Mind your language.

To avoid any confusion I shall start a new post here. How many of us have a desire to improve ourselves whether to speak a new language, a new hobby or a new pastimes. Do we live with regret that certain things in our life should be achieve and experience but due to our laziness and procrastination we lose sight of our dreams and desires.

Learning Mandarin have been a goal I have set out to do but I did nothing and nothing happens. Now we have our own Daniel Chan who have kindly step out to help us. The date and the time was set.. Daniel being a lecturer himself will make it easy for us. Whether learning by rote or through karaoke singing he will guide us.

This is also an opportunity to meet and learn and laugh our hearts out. Who want to join us?

Venue: Kolam Ayer Community Club/3188 Geylang Bahru
Nearest Bus stop: Bus. 26,61,107,107M,853 and 853#
Nearest MRT Station: Potong Pasir MRT (NE10) Walking 11 minutes from Exit B to here.
Date: August 25, 2013 (Sunday)
Time: 1.00-2.00pm. Lesson time/2.00-3.00pm. Learners sing/3.00-6.00pm. All sing.
Dinner: 6.30pm, at the Fish-head Steamboat Restaurant on Serangoon Rd(Corner of Opal Crescent) Optional.
Cost: $60 for four hours. If we can achieve 10 pax, it $6.00 each. If 20 pax $3.00 per pax, where to find? All to pay the same whether you are early or late.

If you just love to sing, do join us as we have booked the karaoke room for four hours. Hot water provided, bring your own beverage packages. A guy will be on standby to play our songs selection and you can bring your own cd or dvd.

Those comings:
1. Dan – learner
2. Daniel Chan
3. Daisy Yeo
4. Gabriella – learner
5. Sbkoo
6. Susan Tan – learner
7. Goh Ah Lam – learner
8. Eunice Tay
9. Bobby Bok – learner
10.  Seok Cheng – learner
11.  Ronald Lee – learner
12.  Robert Ong
13.  Mega
14.  KK Yeo
15.  Peggy Low
16.  Myra Chia
17.  Ann Lim
18.  Ann Giri – learner
19.  Evon Lim
20.  Meng Wai
21.  Peng Peng
22.  Gingo Tay
23.  Joy Chuang – learner
24.  Freda Lim – learner
25.. Grace Kang – learner
26.  Christina Chan
27.  Amy Ko – learner
28.  Fred Ho – learner
29.  Marg Tian – learner
30. Jessica Barbara Ong
31. Janis Han – learner
32. Anna Lee – learner
33. Henry (3.00pm)

EOs, Dan/Daniel

89 thoughts on “Mind your language.”

  5. Hi Ronald Lee, Robert Ong and Mega, great that you can join us. We shall have fun and laughter while learning to sing in Mandarin. This is karaoke singing with a twist.
    Daniel will be coming up with a plan soon.

    Dan

  10. Hi Constance, noted.
    Eunice, KK Yeo and wife Peggy, glad you are joining us in the fun, singing and fellowship.
    Seok Cheng, my humble apology, I mistook you for Sock Cheng aka Sockie. Bring the material that you have and check with Daniel whether we can use them.
    According to our sifu Daniel, 1.00-3.00pm, no singing only learning. 3.00-5.00pm, for the crooners.
    Dan

  11. To make it more exciting, some changes:
    1.00-2.00pm. Lesson time
    2.00-3.00pm. Learners sing
    3.00-5.00pm. All sing.
    5.30pm. Dinner across the the road at a Fish-head Steamboat Restaurant on Serangoon Rd, corner of Opal Crescent. Optional.

    Dan/Daniel

  13. PART 1 – Mandarin Lesson – 1 PM to 3 PM
    ———————————————————–
    ***Learn the following in Hanyu Pinyin
    • Consonants (??)
    • Vowels or rhymes (??)
    • Double rhymes (???)
    • Nose rhymes (???)
    • The 4 basic tones (?????)

    ***Download an App with pinyin and pronunciation
    ***Download an App for Chinese beginners.
    ***Download a Chinese Dictionary

    The word “porridge” is said differently in Cantonese, Hainanese, Hokkien, Teochew and Mandarin. Does anybody know all?

    What next?

    1. Download and install “WhatsApp”
    2. Create a ???group
    3. Send messages in English (some are already experts)
    4. Switch to Chinese
    5. Send a simple message in Chinese, “??????, ???”
    6. Explore the use of the downloaded Apps.
    7. Talking and exchanging messages in Chinese

    (Note: All apps are FREE. A smart phone is necessary).

    ALL the Mandarin learners will be required (and given priority) to sing one Chinese song by following the Hanyu Pinyin onscreen.

    FOR obvious reason, the group size cannot be too big. Let’s have TEN for a start. Besides Dan and Dan, we can accommodate 8 more. Please indicate that you are coming for the Part 1 event if you want to be in the???group.

