What i like to see happening at the Club?

We may have voice this before but I feel it time to hear it again and better still if someone take the initiatives.

A matter close to my heart is to start a Mandarin speaking session for those wanting to improve their Mandarin conversation with one another.

The other idea is to start a Book Club for those avid readers who want to share their passion for reading and to encourage one another with setting goal to read more books.

As with any concern, just to put up a post can be life threatening. We worry for the responses, we worry how is the reaction and we just worry worry.

Give your encouragement here and if there is enough show of hands I will buck up and do something.

Dan

54 thoughts on “What i like to see happening at the Club?”

  1. Dan,

    Share with the club your ideas. What is in your mind? If members know what your ideas are, this may help them to sync with you. A book club can take different formats. A Mandarin class can also take different forms.

    Tell us. It cannot be this life threatening.

    Terence Seah

  2. Hi Dan
    I like your speak mandarin session with the aim of improving one’s spoken mandarin. :) My feedback is since there’s an objective to achieve, the oral sessions should have, at least, a general structure and not be the ‘play-by-ear’ kind. May be you could begin with a brainstorming session with two/three interested members to get their input on how the sessions can be run. Count me in for the brainstorming if time and venue permit me to attend. Tks.

  3. I am always excited when people are interested in Mandarin, or the official Chinese language. To know the language, you must know the culture. To know the culture you must know the history. FIVE thousand years of civilisation is something to crow about. Dan, I am glad to share with you my little knowledge of Chinese in general, and Mandarin in particular, otherwise known as Pu Tong Hua.

    For a start, let me share with you, and everybody keen in this subject, the Tang poems – in traditional Chinese writing and English translation.

    http://musicated.com/syh/TangPoems.htm

    The next time we meet we shall speak Mandarin.
    ???????????

  4. Terence,
    There is in some of us a desire to do, to learn and to achieve some thing that we have missed out along life journey. Learning to speak Mandarin is what I hope to do. I am sure there are like-minded member out there. So let’s put ourselves together and do something. To start with a show of hands is needed.
    Jassmine, glad you concur. Let’s make it happen!
    Daniel Chan, you are just the man we are looking for. Well-versed in spoken and writing English and a brilliant bi-lingual as that. We see the moderator in you. Come and help us to improve. The example you set out in the links is what I am looking for.
    As a child growing up I deeply regret that my parent did not send me to study Chinese in Primary School. I love to listen to Chinese songs but never get to understand them. Each time I listen to Zhang Fung Fung sangs the Chinese opera, I am delighted and kept listening again and again but alas what was she singing and yearning for I am yet to know.
    Dan

  5. Hellooooooooo Ah Kor Dan, Jassmine and Daniel,

    ???????????? (I would like to learn how to text in Chinese)

    I was struggling to post above in Chinese from my phone but give up so got someone to translate and text me the flwg msg.
    If there is sufficient interest like mine, I would love to participate.

    Cheers to all

  6. Yes, Daniel! Would be great if you can story tell your knowledge on Chinese history, culture and the classics. Can do on weekends or will try to take weekday afternoons off, if permissible i.e.

  7. Hi Dan & Daniel,
    Yes… Schooling in the fifties where mandarin was not perceived as an important and useful language, I had sadly missed the opportunity to master the language. Today like quite a number of English speaking members , particularly the older ones, we all had great difficulties mastering even a few spoken mandarin phrases to get us by at the foodcourt , mrt, market place etc.
    Dan’s idea is a great one and should be followed through.
    Thank to Daniel.. I think as a guide, he is most suitable.
    Jiang huayi… jia you jia you

  9. Hi all, particularly Dan H.

    For a start we shall focus on conversation. The writing part can come later. Believe me, thats tough for beginners. Honestly, I cannot write Chinese without prompting from the PC.

    In Taiwan, Mandarin speaking is referred to as ?? (national language)
    In China, it is commonly known as ??? (pu tong hua)
    And here we call it ?? (Chinese) or ?? (Mother-tongue)

    Anyway the spoken language is largely similar, notably that certain items are termed differently in different places. We are often in a dilemma between American and British English. Similarly, it can be quite challenging if we want to be precise when we are in China or Taiwan. Singapore, being the melting pot has all the ingredients to make a good rojak. So when in Singapore, just enjoy the rojak.

    Yes, I can share some of my knowledge in Chinese, usually in a fun way. Hate to see participants zzzzzz. Bishan CC is under renovation, adding more floors – and rooms. It should be ready by early Sept. No promise but will try to get a room.

