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Talking a must for learning
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My first trip to Asia was to study abroad in Bangkok, Thailand.
I remember arriving that first night and hearing “strange music and sounds.” I even wrote in my journal something like, “I think there is some Buddhist music being played at a nearby temple.” It turned out to be the local karaoke bar. I learned right away that if I truly wanted to understand the culture then I would have to learn the language.
My work at a multinational company in Tianjin was the perfect environment to acquire Chinese as I was more or less “thrown into the deep end.” Meetings, sales pitches and water cooler discussions all took place in Mandarin. I have always been a bit of a perfectionist but learning another language has definitely helped me put that aside.
Making mistakes on a daily basis is what I do, especially with Mandarin. It may seem unpleasant, and at times it can be frustrating, but I have learned to be comfortable “losing face” to advance my proficiency.
Nowadays, I can listen to Chinese podcasts (Chinesepod, iMandarinpod, etc) while eating breakfast. When I am reading an online article and encounter an unfamiliar character, my Perapera Chinese Popup browser add-on helps. There are several handy graded/leveled readers (Chinese Breeze Series) that can help you progress in reading. Flashcard programs for your iOS/Android device like Anki SRS have their place. I have made friends with Chinese colleagues and local vendors. I spend many good Saturday nights hanging out with the local fruit vendor talking about politics, cars and debating whether US apples taste better than New Zealand apples.
It is a lot of work and you have to be proactive. This has allowed me to really get to know Chinese people and Chinese culture, which truly has opened my eyes and mind.
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