My Chinese Learning Blog

I also like to write little stories, only a few lines, a short paragraph using the new words and new sentence structures and grammar, These I will write using pinyin on my phone or tablet so I can concentrate on the structure.

 

Do you write something interesting like an essay?

Or is it just random sentences for practicing new words?

 

In this entry I am going to share my learning schedule and methods using the New Practical Chinese Reader.

 

I like the way you organise your study program, no matter good or not, at least you keep learning and don't give up, just like Chinese old people like to say - 活到老学到老 ))

Thank you for your comments.

 

I use the new vocabulary I have learnt and recent words and write grammatically correct sentences and string them together to try and make a sensible story with them.

 

It is not important if they are true, as long as they are correct and readable.

 

It is like a written excessive using the TPRS method of circling, which I like as a method.

 

There is a topic on the forums about TPRS,  if you are not familiar with it have a look.

 

As for not giving up, that's just not an option as learning Chinese is a passion for me, I can't imagine life without Chinese

I use the new vocabulary I have learnt and recent words and write grammatically correct sentences and string them together to try and make a sensible story with them.

 

How long these stories are? Could you share some with us?

Writing a story in Chinese is the most effective and the most difficult exercise I'm using for increasing vocabulary, it is a real challenge for our productive vocabulary ))

They are anywhere from 4-5 sentences long to 10 or 12 approx.

 

I will try and share the next one I write, usually I write them on my tablet or phone and I don't keep them for too long.

Like stated the npcr is great for people like us who are self studiers and can go at our own pace. I found the answer key to the work book but no answer keys to the textbook. So sometimes I get stuck on something and think I'm not doing it right and no clue if I figured it out right. But it's just conversation practice and it will never be just a single answer.

Solid work ethic on the npcr and like the way you go through it. I finally got the workbook CDs to work on iTunes so going through all the workbook lessons this week.

I too have the npcr lessons I learned on pleco flash cards and whenever I'm on a train or waiting somewhere I go through them. Do you write a lot in simplified or traditional or just pinyin?

When I write by hand I always use simplified characters. When I write the little stories I use pinyin input so it ends up in characters. But I only do that so that I can concentrate on the grammar and structure.

 

I try to write as much as I can.  I do this because I believe the more I write characters the better chance I have of remembering them.

 

 

My weak points are lack of speaking and tones. I feel my strength is in learning characters and words. I am trying a new method of listening and speaking, recording myself reading the dialogues and listening back and comparing with the NPCR audio for the dialogues

 

It would be great if you share some of your recording with us too ))

I also use similar method for practicing tones ))

Btw, I found some people improved their speaking skills by storytelling, it's like a spoken version of writing an essay :

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzREI7DbyfI

Yes telling stories is a good way to practice which is one reason i like the TPRS method. I might share some audio later, but not at the moment.

 

For one thing I need to work out how to do it.

 

Thanks for the clip but i concentrating on mainland Chinese so it would be confusing to watch a lot of Taiwanese TV.

 

i watch CCTV9 and CCTV Documentary a lot and sometimes CCTV4.

Yes telling stories is a good way to practice which is one reason i like the TPRS method. I might share some audio later, but not at the moment.

 

For one thing I need to work out how to do it.

 

I might be wrong, but in my opinion, this kind of video blogging has some advantages over the TPRS.

Wow that was 4:30 of chaos. You will have to explain to me the point of that. It also uses traditional characters which makes it confusing as I am learning simplified.

 

That style of thing maybe ok for some people but it is not for me.

Wow that was 4:30 of chaos. You will have to explain to me the point of that. It also uses traditional characters which makes it confusing as I am learning simplified.

 

That style of thing maybe ok for some people but it is not for me.

Well, because it requires creativity and it's fun, telling stories and listening to the stories, that's how children learn their native language ))

You can start your own video blog with simplified characters ))

I understand it's not for everybody, just like learning from textbooks, one semester was enough for me to realize that textbooks are not for me ))

that's how children learn their native language ))

 

I don't think children were subjected to quick fire, random topics with no regard to their abilities.

 

I understand that some people may not like text books but this is no substitute in my opinion.

 

As far as I can tell it lacks structure and explanation, it you are seriously advocating this as a learning method, it is not for me.

 

I am not saying it is good or bad because there are as many learning methods, styles and techniques as there are people.

 

I prefer a more structured, paced and thorough method of learning. Some consider it old fashion, but it works for me.

I prefer a more structured, paced and thorough method of learning. Some consider it old fashion, but it works for me.

You are right, everybody should follow the way that works best for him/her.