me to learn more about the local culture and language!  I think it’s fascinating that this dialect is so big and so deep and so vast.  That means, MX, my wife, is also deep and vast.  Cool!

Another article in the Shanghai Daily by John Gong talks about the merits of Shanghainese, the people and the dialect.

“It is not just a beautiful dialect, but it also connotes certain meanings and is spoken with an attitude.

Speaking like a Shanghainese is less about what you say, and more about how you say it.

We Shanghainese are known for being savvy, opinionated and confident. We are also known for being chic and cosmopolitan, especially the beautiful Shanghainese ladies.”

Again, AMEN TO THAT!  I totally agree that Shanghainese is spoken with an attitude.  I hope you can get that through our podcasts.  I totally agree too that MX is savvy, opinionated and confident, a true product of Shanghai.  She is also chic, very cosmopolitan and quite beautiful!!  (and now very red in the face!)

Humor is lost to people studying English.  It’s too fast or it’s just a different kind of humor.  Same thing in Chinese.  I don’t think I’ll ever understand or honestly laugh at a “CROSS TALK”.  Monty Python is such an integral part of western culture and humor that many times I wanted to explain it to my students or friends in China but it proved to be difficult to explain.  That’s why when I found Monty Python and the Holy Grail (巨蟒与圣杯) at the local bootleg DVD shop, I was so happy.  The following week I found the entire Monty Python’s Flying Circus on DVD.  I was shocked.  I looked around thinking, “do these people realize what they have?  THIS IS A GOLDMINE!!!”

Soon I found that Monty Python does translate into Chinese.  Quite well in fact.  I find that Chinese enjoy slapstick humor more than anything else.  When someone falls down, gets hit in the head or performs a silly walk it’s funny in Chinese too!  So I introduced Monty Python to one of my friends who was my Chinese teacher at the time and I think his life changed.  He studied Monty Python and studied each DVD.  He started quoting parts that I didn’t know.  He memorized skits that I thought were honestly not able to be memorized.  He even changed his MSN name to reflect a name used in a skit.  I was concerned for a while but thought to myself that we did the same thing back at home and after all it’s English and he’s improving his already excellent English.

I’m sure Monty Python for him was a stage.  He’s probably moved beyond those DVDs now.  But he’s more international because of it.  When someone says, “I’m not dead” and the foreigners laugh, he will too.  Of course when someone says “We are the knights who say ‘Ni’!” he’ll just think they are speaking Chinese.

Have you ever tried to explain humorous stories to your Chinese friends?  Have they ever tried to explain something funny in China to you?  Do you have any Monty Python with Chinese subtitles?  Do you know what John Cleese is saying to the pet shop owner?

Here is the comic that inspired this post.

Numbers.  Numbers are probably the first thing you learn when you study a language because it’s the most important and most useful.  Same in Shanghainese.  The numbers are different in Mandarin and Shanghainese…so these are ESSENTIAL!  You hear them every day!  Why not practice them everyday!

Subscribe on iTunes!

Download here.

Shanghainese Links:

Another article in Shanghai Daily talking about a new art exhibit about the people in Shanghai.  Many questions are asked in the article but not really answered.

“It’s definitely a beautiful fine art exhibition, but it is also about the artist’s trial to ask of a modern society like Shanghai – do you know what happiness is? What makes you really happy? I think it’s very sharp and points out what Shanghainese are looking for today.”

So, what are the Shanghainese really looking for today?  Money?  A good life?  Money?  A loving family?  Money?  Shoes?  Make up?  Money?  Coffee?

What do you think Shanghainese are looking for?

Numbers.  Numbers are probably the first thing you learn when you study a language because it’s the most important and most useful.  Same in Shanghainese.  The numbers are different in Mandarin and Shanghainese…so these are ESSENTIAL!  You hear them every day!  Why not practice them everyday!

After this show you will know 1-10.  Check out last week’s Shanghaihua program.  Now you can hear and speak and recognize the numbers in Shanghainese!  The building blocks of most languages.

Subscribe on iTunes!

Download here.

This is an update!!!

WOW!  What a response!  So many people have been sending E-MAILS!  It’s going to be hard to count them all!  But keep sending!!  Remember: If you send the most you get FREE ARTWORK from US to your computer!!

——————————————————————–

Hello all of you out there who love M and MX!  We’re growing and having a great time making you laugh.

喜欢我们网站的朋友们, 大家好！我们的网站正在成长着，我们很高兴我们的网站能够博得你的欢声笑语。

This month we want to spread the word about M and MX and get everyone reading the comics and listening to SHANGHAIHUA and enjoying everything!  So…

本月，我们要让全世界知道MandMX，让每个人看到我们的卡通和上海话节目！！！

Our first M and MX contest is under way:

MandMX 将举行一个有趣的比赛：

1.   Laugh at a comic or learn from a post.

首先，看懂一副漫画，或者你对网站的一篇文章有自己的看法，感受和心得。

2.  Click on E-MAIL THIS POST!*

然后，按一下 e-mail this post （如图所示）

3.  Send it to all your friends.

寄给你所有的朋友

4.  Whoever sends the most posts or COMICS during the month of March will get a FREE exclusive NEVER BEFORE SEEN work of art from M and MX.com for their desktop wallpaper!  AMAZING!

谁寄了最多的文章或者漫画谁就是赢家了！！ 获胜者将得到一份奖品！ 什么奖品呢？ 一份免费的，独家的，你从来没有看到，彩色的MandMX的漫画桌面墙纸！！！

So, send those e-mails to your friends and we’ll count how many and if you get the most… YOU WIN!!

好了，现在就开始向你的朋友们发送邮件吧，我们可以从服务器上知道你发给了几个朋友，发送最多的就是赢家了。

*For article posts and COMIC posts: Click on the name of the article or COMIC first then click on the E-MAIL THIS POST.