  14. PART 2 – Karaoke For All – 3 PM to 5 PM.
    ——————————————————–
    Members who only want to croon please parachute in after 3 pm. By then, the ??? group will be quite exhausted, so can do with some entertainment. Let’s sing !

    Is that all?

    OF course not! This is not another come and go activity.
    Members in the ???group will agree on a time to “get together” every day and exchange messages in Chinese. With the help of the downloaded Apps, we shall translate, we shall listen and speak and we shall write to each other. We shall also arrange to meet occasionally, to laud or laugh at each.

    But for a start, see you on the 25th, 1300 hrs.

  15. Susan, to answer your question. The teacher appear, you will get more than you ask for.
    Now I feel like I am attending Primary School, should I go back and look for my school uniform?
    Thanks Daniel for taking so much time and effort for us.
    Dan

  21. All learners please note :

    INSTALL “WhatsApp” on your smart phone and get familiar with it.
    We shall form the ??? Group on the 25th.
    I will bring along my mobile modem and wireless network, so that we can all be connected.

  22. Yessir, Daniel.

    Looks like I’d better be there at 1.00 pm for all the goodies else when time comes for the karaoke I’ll be left behind. And this teacher is not a play play type, got plenty of teaching experience to boot – some more he’s paying his share of the room charges to teach us. Mana boleh, Cikgu.

    Akamak, you’re making us watsapp in Chinese ar?

  25. (note: this is in response to Freda’s question in the earlier POST on the same subject)

    Freda, I can only answer your first and second questions when we meet. My main objective is to show how to use the phone to key in Chinese, with the help of hanyu pinyin (strictly simplified PRC Chinese). As you can type some ??? here, you are not a “raw beginner”, so it should be easy.

    Jassmine had put it rightly in one of her earlier comments, “members seem to have different level of Mandarin proficiency – from almost zero spoken Chinese to conversant”. Indeed, where to start? There may be some who cannot even say/write ?, ?, ? or their own Chinese name. On the other hand, there are those who are quite proficient, and have things to share. Never mind, we come together and see how we can help those genuinely in need. I am sure I will learn something too. More importantly, we are going to sing and have fun.

    HOPE to see both of you on the 25th.

  29. Hi Dan/Daniel

    Tks for all the hard work organising for us.

    I’ll be at the Kolam Ayer CC at 1 pm on 25 Aug.

    Just to share a blunder of mine ~ I was almost there yesterday! Must be a sign of old age.

    C u all soon.

  30. Hi Dan/Daniel,

    Please include me for this mandarin/karaoke session.

    Dan, can I take a ride from you to Kolam Ayer CC at Lavender Mrt pickup point?

    Thanks & Rgds, Peng Peng

  31. Gabriella, indeed age is catching up on all of us, see you soon,
    Peng Peng, good that you are joining us. With your nice voice we hope that some of your talent will rub on us aspiring crooners. Meet at Lavendar MRT at 12.30pm.
    Dan

  32. Sorry Freda, almost left out your name.
    Marg, glad that you can join us. We going to have a fun and hilarious afternoon of learning and singing!
    Dan/Daniel.

  34. Hi Dan – thanks

    Hi ??Jasmine/Daniel – can ask question now or not ha in case you guys throw me out after one lesson?

    Which software to download ha when one cannot get the pinyin Right ? For example: when I pinyin following words such as ?? = “yee han”, ?? = “swee pian” and ?? = “sing fu” – I will have tons of inappropriate characters bombarding at me to select, so exhausting…….l m sure looking forward to a “short cut” way of writing in Chinese.

    Cheers

  35. Hi Freda

    Just surfing the site, and saw your comment, let me answer your question. Sorry ??Jasmine/Daniel

    It seems that you are not using ????, In ????, there is no – ‘ee’ and ‘wee’. Also it is quite difficult to differentiate three sets of ??, they are

    c, ch and q; s, sh and x; z, zh and j. If you can manage them well, ???? is very easy to learn

    For your phrase in ????, they should be:

    ?? – yi han

    ?? – sui bian

    ?? – xing fu

  38. Hi Freda, you seem anxious to download the “correct” app to help you. Indeed, there are many and I don’t know which one is suitable for you.
    On the 25th, we will try to use one that is common to all. Hope it suits you.

    Thank you Andrew, for giving the correct pinyin to the 3 phrases.

    People who are used to English pronunciation will need some time to adjust to the the vowel-sounds in Hanyu Pinyin.

    I must add that the “prompting” from the PC and mobile phone, when typing hanyu pinyin, can be a help or hindrance depending on your standard. For me I already know it is “something like that” and the prompting makes me more confirmed. For another who has no idea how the phrase should be written, the many possibilities are frustrating. I can share such that you don’t make the same mistakes that I have made.

