RyeUrn

Got Chinese? Friday, January 12

I am a banana. No serious I am one. To put it crudely a banana is a term people use to label a Chinese who do not speak/read/write Chinese. Yellow skinned but all white inside. Its not like I can't converse in Chinese. I mean I come from a Cantonese speaking family but due to the inadequacy of English conversation (or at least that's how my mum felt) in the family, she's decided against my dad's wishes to send me to a Malay/English school.

Therefore, I have limited Mandarin speaking capabilities, I can only read most Chinese characters that you only find in abundance in song lyrics and at times I have a hard time comprehending what Fann Wong is saying during a Singapore drama series.

Imagine my plethora of highs when MyChinaStart.com offers you the opportunity to learn Mandarin Chinese online. No, read on. Don't just click 'x' just because you think this is another sponsored site. Unlike those audio Chinese learning tapes or books that you, a fellow banana thought of buying but you know darn well it'll end up in your dustbin, you can actually learn Chinese here the fun way.

Basically this website is a depository of websites Chinese related but in English. Dumbfounded you may be but you get things like Chinese character flashcards in the form of ABC, Chinese idioms, games, PinYin converter and the list goes on and on.

I struggled immensely when it comes to learning Chinese and the best way that I can do it is if there's a Chinese song that I really like and I can't help but learn the lyrics. Or if there is a Taiwanese series that I could not stop watching and I need to understand exactly what they are saying.

Mum says that Chinese is important now (I'm sure she regretted her decision) since the sleeping dragon has been rudely awakened. Who knows what the future holds and what more with USD1 trillion in reserves, only God knows what China have up their sleeves. Make hay while the sun shines. Learn Chinese while you still can.

Oh yeah this post is sponsored.

6 Comments:

At January 12, 2007 4:47 PM, Kleio said...: Wow-weeee... this post of yours resonates my feelings too - Yeap! yours truly here is another fellow BANANA. One that always felt left out and at the losing end.

I love to watch K-Dramas, unfortunately most of it are dubbed in Mandarin - so in the end of the day I could only managed to understand about 50-60% of it. LOL.

Yeah, same like you... I longed to sing some of my favorite chinese songs too.

Thanks for the link on that happening Online Mandarin Lessons site.

P/S: I can't even write my own Chinese name properly - I am pathetic!
At January 13, 2007 5:38 PM, rheiboy17 said...: ryeurn!

finally! you did it! subtle way of presenting a PpP!

am not a banana, am a brown sugar :)
At January 15, 2007 1:04 PM, RyeUrn said...: kleio: In time you will learn Chinese. I think that's a great site. And of course I can't figure out what 'Kleio' would be like in Chinese...okok I'm joking.

rheiboy: At least you speak Tagalog right!!!
At January 16, 2007 7:43 AM, Che-Cheh said...: Hey hey I'm a banana too. :PPP
That's a cool way to write sponsored post. Hehe
At January 16, 2007 8:44 AM, RyeUrn said...: Che Cheh! Thanks for visiting my blog. I've been cracking my head trying to write a meaningful PPP post:) Been too many these days and I agree with AhPek. It hurts the quality of the blog sometimes hahaha.
At June 08, 2007 3:27 PM, Lisa Moore said...: I suggest you can start to learn Chinese and Chinese culture . It will give you better understanding of China.