Three Tips for Eating Well in China (Even With Limited Mandarin)
As I was watching Dig Mandarin’s wonderful video Ordering and Eating Hot Pot in China, I was reminded of my own experiences with this culinary delight in Beijing. I first…
Chinese Won’t Get you the Interview (But It’ll Get you the Job)
What do Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, WWE champion John Cena, and British actress Vanessa Branch (most famous for her appearance in a series of Orbit gum commercials) all have in…
How to Improve Chinese Speaking & Writing Proficiency
The Chinese language(Mandarin in particular) has the distinction of being the most commonly used language in the world, spoken by over a billion people. But, it is also considered one…
Learning Practical Chinese While Cooking Chinese Dishes
I. Introduction to Cooking A. General Information on the benefits of cooking immersion In most Chinese learning books and courses, there is usually a chapter about ordering food at a…
The Taxi Chinese Plateau and How To Get Over It
Some days it seems as though the majority of foreigners in China speak amazingly fluent Mandarin. Some days it feels like no one cares about it once they are able…
Using Topics and Scenarios to Make Your Chinese Learning More Efficient
As a Mandarin teacher, I am always delighted to observe and learn from my students. One thing I have noticed in my interactions with my students is how hard most…
多音字(duō yīn zì): Understanding Polyphones in Mandarin Chinese
Learning Mandarin is an exciting journey filled with countless characters, tones, and nuances. As you delve into the language, one fascinating feature you’ll encounter is the concept of polyphones. Polyphones,…
Being a Picky Eater in China
Growing up, I went through food phases. I’d decide that my favorite thing to stuff my face with was strawberry cream cheese or peanut butter and jelly and then eat…
How to Improve Your Mandarin Chinese Reading Skills
You may not be aware of it, but we read more than we realize. When we see text in our mother tongue, we mentally acknowledge it in our heads –…