we don't believe in "One-size-fits-all" that's why we offer Tailor-Made Mandarin Classes!
Club Event
Mandarin Speaking Time
Jun 1, 2012 - Learn Mandarin Chinese - 95th Mandarin Speaking Time
“用所学中文与中国企业家畅谈文化、经济，现场磨练语言的绝好机会！
An excellent opportunity to talk about Chinese culture and economy in Mandarin language with Chinese entrepreneurs !”
- Thinking about working in China?
- Thinking about doing business in China?
- Thinking about living in China?
- Thinking about studying in China?
- Thinking about Practice Mandarin with local people?
2012 is the year of the dragon!
Are you ready?
Chinese business is eager to develop new relationships with Canadian companies and entrepreneurs.
This “Mandarin Speaking Time” will give you more information about Chinese culture, business etiquette and customs.
This “Mandarin Speaking Time” is specifically for students who have been learning mandarin at Toronto Chinese Academy.
Location:
Financial District Centre
121 Richmond Street West Unit 806
Toronto, ON
Telephone: +1 416 888 1285
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Time Duration:
6:30PM – 8:30PM on Friday June 1, 2012.
Jan 18, 2012 - My Mandarin Speaking Time
- Zsuzsa Bodolay
First time I heard about the conversation evening at Toronto Chinese Academy I thought: ‘What could I say with my very limited Mandarin vocabulary and topics to other students in the school?’ I read many texts and memorized a few grammatical structures when finally I took my courage to attend on the conversation corner. On the first occasion I realised that I could have come much much earlier. The Mandarin corner is not only for native speakers, not only for advanced level students and not only for beginners but for everyone who really wants to get one step forward. All students find an encouraging atmosphere and time to introduce himself or herself with as many words as he or she can. Everybody could realize that the others understand his or her pronunciation and listen carefully to him or her. For me – similarly to many people who have no Mandarin speaking friends – it was the first chance to start talking Mandarin. I have never seen anybody getting embarrassed during the evening, on contrary, most of the time I see the pride and newly realized confidence on everybody’s face after a well finished story or self-introduction. I held it a very good idea that Huang Laoshi and Hong Laoshi are taking their time and inviting all students to take part and on top of that it is free of charge.
- : Xīn Hun Kuài Lè!! 新婚快乐！！
- Today Annabel was married. Her husband is Chinese and very good-looking. Annabel and Lan met for the first time in New Zealand. Annabel is very interested in Mandarin language and culture. She not only studies Chinese herself, but when she has children she wants them to study Chinese as well! At the wedding she made a speech in Mandarin.
希望大家 吃好， 喝好， 玩好！
- [今天Annabel结婚了， 她的先生是一位很英俊的中国人。
- Annabel和Lan 是在新西兰见面的。
- Annabel非常喜欢中国语言文化，
- 她不仅自己坚持学习中文，而且她说以后她的孩子也要好好学习中文。
- 在婚礼那天她用中文做了简短的演讲：
- 有朋自远方来， 不亦乐乎！
- 希望大家 吃好， 喝好， 玩好！]
A: Nǐ shǔ shénme (你属什么)?
B: wǒ shǔ tù（我属兔）!!
- People born in the Year of the Rabbit： are reasonably friendly individuals who enjoy the company of a group of good friends. They are good teachers, counsellors and communicators, but also need their own space.
- Chinese New Year starts with the New Moon on the first day of the new year and ends on the full moon 15 days later. The 15th day of the new year is called the Lantern Festival, which is celebrated at night with lantern displays and children carrying lanterns in a parade. The Year of 2011 is the Year of the Golden Rabbit（兔年tù nián ）, which begins on February 3, 2011 and ends on January 22, 2012. The Rabbit is the fourth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 animals signs (The Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig). The Rabbit is a lucky sign. Rabbits are private individuals and a bit introverted.
Jiā Yóu! Every one!!! You can do it!!
- Today everyone was trying to explain that ‘Chinese Gift-Giving Etiquette’ with limited Chinese words.
- If you're giving a pen, or signing a card, stay away from red ink. That is a symbol of severing ties. Clocks can symbolize death, and food can connote poverty.
- The number 8 is considered lucky, so giving or receiving 8 items is a good thing. Just avoid the number four, which in Cantonese, is a lot like the word for death.
Jiā Yóu! Every one!!! You can do it!!
- An exercise - Practicing to Make questions in Chinese!’ Is a main idea on today’s speaking time. Although it took great patience, everyone had joined and no one say “不（bù）”.
- ** Some Tips for Mandarin Language Learners
- Do not worry about making mistakes.
- Find ways to make language learning fun.
- Try to set aside some time (30minutes) every day for your studies.
- Revise and review regularly.
- Build on solid foundations.
- Set yourself targets.
- Focus on your interests.
- Don't be discouraged by apparent lack of progress.
Jiā Yóu! Every one!!! You can do it!!
- Today, one student just traveled back from Beijing, and told us about her interesting trip to China. The trip boosted her confidence in speaking Mandarin. She could easily communicate with Chinese people anywhere in the city. We were all surprised to hear that she had a very unique and interesting bargaining method. This method will be used for teaching bargaining lessons to our students in the future. This stimulated lively discussion about Beijing.
- All students appreciated the wonderful 北běi京jīng小xiǎo吃chī (Beijing Snack) she brought us from Beijing.
- By the way, she brought us a new map to use in the classroom for our students, because the city has developed and changed so much in the past a couple of years that the old one no longer can be used.
- Before finishing, we made a short story for Lao Fu Zi and learned Chinese Idiom - 生shēng财cái有yǒu术shù.
图片摘自王泽漫画作品全集中文版
- The students were relaxed after their previous sessions together at the Chinese Speaking Time, so even students joining the Time for the first Chinese Speaking Time made conversation easily.
- Students figured out the difference between Taiwanese & Mandarin, Cantonese & Mandarin, and even Japanese & Korean. Some students told us their own funny stories from when they had travelled to the above regions.
- We made a story again for a cartoon while we were enjoying Japanese cookies and Russian chocolates.
- It was awesome!
图片摘自王泽漫画作品全集中文版
- Just a few students came today, but we had a good Chinese Speaking Time with a lot of talking.
- Students taught each other, and tried their best to explain the words in Chinese. Through the conversation, students learned how to make an explanation.
- Once again, we made an excellent story for the cartoon – lǎo Fū Zǐ. After that, they learned a very popular Chinese idiom – dà shī suǒ wàng （which means to be disappointed）. It was a very practical speaking Time even though students felt a little challenged.
- Today, students had their first taste of Chinese traditional breakfast – yóu tiáo & dòu jiāng.
- We all had a great Chinese Speaking Time.
图片摘自王泽漫画作品全集中文版
- More students came today. They talked freely in Chinese and learned from each other.
- In the second half of the meeting, each student tried to make a story for a famous Chinese cartoon - Lǎo Fū Zǐ.
- In this meeting, our students expanded their vocabulary and learned how to tell a story in Chinese.
- As in the 1st Speaking Time, we all enjoyed beautiful food - Russian cake, which was brought by one of the students.
- It was a challenging Chinese Speaking Time for the teachers, because the students’ level was so different. Certainly it will help us improve in the future.
图片摘自王泽漫画作品全集中文版
- All participants introduced themselves and asked each other questions in Chinese. Students practiced what they had learned in the classroom, such as introductions, formulating questions, and describing things.
- It was a very lively Speaking Time, not only because it was fun to speak, but because of the tasty foods prepared by the teachers, such as Chinese tea, sushi and cookies.
