今天的作业 2015.8.20 QUESTIONS 我需要跟新的主顾会面 - Is this structure correct? 开会 vs 会面 - Difference? 从来 + 都 = always? must 都 always be used? LIFE RELATED SENTENCES, Past & Continuing Experiences. 我打了二十八年鼓了 wo3 da4 le er2 shi2 ba1 nian2 gu3 le 在洛杉矶我住了十年了 zai4 luo4 shan1 ji1 wo3 zhu4 le er2 shi2 nian2 le 在三藩市我住了六个月在 zai4 san1 fan1 shi4 wo3 zhu4 le liu4 ge yue4 在PATINA V我工了三个月作了 zai4 PATINA V wo3 gong1 le san1 ge yue4 zuo4 le 我学了一年汉语了 wo3 xue2 le yi1 nian2 han4 yu3 le 我门已了二年婚了 wo3 men yi3 le er4 nian2 hun1 le 我做了十年设计师，现在我是商人 wo3 zuo4 le shi2 nian2 she4 ji4 shi1, xian4 zai4 wo3 shi4 shang1 ren2 我学过五年钢琴，但是现在我弹钢琴弹的不太好了 wo3 xue2 guo4 wu3 nian2 gang1 qin2, dan4 shi4 xian4 zai4 wo3 tan2 gang1 qin2 tan2 de bu4 hao3 le 我从来没学过弹吉他 wo3 conɡ2 lai2 mei2 xue2 ɡuo tan2 ji2 ta1 我从来都吃中国菜 wo3 conɡ2 lai2 dou1 chi1 zhong1 guo2 cai4

I am a bit confused on the usage of 要and想。 I am a bit confused on the usage of 要and想。 Please look at my example sentences below. When should I be using 要 VS 想 for want and need? 我今年要去上海履行。 I need to travel to Shangai this year. 我今年想去上海履行。 I want to travel to Shangai this year. 你今年要去上海旅行吗？ Do you want/need to travel to Shangai this year? 你今年想去上海旅行吗？ Do you want to travel to Shangai this year?

汉语实践 我的名字是JAMES。我中文名字是志慕。我是美国人。我爱中国文化,中国菜和中文文。我今年三十三岁了。我是建筑和室内设计师。我设计的零售商店。 我在GUESSJEANS上班。我学习中国 在个学院在洛杉矶。我住在西好莱坞和我的对象。他叫XINWEI或WILLIAM。他姓黄。他是中国人，可是住在美国如今。他是哲学博士学位在UCLA。他是化学和环境工程师。我家有四小时的行程。我爸爸妈妈都是老师。他们离婚了。我有一个弟弟和一个妹妹。我很高兴结识新朋友这说汉语。 So this is very basic and broken sounding... but I wanted to put together a number of things I have learned. I find forcing myself to write is very helpful. I'm sure this is far from perfect and I welcome corrections. If you do correct please cross out incorrect areas and paste in correct characters in a different color. 谢谢！！！！！！

我很高兴能在今天回国！ 我很高兴能在今天回国！我在加拿大的劳累周出游。我将回到洛杉矶的夜晚。

Completed the October Challenge on 10/21

Anyone else studying Mandarin completed the challenge yet?

My New Blog... Lost in Chinese

I have set up my new blog to track my journey in learning Mandrain.  I invite everyone to check it out.  It is just starting but I will be updating weekly with new stuff.

 

www.lostinchinese.com

 

Best!

 

James

Mandarin Study Plans

I have been looking to learn Mandarin for the past couple years. I have not really jumped into the learning process until about a month ago. I am now looking to develop as much a possible over the next 12 months. Because I have extreme ADD and it is hard for me to wait for anything I have set my first goal in 3 month blocks. My personality type is really all in or nothing. I am planning a vacation trip (separate from my work trips) next year to mainland China with my partner to meet his parents. I want to speak, read and understand as much Mandarin as I possibly can.

 

Here is my first 3 month goal/program. I'm wondering what other people are doing or have done. I would appreciate any thoughts on my approach too.

 

italki Professional Lessons 60 mins 3-5 hours a week using New Practical Chinese Reader and Workbook.
Native speaker teaching many years on skype

 

YoYo Chinese following Beginner Program approximately 30 - 50 minutes a week
This program is great at explaining an simplifying a lot of what I cover in the Professional Lessons.

 

Pimsleur audio lessons 30 mins twice a day in the car to and from work.
Normally just the same lesson twice in one day. I find myself waking up in the mornings with the audio phrases running through my head. I guess this is a good thing.

 

Chinese Flash Cards Kit Volume 1: Characters 1-349
Reviewing the words I learn. Pulling new words in with every lesson. Will order volume 2 after then next 3 months.

 

Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: A Revolutionary New Way to Learn and Remember the 800 Most Basic Chinese Characters
I use this book more as a reference

 

My partner is a native Mandarin speaker and is completely fluent in both his native tongue and English. He is not a big fan of teaching me as he is busy wrapping up his PhD, but does help me some. I have a hand full of other native speaker friends here in LA. They are more open to helping me. LOL! In addition to all this I have started making a lot of connections here on italki.

 

My work is very supportive and I have recruited 3 additional people at my corporate office to also learn Mandarin. Once we get further along we intend on hosting at work study groups.

 

I watch TV shows and movies in Mandarin whenever I have time. Which is not very much with my work, graduate school, everyday life and language study. I still can not understand very much of the audio dialog. I do pick up basic phrases and words.

 

I do talk a lot... LOL!

 

I look forward to some responces.

 

 

Many New Friends I am very excited to have met many new friends very quickly here on italki. Though I have not yet had time to reply to them all I will try to send a message back to each one as soon as I have time this week. 很高兴认识大家！