In this blog post, I talk about two Chinese ideas: 躺平 (tǎng píng) (lying flat) and 内卷 (nèi juǎn) (involution). 躺平 (tǎng píng) means choosing a simpler life, while 内卷 (nèi juǎn) describes a society where competition becomes overwhelming. I share my experiences in China, where I've felt both 躺平 (tǎng píng)'s peace and 内卷 … Continue reading 躺平 or 内卷?
Category: Language Learning
Chinese Writing Test – Handwriting
Today was the day of my Chinese exam, where I had to write essays by hand. Though I hadn't practiced much, the midterms for Comprehensive Chinese and Writing went okay. Using characters I'd rehearsed, I managed to finish both tests satisfactorily, easing initial fears of relying solely on the pinyin. *To my foreign friends: I tried … Continue reading Chinese Writing Test – Handwriting
Student life in China
In my third week at Chongqing University studying Chinese, I'm adjusting to early morning classes and changing weather. From hot days like Texas summers to cooler ones like Dalat, it's been quite a ride. I start my day with simple breakfasts like cereal or sandwiches to keep me going through class. Besides the basics like … Continue reading Student life in China
Should learning be fun?
A “social media crisis” that my company experiences has left me a chance to reflect on what we have been doing and reinforced my faith in the company’s mission, that is to create a joyful learning experience for language learners, who have different learning styles, purposes and motivations. I also come to realize that, there … Continue reading Should learning be fun?
Old but gold
As an English teacher, I have been obsessed with teaching my students using the most updated textbooks or materials. However, this textbook for intermediate learners have changed my mindset about textbooks which were published a long time ago. It's a great choice for my students even though it has been more than 10 years old. … Continue reading Old but gold
How did I become fluent in Chinese? (Part 2)
In the previous article, I wrote about how I used an app to teach myself Chinese. However, there are other methods and activities involved in my Chinese learning journey. They are: singing in Chinese, creating Chinese podcasts, finding language partners, making use of WeChat and watching a lot of short videos on Douyin. Let’s find … Continue reading How did I become fluent in Chinese? (Part 2)
How did I become fluent in Chinese? (Part 1)
I had my very first encounter with the Chinese language back when I was still a college student, but things didn’t really work out until I figured out a mobile application that has helped me to reach the level of fluency I have right now. I have also achieved certain accomplishments as a Chinese learner … Continue reading How did I become fluent in Chinese? (Part 1)
Practicing my English speaking skills with an app for READING
Blinkist is my all-time favorite app for reading, but it has assisted me in English speaking practice for the past 100 days. By reading aloud the book content and doing a personal reflection at the end of every session, I have significantly improved my English pronunciation and speaking skills while acquiring useful knowledge from the … Continue reading Practicing my English speaking skills with an app for READING
Unhiverse 