Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Some More Resources For Learning Mandarin

I thought I'd share with you what I've been doing lately to try to learn as much Mandarin as I can by pointing out various resources that I regularly use to help in my learning. At this point, I can read a few common characters (about 50) and I can understand and speak some basic phrases.

I have already learned several songs I like and I will be enrolling in Mandarin classes at the end of March and I have several books and learning material to go through.

Whenever I can and whenever I'm on the computer (either surfing or blogging), I'll usually turn on the Internet radio station that plays Mandarin music. The site I go to connect is at Mandarin Radio and they usually play some current hits along with music that is not too old. This is the place where I get to know the music that's out there.

Unfortunately, like most other Internet radio stations, they are going to have to start paying royalties, which means they'll start limiting access unless you become a paid member. At this point, I'm not sure where I'll go to get up-to-date with Mandarin music.

If there are words or phrases (such as lyrics to songs) that are written in Chinese and I don't understand, what I'll usually do is bring up the Babel Fish page and I'll cut and paste the text I can't read and have it translated. Of course, the translations are 100% understandable, but at least you'd get the literal meaning.

Is there a Chinese word that you'd like to know how to pronounce? Check out the Chinese-English Dictionary where you can copy and paste a Chinese word, do a search, and it will return what it means and how to say it (using PinYin) along with several common uses of the word. To start the dictionary, click on the button "Start Chinese English Dictionary". Unfortunately, you can only do one Chinese character at a time.

Want to watch Mandarin TV? Well now you can! I found this site that has several live streaming TV stations that you can watch through the web - and it's free! They have several TV stations from Beijing, Taiwan, and several other cities. I've been checking out several of these TV stations and I was able to catch some talk shows, some TV dramas, and news. In fact, some of the shows have English subtitles! Check it out at Chinese Internet Television via Multilingual Books (scroll down to the bottom of the page for the list of TV stations).

Another great source of learning is a set of books I got called "Integrated Chinese". In it, it teaches you the basics and how to read and write both traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese. I have both the textbook and the workbook and I have just started to explore their online tools they have as well. I have the Level 1, Part 1 textbook and workbook, which will teach you about 350 Chinese words and how to use them. Once I complete this set of books, I may go on to Level 1, Part 2, which will introduce another 600 Chinese words. You can get these books through any online book retailer or bookstore.

Finally, you can always find Mandarin music videos or Mandarin TV shows on YouTube. In fact, you might be able to find complete TV series WITH English subtitles at YouTube, so be on the lookout. If you have trouble searching for that favorite Mandarin song, I find that it sometimes helps if you actually have the Chinese name of the singer and possibly the Chinese name of the song when you are doing your search.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Angela Chang (張韶涵)

I have to admit that when I first heard some of Angela Chang's (張韶涵) songs, I didn't really like them...at first. After hearing them a couple more times, I started enjoy some of her music somewhat, so I went looking for some of her music videos.

When I listened to some more of her music, again, I didn't really like them at first, but after hearing them a couple of times, I started liking them some more.

When researching a little more about her, I was surprised that she emigrated to Canada for a while and attended school here, but then went back to Taiwan to persue her acting and singing career.

Here are a few songs of her's that I heard and liked the first time I heard it - either because I liked the melody of the lyrics or I liked the opening tune of the song. Keep in mind that YouTube appears to be slowly removing her music videos from the site so the videos below may or may not play. These and other vidoes by Angela Chang can be found at my Mandarin Music Videos group at YouTube

First, here is "Wonderland Flower" (夢裡花) (Meng Li Hua):



Next is "My Favorite" (
我的最愛) (Wo De Zui Ai):


Lastly, here is "Journey Of Love" (
愛情旅程) (Ai Qing Lu Cheng):

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

David Tao (陶喆) Concert

First I want to say that I'm back and I've gotten myself all organized so that I can continue with regular postings. Things have been busy lately as I've been really focusing a lot of my attention to what I do for a living.

But I'm a firm believer in having balance in your life and I think this blog helps balance my own life and I've neglected it for too long.

Anyways, David Tao (
陶喆) is coming to Toronto for a concert and I've got tickets! Late last year I started listening to some of his songs and I really like how he doesn't try to be someone he isn't.

Most of his music is of a slower variety - some R&B mixed in with some slow rock so I'm looking forward to the concert which is being held here in Toronto at the Air Canada Centre on Thursday March 29 for his "Love Can World Tour".

And like I said, I'll be back with regular postings so this blog can get moving again. One thing to note - I've noticed more and more Mandarin music videos being removed from YouTube and it's making things very difficult to either post them in this blog (for fear of video removal) and for the Music Video Group I have going on at YouTube.

Needless to say, it's making my source of Mandarin music a little more hard to come by.

Like I said, this blog is back up and running, so stay tuned for more posts!

Sunday, January 28, 2007

My New Favorite Singer - Elva Hsiao (蕭亞軒)

I only recently started listening to some of Elva Hsiao's (蕭亞軒) songs and I found that I really liked most of her songs (which is hard to say these days). Usually with most artists I've heard, I'd like one or two songs, but then I find I don't like any of their other songs...not so with Elva.

I must have heard 10 of Elva's songs back to back and I was surprised that I like each and every one of them!

Her albums are now at the top of my "Must Have" list.

Here are three of her songs that I simply can't stop listening to.

The first has a great funky vibe that I love - here is "Suddenly Thinking Of You" (突然想起你):

Next is "His & Her Story" (他和她的故事):

Lastly, this is "Kiss" (吻):


Remember, all videos I post up on this blogsite can be found in the YouTube group I created and can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/group/mandarin


I am constantly adding more and more Mandarin music videos that I like to the group, so be sure to visit often!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

New YouTube Music Video Group




































Hey folks. I've been real busy lately, but I just wanted to let you folks know that I've just set up a new group in YouTube where I have collected over 100 Mandarin music videos. The group can be found here:

http://www.youtube.com/group/mandarin


I've collected music videos by Jay Chou, Jolin Tsai, S.H.E., F.I.R., Nan Quan Mama, Elva Hsiao, Angela Chang, Chen Lin, Angela An, Tank, Vicki Zhao, and Fish Leong. I'll continue to add more music videos to music I like over time.

Please let me know what you think via comments either here or at the group message board at YouTube. If you have a song suggestion or an artist suggestion, let me know and I'll have a listen and if I like it, then I'll add it to the group as well.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Some Sad Songs By Jolin Tsai (蔡依林)

Sorry for the absence...I've just been real busy trying to get my act together for the New Year.

Anyways, lately I've been listening to more and more of Jolin Tsai's (蔡依林) music and I've been starting to like her more and more.

Here are a couple of sad songs from her album J-Game. So if you've just broken up, miss someone, or you have a crush on someone you can't have, here are some songs for you...

Here is "Repeat Note" (反覆記號) (Fan Fu Ji Hao):

And here is "Missing You" (好想你) (Hao Xiang Ni):

This is "Sky" (天空) (Tian Kong):

Finally, a song not on the J-Game album, but from her Dancing Diva album - it's "Pretence" or "Pretending" (假装) (Jia Zhuang):