Connections
It's always useful to find connections among words, and that also helps to remember them. For example: 酒 jiu,
we can have 酒店, 酒吧, 喝酒, 啤酒, 葡萄酒, and later on can extend to 喝醉了, 睡觉, 喜欢, 不喜欢, 生日, etc. Memorizing all these words in a theme makes it easier.
Then try to make a sentence with each word in your list. The last step would be use your sentences in your conversations with your teacher or friends.
april
www.mslmaster.com
If you want to walk well, maybe you should start to run!
Many things are required a step further, like walking. It seems simple enough. But I observed that who can walk well, also runs. The strong legs which give a light, easy walking steps are actually built through running.
The same thing goes to language learning, probably especially true with Chinese characters.
If you want to read well, you should practice writing. I have met so many people who only want to recognize the characters, and think they can develop a reading ability. This is really as far fetched as you can get. If you don't write, you can't read.
Make a habit of writing for one or two hours every day!
april
www.mslmaster.com
What lies behinde a language
Why do people learn a new language when they can speak one perfectly well? The answer may carry some very practical causes, such as doing business, or pleasing your spouse. But fundamentally I think learning a new language is to unlock a closed mind.
We can be so used to one language. We listen to, we read and we communicate everything in one language. And that language creates something we feel familiar with, like food, certain type of TV programs, etc. And we don't even realize that people who speak other languages can be very different and can represent a whole set of new ideas.
So when we are learning a new language, we become receptive towards a different kind of food, different kind of music, different kind of books and customs. And therefore help us to open up and take a took at the world at large. That's probably the most beneficial thing one can get by learning a new language.
april
www.mslmaster.com
Quick Fix
"I want it, and I want it now!"
I always get this impression from all aspects of life. And the media always gives re-enforcement through all kinds of channels.
For example, I see things like these every day:
- Loose 10 pounds in two weeks!
- Improve your memory in 2 hours!
- With these pills, you can get stronger bones and joints in 1 week!
And of course,
- Speak fluent Chinese in 15 minutes a day!
I have come to realization that, most of the time, quick fixes are seriously flawed, short lived, and most seriously, often carry some terrible consequences. The real result and satisfaction often come from slowness and persistence.
april
www.mslmaster.com
The Meaning of "International"
I was told by a friend who recently went to China and had a nightmare. One of them was a language problem.
She went to Kun Ming and at the service counter of Kun Ming's international airport, she couldn't find anyone spoke English. And thus the conclusion is: how can this be international airport???
I guess if a Chinese person goes to a major city in US or UK or Australia, he wouldn't demand anybody at the service counter there, however cosmopolitan or international that city can be, to speak Chinese.
The real meaning of "international" is English.
april
www.mslmaster.com
Setbacks
Last Sunday I was told a classical story on why a person can fail in learning a language.
This gentle man tried to learn Cantonese for about two to three months. And one day he went to a shop and tried to use his Cantonese to get things he wanted. But it appeared that the shop assistant didn't understand him at all. Similar things happened a couple of more times and he was totally discouraged. And he stopped learning. Now he only remembers a couple of words and never take the initiative again.
I don't think anybody can avoid this kind of situation, especially at the early stage. The sad thing is that this situation can put people to a stop.
The best thing to do is: be aware of this type of setback and be prepared, and know that if you continue you will pass this stage very soon.
april
www.mslmaster.com
Three Self Study Tips
It's nice to be around a teacher, but not all the time. It's vital important that you find time to do self study. It's during these hours that you consolidate, you refresh, you memorize and you learn!
1. Listen without reading all the text in your textbook. Check your understanding.
2. Do exercises in your workbook.
3. Read
aloud what you have learned.
If you have one hour lesson with your teacher, you probably need two hours to consolidate and be able to claim what you have learned are really yours.
april
www.mslmaster.com
