| Username |
Post |
| Kiran Sitoula |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 03:09 PM
Dear Friends,
One of the immense drawback of my career is that I only know Nepali, English and some Newari (was my first language when I was small but schooling killed it). I wish I had picked up additional foreign language as well.
After I graduated, some funny circumstances led to having a Chinese roommate. Only words I picked with "Ni How" and "Say Say" since I was more busy practicing spoken English with him.
Last year out of respect for my roommate (who is still in Beijing) and immense respect for Chinese Food and Culture, I spoke with the principal of my high school and recommended that we start Chinese Language. So my high school became the first school to teach Chinese Language in Nepal. Growing tourists from China and our next door location to future economic superpwoer make it a wise decision to learn/teach Chinese? I contribute the instructors salary of $1,000 a year.
I would like to request the Chinese speaking Nepali community to help me better understand the best approach for teaching Chinese Language to students of afe group 14-18. Sample of practice work books, beginners story books, tapes that helps student learn better and seek possibility of expanding this to other schools as well.
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| Da Ge |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 03:38 PM
Kiranji,
It is a huge step you have taken towards educating people about china and its great culture. Having spent almost a decade of my life, I feel special connection to this country and its wonderful people.
There are a lot of text books available for chinese language starting from beginners to advanced level. I don't remember which text books they used to teach me chinese whichever it was it was fun and interesting. It talked about different places and landmarks in Beijing although I was living in Nanjing at that time. It also gave us a lot of inside about chinese culture too.
There are few Nepali people who graduated with chinese language major from chinese universities. If you want their e-mail adress, I can give you their e-mail address. They will prabably be able to help you what would be good and what should be the goal for teenagers.
Well, let me know if you need any such help.
Da Ge
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| Trailokya Aryal |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 07:04 PM
Kiran-ji,
ni hao!!! Wow! good to know that there are nepalis out there who have started to understand the importance of the Chinese language and actually were successful in putting it in high-school curriculum of their alma-matar in nepal.
Now, if you ask me I reccomend that you sent these books to your school library. Each costs around $12 (US) but its the best Chinese learning book you can buy in the US. Its called Chinese Primer (Zhong wen ru men), published by the Princeton University Press. Its a set of 3 books [one is in characters and has to be read top-down, the other one is in pinyin, and the third one is a character work book). Its probably the best book to learn Chinese, both spoken and written.
There's a book callled Beginning Chinese (yale University Press, costs around $17 USD). The best thing about this book is, everything's in characters. Once the student is done reading the book, he will at least have a very good command of 500-800 characters. [a lot for the beginning students]
About movies: Let's skip that. BUt, i suggest you send them music CDs instead. Listening to music is the best way to learn the language. they have simple words, and students pick up songs pretty fast. Words are simple and by listening only they will end up learning around 200 new words. I suggest you to send them CDs of Ren Shi Qi whose songs were (and still are) very popular in China... Biswoji do you remember (ni zhong shi xin tai ruan, dui mian de nu hai kan guo lai.. and wo xiang ai de ni....).
About : najing and beijing uni [to people in the other thread]
yes, they are the most reputed schools in China, but as far as I know, you don't have to have chinese to get into these two schools. If you are a student in good academic standing and can prove to the admission committee that you are willing to learn Chinese, then they will let you in. But, you have to stduy Chinese for a year. The tuition fee is $2500 (USD), plus room and board.
What about Hu JIntao? da ge, biswoji, you guys spent more time ion China than I did, so what do you think of him? Will he turn out to be another Deng Xiaoping?
Trailokya
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| Da Ge |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 08:11 PM
TAji
I sensed some interest in chinese politics here. Chinese political drama is not as thrilling in America as it is in America. I have left china for several years. Hu Jintao was rooky into central government still living under the shadow of Zhu and Jiang. People did not have much faith in Jiang then let alone talk about Hu (at least my classmates and friends) since he was eclipsed by the success of Deng. But his success in handling Hongkong and other delicate issues have made a lot of chinese believer in him.
Each chinese leadership since 1949 has their own legacy. Mao, be it through massacre, and his cunningness, was able to restore some sense of pride, enthusiasm and optimism in chinese society. Before communists came to power, china was infested with corruption, prostitution, international humility, poverty, illiteracy and so on.... Albeit situation was different after 1957, the restoration of pride amongst chinese should be accredited to Mao.
Deng was known for opening the door and his famous saying "Does not matter it is white or black cat, as long as it catches a rat, it is a good cat". Chinese people enjoyed tremendous economical boom under him. It was very interesting to see this billion people to go through huge economical change. The positive attitude amongs the youth was prevalent. Although his legacy may be mired by 1989 case but his guidance is the reason why china enjoys such economic and military superiority today in internation arena.
Jiang, may not be as significant as Mao and Deng, was able to implement one country two system devised by Deng and unite Hongkong and Macao. Recovering pride of chinese people received a boost after the successful unification (so to say assimilation) of Hongkong. He should be accredited for being able to steer the chinese economy safely during the asian econonmy collapse few years ago. China was doing well when four dragons of Asia suffered major recession and inflation.
As far as Hu goes, I don't know how strong he is going to be. China is clearly in cross road of history. The change to democratic system is inevitable as its economy continues to progresse. Urbanization of vast chinese rural population is going to happen and that will bring the issues of decentralization. Decentralization will weaken the central government and may result a havoc in the society. His challenge is going to be delicately balancing the process of decentralization without losing the control. Hopefully in process, china does not become another Russia. It will be a sad day in the world if it happens. Let's hope he can maneuver the chinese economy and china well through this historical time.
TA ji this is my opinion. Hope this satisfies your question.
Da Ge
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 05-Mar-02 08:33 PM
I will be writing in length later, but here is my short view on Hu. I think he is a
talented leader, and will handle China well. I was there when students were
protesting against US bombing in Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, and Hu went to
TV to quell the students. Hu is liberal and will further democratic process(in snail
pace, we know!). He will probably cling to power for at least ten years, if nothing
drastical happens. His image is very good. For Nepal, the Chinese policy will be
same even when Hu comes. He will remain true friend of Nepal.
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| Kiran Sitoula |
Posted
on 06-Mar-02 07:28 AM
Dear Trailokya and other gentleman,
Thank you for your response. Would appreciate new e-mail contacts of people having Chinese Language Background. If anyone remembers the ISBN numbers of these books or could help me do a little research I'd be much obliged. Thank you in advance.
Kind regards,
Kiran Sitoula
sitoula@yahoo.com
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| bale |
Posted
on 08-Mar-02 04:41 PM
Kiran,
count me in for portion of annual donation for this endeavour!
this is a good direction. We all talk about having mega resources on the North and the South. It all starts with communicaiton and this is where it all begins.
cheers!
Bale
Thamel.com
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