Learn mandarin - help! Where on earth do I start? -

> Learning Chinese > Non-Mandarin Chinese
help! Where on earth do I start?
Home New Posts

Login: Pass: Log in or register for standard view and full access.








ann85 -

Hello everyone! my name is Ann and this is my first post I was wondering if anyone is in a similar
situation to me. My parents are both chinese but me and my siblings were born in the UK. My
parents can speak cantonese, hakka and mandarin however our family predominantly speaks Hakka.
Since we were little, we've mainly spoken in English to each other and to our parents because they
wanted to improve on their english but this has meant the only chinese i can speak is Hakka but
not really well.

I'm embarrased and almost ashamed when my relatives from HK etc call because i cant speak
cantonese (i can understand basic cantonese). Since leaving home for University my Hakka has
deteriorated even more. Since finishing Uni i have made a promise to myself that I would learn to
speak Cantonese - to read and write it too if possible and hopefully progress to Mandarin if i'm
successful.

I've bought a CD and book called Colloquial cantonese, which is all well and good but it doesnt
teach you how sentences are constructed. I've been doing some research on the net and i've come
across Yale romanization and it seems very complicated! Does anyone have any advice as to what
books/methods to use? With student debts i need to make sure that if i invest in an expensive book
then it must be worth it! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Ann



Pleco Software Learn Chinese with our Dictionaries for Palm and Pocket PC.
Learn Chinese in China Learn to speak Chinese 1MonthChinese.com -Mandarin School in China.
Chinese Textbooks Wide range, cheap, varied languages. Also Chinese cartoons, toys, gifts.
Study Chinese in Beijing Affordable Mandarin language courses at BLCU with ChinaUnipath.com.
HNHSoft Dictionary Learn Chinese on Smartphone and PDA with real person's voice.
XueXueXue IQChinese Get beyond the plateau.Take your Mandarin to a new level.
Chinese in Lijiang Short term Chinese study in a beautiful town with a focus on daily life.
MandarinTube Chinese Access to current everyday Chinese language and culture, 24/7.
Learn Chinese Homestay Chinese course, cultural activities & volunteer events in China.
Learn Chinese Online 1-on-1 instant tutoring, diverse courses, native teachers. FREE trial now!
Nihao Chinese Progam Free one-on-one Chinese lesson. Win 5-years of free lessons now!


About Ads (and how to hide them) -- Your message here









Xiao Kui -

I´m sorry Ann85, the book i recommended was for Mandarin, not Cantonese. I´m afraid I scanned
your post instead of reading it thoroughly. Please accept my apologies.










RBudz -

I lived in Macao for a while and was determined to learn Cantonese. I can tell you that the books
by Sydney Lau are among the best for anyone learning any language, let alone Cantonese. The have
heaps of exercise, explain the tones beautifully, have a huge amount of vocab, explain all the
grammar. The are superb. They come in about 6 volumes which gives an indication of how detailed
they are.
Beginning Cantonese 1 and 2
Intermediate Cantonese 1 and 2 and there is also Advanced.
Published by the governement printer Hong Kong. I'm sure any really good language bookshop will
have them.

Robert










ann85 -

thanks Xiao Kui and RBudz for your replies. I will definately have a look for Sydney Lau's
material. Found a Cantonese grammar book by Virginia Yip and Stephen Matthews in the library - it
seems really good. I have some very basic knowledge of cantonese so the intonation part isn't too
much of a problem. Will seriously consider learning Mandarin if i am successful with Cantonese.
Good luck to everyone else learning Chinese!

Ann










zixingche -

If you want to save money, go to your local library, they usually have Chinese language courses
there (book with CD/cassette). You might have to go to the main library in your town centre if
your local library is small.

But if you're serious about learning Chinese, I think it's better to enrol on a Chinese course.
Places that might have Chinese courses include the local uni (if there is one), the adult
education college, or the local Chinese association.

I also have a Hakka/Cantonese background, like a lot of the Chinese in the UK. If you can
understand some Hakka/Cantonese (everyday conversation standard) but can't really speak it, it's
quite easy to pick it up, having the right environment helps a lot. I think for speaking to your
relatives this is all you need.

But I think if you want to study Chinese in a formal way inc. reading and writing, it would be
better to also go to a mandarin/putonghua class.










geraldc -

Lots of people here are in the same situation as you. http://66.111.36.90/forum/index.php










ann85 -

thanks zixingche and geraldc. I looked into chinese classes and am waiting for stuff to come
through the post. I have also come across The BBC website from a friend who is also a BBC. She did
her dissertation on BBC people which was really interesting. Its funny how similar other british
born chinese people are.

Did find some really good books from the library so that was good. I would like to formally know
the language as I would like to go to Hong kong and be able to make my way around independently
even though there are English signs. I hate the look i get from some chinese people who look
shocked when I can't speak cantonese. I can't help but feel that I should be able to speak it even
though I don't live there. When people ask if I consider myself Chinese I find it hard to answer.
Aesthetically I am, but I feel a major portion is missing and therefore want to learn.










zixingche -

Please do not allow those people to make you feel bad, who expect you to be able to speak
Cantonese, I assume just because you look Chinese. They are prejudiced, uninformed people who do
not realise that the Chinese world and Chinese culture is vastly greater and wider than they what
they think is "Chinese". To expect outsiders to speak Cantonese, which is a local
dialect/language, is absurd. 90% of all the chinese people in the world do not even speak
Cantonese anyway.










ann85 -

thanks for your post zixingche , I do find the prejudice annoying, luckily not everyone is like
that! I've done well without Chinese so far. However I do want to learn for myself at the end of
the day. I find the language interesting and hope that if i had children that I could teach them
too.












All times are GMT +8. The time now is 06:29 PM.














Learn Chinese, Learning Chinese, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing,