Chinese Corner: How to pass HSK test
As many of you know, this Autumn I have started working at a Chinese language center where we train Chinese teachers and offer tutoring for foreigners in Mandarin Chinese. Tomorrow night will be the first event I’m organizing and I wanted to let everyone living in Guangzhou to know about it. Click to view larger flyer This event is all about the HSK test. Introducing the different levels of HSK, sharing tips on how to prepare, what to do on the exam and answer your questions about learning Chinese and testing your level. I will share how I learned Chinese and passed HSK6 and other students will share their own…
How To Apply For The Confucius Institute Scholarships
Today’s guest post comes from Emily who shares her experience and tips on how to apply for the Confucius Institute Scholarships and study in China for free. I started taking Chinese classes at the Confucius Institute last fall, and after finishing graduate school and moving back to my hometown, Portland, OR, United States. I was already planning a trip to China, but hadn’t decided when to go when I learned about the Confucius Institute Scholarships almost by accident. Although it meant going to China later than I had originally planned, I decided to apply, and was of course very happy that I got the scholarship to study Chinese at the…
Move to China and become a celebrity
If you are a white foreign woman like me, or otherwise different from the Chinese because of your appearance, be mentally ready to turn into a celebrity. Not that you would get movie roles as you get off the plane, but you might be much more noticed on the streets than you were back home. First you will hear those whispers (or more like shouts) around you: “看，是外国人！” “kàn, shì wàiguórén” “Look, it’s a foreigner!” Chinese people seem to make a hobby out of pointing out all the foreigners they see on the streets, restaurants and public transportation means. Two words for foreigner you hear the most are 外国人 wàiguórén …
Going to the gym in China – wearing a miniskirt!
Photo by HealthGauge I went to the gym today with my boyfriend and even though that is quite the news, I used to almost hate working out, but there was something much more interesting in the gym than my red face. As it was a Sunday afternoon, there weren’t that many people on the gym that is located at the Guangzhou University in Higher Educational Mega Center. I’ve heard about this kind of thing happening in the gym before, but hadn’t witnessed it myself before. So I almost didn’t believe my eyes when I saw this girl on a treadmill. Her body was like from the pages of a fashion…