  10. Hi Freda,
    No worry just come and learn, i am sure Daniel will enlighten us.
    Daisy, not sure about learning chinese history yet. I am content just to improve my spoken Mandarin.
    Charles, we are on the same boat trying to learn our mother language at this late point in life. Well, never too late we will persevere and get a kick out from the learning process.
    Susan, come on board.
    Daniel, your links to those poem a bit too cheem for us. We just want to get by learning here and there. Perhaps starting with kaoreke singing would help us along.
    Let’s begin by finding a suitable place to meet with as of now 7 interested pax. Anyone with any suggestions share with us here. I am sure with Daniel we will have a hilarious time together!
    Dan

  11. Daniel & Dan

    Learning must be fun too, right? If you can add in a Chinese karaoke I’ll join.

    Took me a laborious 1 month to study by heart the Hokien lyrics for the Bak Zhang song but I think it”s easier to study some Chinese and pick up a Chinese song.

    Daniel with you as instructor, I think it will be fun!

  12. Hi Dan & Dan

    It’ll be fun learning with friends ~ pl count me in.

    BCC would be convenient for me as it’s the venue for my uke jamming too.

    Good luck & cheers…..

  13. Can I join in? My schooldays, from primary to university were spent in Penang, Malaysia (but I am a Singaporean now). I was educated in English medium schools. Never learnt to speak or write Chinese. But, the funny thing is, growing up, I listen more to Chinese songs than to English songs; although I enjoy both, I favour more Chinese. I frequently attend concerts by older Chinese singers, e.g. Ching San, Cai Qin, Fei Yu Ching, Fong Fei Fei, etc.

    Having lived in Singapore for over 20 years, I have picked up a little Chinese, and I can understand maybe about 20% spoken Chinese, but I don’t practice speaking so can hardly speak (writing and reading is almost zero).

    So, if the club is having Chinese appreciation classes, I would like to join if I may (but I have probably to start from Std 1, ha!ha!).

    Thanks.

    sb

  14. Hi Susan, wow you sang very well the ‘bak chang’ song that night. We didn’t realized that much effort you put in. Yes, we hope that Daniel will help us start on the right footing.
    Gabriella, glad you can join us.
    Sbkoo, still not late for us to catch up with our sifu Daniel.
    I can listen to almost any evergreen hokkien or cantonese songs on Youtube. Most time I listen when playing online chess. The setback for listening on Youtube is to make sure you sign up with a proper broadband package otherwise don’t be surprised if you get a a big bill to settle with the telco at the end of the month.

    Dan

  15. Hi Dan,

    Xie xie. We’ll have to wait until next month for this to start and I can picture a hilarious classroom like the Mind Your Language sitcom as the ocbcs try to jiang huayu amongst ourselves. Daniel is away hence the silence – I’m curious which day of the week does he intend to hold the classes – weekend maybe cos he is working. But it could be weekday in the evening who knows.

    Maybe after class we can limkopi – talk about that let’s welcome any new member to this learning and fun activity and join us for the limkopi after that.

  16. Hi Susan,
    Not to worry, I will check out the Kolam Ayer CC on a Sunday afternoon from 1.00-5.00pm. Is this a a good timing for most of you?
    Yesterday during the durian trip I learn something new, ‘nan ren pu huai, ni ren pu ai’.
    Quite enlightening!

    Dan

  17. Good morning everyone,

    Susan is correct – its important to get the hanyu pinyin spelt out correctly. I wanted to practice reading ??, so i start by using d phone to communicate but get impatient when it takes too much time to select d right word so ea time i give up hence never improve. Yeap, learning ?? thru a favorite song is another way to get started…….seriously, is there shortcut course or faster way to learn to spell in hanyu pinyin or not ha??

    Cheers

  18. Hi Dan and All

    Its a good idea to moot the learning of chinese/mandarin. Generally most of us do pick up some pointers through karaoke which is one of the media to learn.
    Unfortunately most of the karaoke songs come with the wade-giles system and can be “dialect” influence unlike the hanyu pinyin which is commonly use when chinese characters are needed through mobile phone or computer.

    I believe I am in Charles’ group on the aspect of chinese language in not taking seriously, however am quite comfortable with hanyu pinyin though not an expert but enough for me to send simple sms and email. This is with a little effort and the
    aid of a dictionary. We need Daniel (who is in the class of his own with the Tang,s poem) to start with ??? and hopefully more chinese speaking which we encountered during “Life Matters” as new members. Will like to board this “chinese ship” when it dock and I am at the pier.