    There is no short cut. Sing more songs and get used to the lines, phrases and characters.

    Andrew…..please teach me how to use the Cantonese keyboard.

  39. Hi Amy and Fred, see you this Sunday.
    Registration is now closed!
    Those who are seriously coming as learners and coming at 1.00pm, please indicate here as the Schoolmaster need to print materials for us.
    Those thumbing a ride, wait at entrance of V Hotel Lavendar at 12:30pm.
    Dan/Daniel.

  40. Hi Freda
    Andrew is right – you are not using hanyu pinyin to spell the three Chinese phrases. I have a hanyu pinyin chart. Will bring it to show you (hope I can find it!) on 29th. :)

  41. The following have expressed their desire as learners:
    1. Dan
    2. Gabriella
    3. Susan Tan
    4. Ronald Lee
    5. Eunice Tay
    6. Ann Giri
    7. Evon Lim
    8. Meng Wai
    9. Freda Lim
    10. Grace Kang
    11. Joy Chuang
    12. Marg Tian
    13. Bobby Bob
    14. Goh Ah Lam
    15. Daisy Yeo
    16. Janis Han
    17. Anna Lee
    18. Seok Chen
    19. Amy Ko
    20. Fred Ho

    Have I left anyone out as learner?

    Dan

  42. Hi Daniel ??

    No idea what is a Cantonese keyboard. I don’t think there is an input method for the Cantonese pronunciation.

    To my understanding, there are two type of input methods for the Chinese words (from the keyboard) – one is according to the writing of a Chinese word – e.g ??, ??. For this type of input methods, you cannot use it until you know how to write the Chinese words. Another type is according to how the word sound – e.g the ???? and the ????. As long as you know how to speak the ?? correctly, you can learn them very easy. Of course, if your ?? is in my standard (a mess). learning them have to depend on ‘luck’.

    I never heard of there is a method for ?????. Sorry. May be I leave HK long enough.

  44. Yes Andrew, there is a Cantonese keyboard. I downloaded it from the Play Store (Andriod). Now struggling to use it.

    For example, ????, ??????…
    The character ? is not correct. There is an exact one in Cantonese, and only a Cantonese will pronounce it correctly. My friend in HK always message me in pure Cantonese (traditional Chinese writing of course).

    If free join us on 25th. ???????!

  46. Andrew – ????? ???? ???????

    Hi Daniel – No la…me just wanna b cool when communicating with d young Chinese?
    ? ? dont want to ? ? ? ” ??” prefer to text short n sweet replies to response.
    Ok lah I shall ? ??? ? ??
    ? ???? ?? ? ????…

    Hi Jasmine – if u can squeeze time on Sunday, I can pick u along d way ? ??

    Cheers

  47. Good news, as we have more coming I managed to extend one more hour of kok to 6:00pm.
    We will have a fun afternoon of learning, singing and fellowship. Let’s have High Tea as well, i will bring 3in1 coffee, each one of you can bring some snacks along.Small portion will do, otherwise we may forgo having a feast for dinner. Paper-cup is needed too, how dat?
    Dan/Daniel.

  48. Hi Dan

    Will be at 1.00pm – not an expert with Hanyu Pinyin but quite comfortable using it.
    Not harm seeking to improve oneself and will be pleased to share difficulty and struggling in learning hanyu pinyin. huo? dao? lao? ?xue? dao? lao?.

    Used to ‘rote learning’ chinese language in school-days and worse without interest or incentive. No hanyu pinyin or ??? in those days, only ???????Result F9 in chinese language for me.

    Dan thanks for organising and lets have a good time coming sunday, will bring few pieces of ??????

    Cheers
    Lam

  49. This song carries subtitles in Chinese (Traditional), hanyu pinyin and English translation. Listen to the song and read the hanyu pinyin. The difference between speaking and singiing is, in speaking you must take note of the 4 tones. The Romanised words are the same.
    The same 4 letter word, for example, when pronounced in a different tone, gives an entire different meaning.
    n singing follow the music.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBD_8_da7lM

  50. Sorry …hit the wrong key and it shot out

    The last para should read,

    The same 4 letter word, for example, when pronounced in a different tone when speaking, gives an entire different meaning. In singing, follow the music.

  51. Hi Andrew/Daniel,

    My limited knowledge of Cantonese Chinese tells me that the word should be:
    ? = ?
    ? = ?

    As far as I know, in order to use the Cantonese keyboard, you have to know how to write the chinese/cantonese word. It is actually ???plus the cantonese lingo. From my painful experience in the past, I think mastering han-yu pinyin FIRST is important as it helps to speed up the learning pace a lot better.

    Just my 2 cts worth…

  54. Hi Dan

    Managed to get out of my other prior appointment to attend this. he……

    Shall bring roti kosong. Ha ha ha …… something nice I hope…..

