Oh My Mandarin

08/06/2022

This is the first time my Chinese group class used Movies as the learning contents. It IS more fun to include videos and real-life conversations into the class, BUT, just like every first time experience, there’re a few unexpected challenges.
#1 challenge: it’s very difficult to find the right movies to match a mixed group like the one I have (from beginner level to intermediate)
#2 challenge: different people likes different types of movies. It happens when a movie was interesting for me yet students might find it so-so.
#3 challenge: most students are shy during role playing. Students are tended to be quieter. Perhaps the “role play” made them more nervous in the class.

As a teacher, it’s interesting to experiment with different materials and see the reactions of the class.

15/05/2022

Our shekou community Chinese course is back again!! This time I’m going to try a new method to bring more fun to the our classes. I will experiment a new way to adapt Chinese movies into my teaching contents, while still keeping the old protocols like 1) focusing on the pronunciation and daily conversations 2) adding local Chinese volunteers to increase interactions among students 3) 10 lessons with after class exercises 4) same schedule and venue every week.
If you happen to be an expat in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China, you’re more than welcome to join us.

16/10/2021

Not only we made time to practice Chinese after work, we’re unstoppable even when it was a typhoon night !! I’m so proud of the group !

22/09/2021

From 5:30am to 8:30pm
My first day after holiday was So Long yet So GREAT !
Next time I will be better at boxing, teaching and enjoying what I am doing, because I showed up and accomplished it AGAIN !

At the first class of beginners’, the main key takeaway for my students (I hope) is that … to master learning Chinese or whatever new skills, we need to PRACTICE! PRACTICE! !And PRACTICE!!!
First of all, we need to start practicing “listening “ and “observing “ , which is the natural way how kids learn. It’s only when we process these visual and aural information, that we could find it comfortable to “speak” out. By then your Chinese wouldn’t have sounded too strange for you and others.

Let’s not worry too much about speaking, give yourself sometime to practice your listening and observing.

21/09/2021

Another
Happy mid-autumn festival !
中秋节快乐
Zhōngqiū jié kuàilè

I am also curious how many of you know the story behind this festival. It's only when I started teaching Chinese that I noticed we also have a BUNNY 🐇 in the store. Why it's there? hmmmm

15/04/2021

Last Saturday’s class went on shekou TV
With 20+ students and 4 volunteers, we had a lot of fun with role-playing games.

After one’s week’s presentation, the moment we finished this class, I felt so relieved! We made it ! !

More to go ~

蛇口街道对外汉语课堂开讲了

12/04/2021

Every Saturday at 2:30 pm in Shekou Shenzhen
Free Chinese lessons for beginners

12/04/2021

thanks to your inspiration, I’d like to share your wisdom on mastery with my students who’s trying their best to practice speaking Chinese!
Quoted from Mastery :
“We learn a foreign language by actually speaking it as much as possible, not by reading books and absorbing theories. The more we speak and practice, the more fluent we become.
Once you take this far enough, you enter a cycle of accelerated returns in which the practice becomes easier and more interesting,”

There’s no such shortcut for learning a language, the key is to get you there and speak it on a daily basis. How ? —> come join our classes and have some fun

21/03/2021

Every Saturday free Chinese class in Shekou Expat Center

16/02/2021

Gods of fortunes - 财神爷cáishén yé
Get super rich - 暴富 bàofù

As a tradition of spring festival, on the fifth day Chinese usually pay visit to temples praying for the blessings from god of fortunes.
There’re five gods of fortunes, they stand for generosity, fairness, royalty, brave, trustworthy , sympathy and smartness in business. In tradition, these five Gods are examples for entrepreneurs who’re intended to grow their wealth by contributing to society.
However, are people still worshiping for their principles in the process of growing wealth or simply getting rich itself ?
Let’s not to forget the real value of tradition.

Due to the pandemic, most of the local temples are closed, so as the ceremonies.

12/02/2021

年初一，拜大年，放鞭炮，给压岁钱🧧
恭喜发财[Grin]

Main activities on Day 1 of Chinese New Year:
Say Gōngxǐ fācái tǒ èveryòne！
Set off some fireworks and make some noises
Give or collect some hongbao 🧧 [Chuckle]

#春节 🇨🇳