    Cheers to all
    Lam

  19. I would also like to improve my ?? – one subject in school which I always
    get F9. Hahaha….
    Hope to join the group if timing is suitable for me.

    Cheers,
    Constance

  20. Hi Freda & All

    A good Hanyu Pinyin/English (and vice versa) dictionary will help much. You can get the basic or the advanced version. It even has the 4 tones indicated – to get your intonation correct.

  21. For a good English-Chinese dictionary and vice versa, I use Google Translate.
    It can even accept phrase and with “Go” keyboard, can accept handwriting inputs.
    They can be downloaded tru Apps store. Try it, very useful.

  22. Hi Freda (re. comment 5)
    You want to learn how to text in Chinese, not learn Chinese, right? Why that will take only 10 – 20 seconds of ‘tutorial’. No need to attend a class. lol!
    Are u using Samsung phone? Can tell you how to change keyboard language.

  23. It seems there are so many ways to help us improve our Mandarin. Thanks to all who share the tools that are available to us. When we get to meet together all of you can tell us how to go about it.

    So Freda, Sbkoo, Goh Ah Lam and Constance, we are in good hands with kind and useful contributions from Sock Cheng, James Tan and Jassmine and of course Daniel, the man for all seasons.

    Whatever tools we have, bring it along whether it the Iphone, Ipad, Samsung Tab or Note.

    I am targeting to meet on Aug 25, Sunday. Daniel, hope you can make it. 1.00pm-3.00pm serious sharing and learning by karoeke singing or various methods.3.00pm – 5.00pm, we enjoy karaoke singing, fellowshiping, how dat?

    Dan

  24. Hi Jassmine – 20 mins tutorial? How encouraging but will it be difficult to get d accurate pitch variation right ha? I m using Iphone 5, to change keyboard language we tap the Globe, whereas the Samsung I believe you slide the space tab?

    Hi seok cheng – Thanks for the remainder, yes dictionary is must hv tool, now I must look for tiny handy pinyin (4 tones) dictionary to put inside my bag. Think I need a lot of patience to get the intonation correct, perhaps it just getting use to it………

    Hi James – thanks, I used Google Translate for email not for text message, its too time consuming might as well pick up the phone and TALK ……….hahaha

    Hi Dan – I am picturing myself writing hanyin pin yin on the song lyrics while the Karaoke Crooners sang their lungs off (Sunday or Sat is good but need to schedule ahead, I also need to try on d dictionary first). One more venue option for this “Mind Your Language Session” is the Maple Leaf (a small coffee and cakes outlet) at Tg Pagar CC, if we hv interested singers we may get someone who may be interested to bring his music equipment over to Maple Leaf to play for d group?

    Cheers to all who responded……

  25. Thanks Freda, we definitely will try whatever gadgets we can lay our hands on to better ourselves. The Maple Leaf cafe is a good place to meet. I will find time to recce.

    We will decide after our first meeting whether to do it once or twice a month.

    Meanwhile our first meeting is confirmed.
    Kolam Ayer Community Club.
    August 25 Sunday.
    Time: 1:00-5:00pm.
    Please indicate your interest here. Daniel, we need you. Is the date OK if not I will pick another date.

    Those who speak good Mandarin are welcome to join us. We want to rub shoulders with you to improve our mother language.

    Dan.

  26. Hi Freda
    Less than 20 seconds is all it takes to change the Samsung phone keyboard to the one with the globe symbol for language input. You are way ahead of the starter’s class, lah!

  27. Hi Dan
    Interested members seem to have different level of Mandarin proficiency – from almost zero spoken Chinese to conversant. I think it’s better to divide the learning group into two – can’t speak group and can speak but cannot read/pronounce well. Material used (songs?) should be different tho methodology can be similar. Eg. For 1st group – use kindergarten songs like ???, etc, where there are only a handful of simple words to learn. 2nd group can learn Chinese evergreens like ??? where many words are repetitive, and use hanyu pinyin to guide.
    Role play is very important in learning to speak a language – make sure learners speak as much as possible.

    2-ct’s worth

  28. Hi Dan

    I concur with Susan starting with a karaoke session strictly chinese or dialect songs. Believe each of us have a few chinese/dialect fav songs and lets follow the romanized wordings and blah out the songs according to our understanding and laugh ourselves out.

