There are plenty of interesting things to do in Quetzaltenango, also known as Xela, if you know where to look. Okay, you actually don’t have to look that hard. The city is manageably sized and a fascinating destination full of interesting places to visit. The colonial Spanish and gothic German buildings have a worn, tattered […]
Discover Xela: A Guide to the Best Things to See and Do in Quetzaltenango Read Post »
Learning Chinese isn’t easy. It’s much harder if you aren’t in China and don’t have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the language. You could run down to your nearest Chinatown and try chatting with the local restauranteurs, but chances are their Chinese is going to be way above your level and way too fast.
The Best YouTube Videos for Learning Chinese: Your Ultimate Guide Read Post »
So, you’re thinking of learning Chinese, are you? Great idea. Not only is it a fascinating language, but it’s also spoken by over a billion people. Learning Chinese will give you insight into the enthralling, large, sometimes beguiling nation of China. Get ready to open the doors to one of the world’s great, historic cultures.
How I learned Chinese (and So Can You) Read Post »
As the world grows smaller, it’s more important than ever to learn how to talk with people who don’t speak English as a first language. My fellow Americans, I have some disappointing truth to share with you. Not everyone in the world speaks English as their first language. I know, I know, it’s shameful and
How to Talk to People Who Don’t Speak English Good Read Post »
There is a lot of bad advice out there about learning Chinese. Most of it comes from professional bloggers and influencers who seem to be dedicated to convincing the rest of us we’re losers for not working five hours a week, living in Bali, and knowing twenty languages. It’s okay. You’re not a loser, you’ve
Bad Advice: Things You Shouldn’t Do When Learning Chinese Read Post »
You would think that after two years of living in China and studying Chinese almost every day, I’d be pretty good by now. I’m not. I can order food and get the gist of some of the simpler Peppa Pig episodes. But I still can’t understand what my elderly neighbors are shouting at me as
Studying Chinese in China Read Post »
On paper, Rosetta Stone seems like the perfect app for learning Chinese. It creates an immersive environment and stimulates how we naturally acquire languages. There is no translation, so you learn the word more deeply. Also, it’s very very expensive, so it must be good right? Well, unfortunately, maybe not so much.
Rosetta Stone sucks for learning Chinese Read Post »
It was the end of another long day teaching English in China. I’d spent the last five hours trying to help a group of ten-year-olds decipher some American common core 6th grade reading and science textbooks. At this point, they didn’t want to learn, and I didn’t want to teach. So, I did what any
Adventures teaching English in China Read Post »
Culture shock is a real thing, of course. Every culture has its own quirks that take some getting used to. In China, people spit on the street. Sometimes kids will poop on the street. They have squat toilets. People shove in the subway. They eat frogs. Sure, these are all different, unusual, maybe even weird
Learning Chinese, but Still TIng BU DOng Read Post »
