Rocket Chinese Community

I'm in my mid 20's and come from Australia. Only stayed in Hong Kong, but did a day trip to Guangzhou.

I'd like to see the rest of China someday soon... just take a month off and see it all. It's a country that has always fascinated me. My initial interests were initially in everything Cantonese. I studied some wing chun, and really got into many of the classic films starring Jackie Chan and Sammo Hung etc...

I want to learn Cantonese some day, but thought I'd study the official language of China first, rather than a specific dialect. I'm just finding out that there's some great film from the mainland too. Watched a film called "Beijing Bicycle" a bit back, and it really moved me. I'm appreciating Chinese culture as a whole now.

So... I'm in a bit of a rut and need a new hobby. Something fresh and challenging. To be able to speak/read Chinese would be amazing for travel, and open up opportunities for me in the future I'm sure. My Prime Minister can speak fluent Mandarin, and this has further inspired me. He recommended that all Aussies' learn the language of probably our most important neighbour. Australia has a huge Chinese population too, so unlike say Japanese, the language will actually be useful outside of its Mother country.

Anyway, you've just bought the Rocket course, so why not get your moneys worth and contribute!?

Hi Mick,

welcome to Rocket Chinese. Australia is a beautiful country too! Yes, taking a month of to travel around China, sounds good.

Who else has been to China before?

It is good to see some activity here and to get some idea of others who have an interest in another language. I guess by comaparison I am ancient. I am 70 years of age travelled much of the world over many years and always managed to speak some of the basics before visiting a new country. After many years of engineering and management studies were completed I decided to learn Chinese. After all Australia is a significant part of Asia and has a large, and growing, chinese population. I began private lessons in my office commencing 1988 and continued for five years. I recorded the session and would play the tape back each day as I travelled to and from my office. Over the ensuing years I had three trips to China one with an organised group and two doing my own thing. Some of the places I visited were Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Guilin, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and of course several visits to Hong Kong. During these visits I found that my spoken Chinese was understood by most but the limited vocabulary I had made it difficult to understand all of the responses.

I have many chinese friends here in Australia in fact my closest friends here are Chinese and are my "adopted" family. Unfortunately they speak cantonese. Since I am now retired and have the time I wanted to refresh my knowledge of Mandarin and after considering all the options I chose Rocket Chinese. Even though much of it I have covered before, I find it is an excellent way in which they have developed this program. I am leaning more words and also learning more about the grammar and the way in which the same word can be used in different ways.

Hi Barry,
welcome to you too.
Your Chinese must be very good after studying it for so long. That's impressive.
Did you ever land in the old Hong Kong airport? Apparently that is an adventure of it's own when the plan flies past the sky scrapers and you feel like you could stretch your hand out and touch them, because it's so close!

Yes I have landed a few times at the old Hong Kong airport, and yes, it was an exciting landing. As for being good at Chinese, when I speak to someone who does not speak Chinese I sound good...however it is when you are in China and with locals who only speak Chinese either Putongha or another dialect, that you get to find out just how much you can understand. When you speak you know what you are saying and what you mean. But when a local has to underdstand you, then you know if you are really communicationg. It is then you get to know and understand how gratifying it is to speak another language.

Ni Hao, Nick and Berry, I'm Bill

I have less of a story as to why I want to learn Chinese. I just want to learn at least another language. Living here in the US, I first considered Spanish due to our Spanish speaking neighbors in the south or French because of Canada to the north.

But I work in engineering for a company that manufactures products in China. Then I realized that I have several engineering co workers that that their first language is Chinese. I often deal with intermediary companies that work with multiple companies in china whose first language is also Chinese. SO …. If I never even make to China, career wise Chinese is the best my choice for a second language and I will have the most opportunity to use.

So here I am

Hi, my name is Ruddy. I think the main reason why I want to learn Chinese because I want to create the chinese version of my website, and later on, because I also want to go to China (not for vacation but to live there). Wish me luck in learning, friends! I also take a private Chinese language course 3 times a week to speed up my process even more!

Hi.
I'm Charlie. I visited China for the first time this past November for ten days. I was in Beijing, Pinghu (near Shanghai), and Xi'an. I have determined to learn Mandarin and make a return visit. China is an amazing place!

Regards

Ni hao!

I'm a history teacher here in Texas. I enjoy learning languages (my favorite at the moment is Dutch) and knowing even a bit of a language makes relating class topics to "the real world" for my students. One of my majors (years ago!) was Latin, but that doesn't help much with Chinese. Although I've thought about studying Chinese in the past, we have a much more immediate reason to study NOW. Our son is a teacher in Seoul and is engaged to a lovely young lady from Shanghai (she's teaching at the same language school as our son). She speaks English, but her mother doesn't. I'd like to be able to talk to her mom. In fact, we are supposed to "chat" this weekend via "skype!"

Zaijian, Glenda

Hi there,

good luck with your skype call! Let us know if you need any specific expressions or need help with anything.
You will have a chance to learn so much interesting things about Chinese culture by having your future daughter in law as part of your family. That's great.