    Dan, thanks for rolling the ball with 25th Aug as the first mtg. Barring any unforeseen circumstance- count me in.

    Thanks
    Lam

  30. Just type a long comment and press the wrong button and everything disappeared. This is the second time, why ah?
    Jassmine, thanks for enlightening us. I am beginning to experience some headaches before even starting. Never in my life have I taken a single Panadol and now I feel the need to. How do we cater for the different level of understanding among us? Daniel Chan, can you help us with a plan? Do we really need to have two groups? Should we adhere to strict rules, only mandarin karaoke are allowed.
    Thanks Goh Ah Lam for the support.
    Susan, it not easy to find a suitable place that please everybody. I managed to get this place through Pearl Wong who have invited us for karaoke singing on a few occasions. Anyhow we are here to have a whale of a time and to laugh our hearts out. Map and bus and Mrt routes will be out soon.
    Dan

  32. Jasmine,
    Okie lah, otherwise I will sing my heart out as the place was booked. To make it easier those coming to learn come for the 1:00-3:00pm session. Those coming just for karoeke come at 3:00pm, how dat?

    Dan

  33. Good news is our lao-shi-to-be is coming back on 10 Aug and is just as keen as us to join in the fun. I’ll be there at 3.00 pm for the karaoke, ok?

    Cheers

  34. More good news from our Lao Shi, Daniel Chan. He is scouting for teaching materials ~ haha. Also advised that karaoke songs are good for learning Mandarin.

    Looking forward to our fun and hilarious Mandarin lessons ~

  35. Hi Dan (re. comment on 7/8. 3.55pm)
    Am not sure what you were referring to. Organising something is always difficult. You could consider delegating some of the work.
    btw, I’m not free to attend the ‘event’ on the 25th. Apologies.

  36. Jassmine,
    In response to your concurring with Susan about waiting for response I wrote in jest about singing my heart out. You have been a very strong supporter and many of your ideas are well conceived. I was hoping that you will help with looking after the ‘babies’ like me and Daniel Chan will deal with those able to walk for short distance. No malice intended and I do appreciate your valuable suggestions. Since you are unable to attend on Aug 25 we have to make do with other helpers. I will be at a loss how to help each one of you and hope to see those who speak Mandarin well to join us. Please share with us any ideas to help us get by.

    As Daniel C is on holiday, we will wait patiently for him to return and suggest how we should run the show. This gathering is strictly for fun and learning and for us to able to laugh at ourselves while learning. No one should be under any kind of stress.
    We have 4 hours to kill. let’s learn and improve on our mother’s tongue and 2 hours we have devoted to serenading each other, enjoy!
    Dan

  37. Hi Dan
    I’m only a step or two ahead of members who can’t speak in Mandarin, but if they don’t mind learning from someone who speaks only so-so Mandarin, I’ll prepare a lesson at the end of which learners will learn at least 10 Chinese words, 10 Chinese phrases and be able to greet and carry out a simple conversation in Mandarin.
    I’m only free to do this on a weekday (2.30 -4pm). If the group is small we can use a corner of “Food Junction” at NEX shopping mall.
    Guess that’s the best I can offer. LOL!

  38. ???????, ???????.
    ???????, ???????.
    (?????)

    Literally and loosely translated,
    Curiously pondering how jade come from humble sand.
    Deliriously wondering how now is my royal friend.
    I don’t believe I shall lead a life that is forever in tears.
    With this dress, I shall rekindle my love, my dear.

    This simple poem enabled a young concubine – after the demise of the emperor and sentenced to be a nun for the rest of her life – to eventually command and control China for half a century. That was about 1500 years ago. Among other things, she had brought glamour and glory to the Tang Dynasty, and boosted it to be the greatest empire in the whole wide world.

    The “royal friend” in the poem refers to the prince and heir to the throne, who had had an intimate affair with this lovely concubine. Indeed, it was humble sand to the most precious jade.

    However, as with many past emperors and present leaders, it is always “Power corrupts and Absolute Power corrupts absolutely”. In her quest to remain in power, she did insidious, sometimes inhuman, things to her people. She did not have a good ending, but that is another story.

    OK…back to the “Mandarin Lessons”
    Desperate Dan, you there?

  39. ???

    Hi Daniel – ?? for me to read into Chinese poems……
    Hi Dan – appreciate your starting the ball rolling, hope there r others who like me struggling with texting in Chinese characters ………
    Hi Jassmine -?? venue n time r ideal, but only on tue or thurs meanwhile ??? Berlitz Chinese-English , english – chinese pocket dictionary (pinyin Romanization all Chinese characters) n will than join u guys hopefully with not so stupid questions.

    Have a nice week ahead everyone……….
    cheers

  40. Hi Jassmine,
    Thanks, what you suggested is good to start with the beginners. since the intended date is fixed for August 25, you may suggest to get some of them to meet at your preferred time.
    Daniel Chan, welcome back, your poems are way over over heads.. hard to understand. Tone it down for us with simple A, B and C can? I am right here waiting for you, can you suggest how we should go about the learning process. I have done the booking of a venue, hope you are okay to join us.
    For a start lets just meet and enjoy ourselves with some karaoke singing and discuss our plan from there. I need to know who is able to join us. Please indicate here.
    Freda, yes we are going to share with one another all the tools that are available.

    Dan

  41. Hi Dan,
    Thank you for initiating this Mandarin class lessons. Although I can speak some Mandarin I would like to further improve on it by attending the Karaoke session as we can learn it more in a fun way. By the way, if you want a structured or systematic way of learning there are many websites you can go to learn. They provide sound , picture and also hanyu pinyin for the lessons and it is free of charge. You just need to sign in as subscriber. One of them is http://www.busuu.com/help . Just click on hyperlink to join. Cheers..
    Bobby Bok

  42. Hello, Dan H and all interested members,

    Please do not call it a lesson, a course or a class. Just come together, talk freely and and share unreservedly whatever we know. With this new age of technology, nobody can claim to know everything. Indeed there are so many Apps these days that it makes learning a breeze. I envy the students of today.

    Learning to speak Mandarin is like playing chess. Start with knowing the board must be placed with the white square on the bottom right (correct me if I am wrong !”). After that, it is practice makes perfect by finding a good “opponent” to practise with. We shall talk more on the 25th, Dan. See you……and all others who may wish to share my “nonsense”.

  43. Hi Bobby,
    Thanks for sharing the website with us. I learn a few words to speak but find the learning process quite impersonal. Perhaps in a group setting we may achieve better interaction and learn better. You are most welcome to join us.
    Daniel, glad to hear from you and that you are able to guide us. Yes, let’s meet informally and learn from each other.
    The place I booked is a karaoke room able to accommodate 25 pax comfortably. A guy will be there to pick our song selection and play it for us. There is a small stage for us to sing from. Hot water will be provided but we have to bring our own ‘3-in-1’.
    Time: 1.00-5.00pm, you may join us at any point of time. See you!
    Dan/Daniel

  44. Hi Dan
    Thurs 29th (2.30 – 4 pm.) has been picked because Freda is free on Thurs. She’s coming to co-teach ??, Freda? :)
    Venue: NEX shopping mall, 4th level, Food Junction (max gp size: 6).
    Ok, whose else is coming besides Dan and Freda?
    p.s. pl bring a pen and notebook.

  47. Jassmine, appreciate that you pick this date. Let’s see the response.
    The August 25 date is looming and the interest is weak. Daniel, seem like we will serenade each other over a game of chess. Look like we have to open to non-member to fill the place. Those coming may bring their own cd.
    Desperate Dan

  50. Hi Seok Cheng, sorry for the confusion. August 25 date is confirmed. Jassmine have chosen another date for those who are not working to join her.
    The following have shown their intention to attend.
    1. Dan
    2. Daniel Chan
    3. Daisy?
    4. Gabriella
    5. Susan Tan (3.00pm)
    6. Goh Ah Lam
    7. Constance?
    8. Bobby Bok
    Anymore?
    Dan

  51. OK, I’ll be there. Just found a book (lessons for beginners) which Daniel might want to have a look. If you go through the book, you should have learnt 800 words!

  53. Morning Jasmine – Waaaaaaaaa what a deal, any dessert u like on me than, hahahha. I imagine Hanyu pinyin is easier to make sense than “Fun ti” ?. I remembered those days when I had to burn the midnight oil and looked like a zombie heading into Chinese exams, so being “kia su” I shall attend the 25th August, Sunday session as well.

    I am a “???”, perhaps there will be another group of the “???” added in our What’s App loop ………..and lets those from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan “confused” me further in this lesson…. See u guys Sunday 25th and Thursday 29th August.

    Bdw, Daniel ??
    How to use pinyin and pronunciation on “What’s App” ha? ???????? Download ? ? ?? So I can practise first and come with not so stupid questions?

    Cheers

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