    Daisy

  55. Hi Goh,
    Will include you in the learner group. I am looking forward to improve my mandarin, we are in the same boat called F9.
    Ivy, good to hear from you all the way from Hong Kong. Daniel, I believe is a Cantonese and we hope to learn from him. The only Cantonese I know is ‘lok sky mo chin my min pow, siong chong yau pey lo fo lau’.
    Gabriella, Daisy, thanks.
    Susan, I am still drooling from the ‘ter kar’!
    Dan

  57. Hi Low ??, ??? (this is also not a Cantonese word) ?, ????Sorry cannot meet you at Yangon.

    Thanks for your advise. Yes, this make sense, as I don’t believe there is an input method for Cantonese ??, and in ????, there are no ? and ?

    Actually I prefer the input method according to the writing of a word, because – “What you input from the keyboard, you will get what you want from the output “

  58. ? without the 2 horizontal lines in the ? becomes ??
    This character can be found using the Cantonese keyboard.

    It also has the EXACT characters for Nau (angry), Let (clever/intelligent), Sek (like/love), La Zha (dirty), Fen Gao (sleep), Chi Xin (crazy) and Urp Mak (say what?), among many others. Perhaps, it is easier with Traditional Chinese input.

    90% of the Cantonese words can be written using hanyu pinyin, e.g this line by Dan H ‘lok sky mo chin my min pow, siong chong yau pey lo fo lau’ .
    Nice try, Dan. The Cantonese keyboard gives 100%. I need that as I am typing subtitles for Cantonese songs.

    Anyway, lets not distract too much. Lets start with basic hanyu pinyin for the majority.

  59. Hi Dan,
    Jessica Barbara Ong our new member who sang at Taipei Nite and also participate in Media Corps Silver Carnival ask me to inform you to also register her name for the karaoke session this Sunday. Looks like we got so many singers for karaoke may need to give them a little bit more time to sing. Cheers..
    Bobby

  61. Hi Jessica Barbara Ong and Janis, welcome, see you this Sunday if you dun mind rubbing shoulders with the learners. Now I am wondering whether I should give each of you a queue numbers.
    Dan

  62. ?? Daniel – ???

    I can use d pinyin song sheet “????????” as reference – can make extra copies for our ??? group if they find it useful too.

    Cheers

  66. Hi Henry, welcome to the Club. See you soon!
    Registration is closed for the second time!
    Considering certain cost will be incurred, we decided to collect $5.00 from each of you. We need a treasurer, any volunteer?
    It may get messy but we will cope and like wat Terence said, having some organized chaos boleh!
    Dan/Daniel

  67. Joy Ah Long consented to take on the task, hooray! Any excess will be determined by Daniel C whether for course materials or to subsidise our dinner.
    Dan.

  70. Someone suggested we should have a grand party, why not? If each of you contribute a bit here and there of snacks or finger foods and with the excess collected we will add some more foods. It would be good if those coming with the foods give some ideas what you are bringing.
    All set, $5.00 per pax for 5 hours of learning, singing and makan-makan.
    I think we can make it a monthly or bi-monthly affairs.
    Dan/Daniel/Susan/Joy

  73. Hi Geraldine, it will be cool if you can join us. Daniel may have a hard time coping with 20 learners. Anyone else can give Daniel a hand?
    Dan.

  76. Today Susan and I recce the place. Seating capacity 40 pax. Rent increased to $20 per hour based on more than 30 pax. Free parking opposite at HDB Blk 97.
    Are you ready for coming Sunday?
    Registration 1230 to 1330
    Lesson 1330 to 1430
    1430 onwards SING SONG.
    Dinner at 1830 at Fishhead Steamboat Restaurant, about 15 minutes walk on Serangoon Road.Please confirm on Sunday whether you wish to join.
    Dun forget your name tags if you have one.

    Dan/Daniel/Susan/Joy

  77. LEARNING HANYU PINYIN

    Teresa Teng (???)’s songs are mesmerising. We must also salute those talented song writers. When you sit in the garden, looking at the full moon and listening to her songs, it is simply a not-in-this-world feeling. Sadly, this legendary songster passed on in May 1995.

    I want people who cannot read Chinese to appreciate her songs too.

    Here are 3 of her LOVELY songs………
    (1) Goodbye my LOVE
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwgn96zXPUk

    (2) LOVER don’t cry
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1Xsn1EFh38&list=PLF1BB866E95501848&index=5

    (3) How do you live without LOVE?
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-oV8teFU4o&list=PLF1BB866E95501848

    Feel free to copy/paste/edit/ print out the Hanyu Pinyin and English subtitles.
    (Click on the button “Show More” to see the full list of subtitles)
    Feel free also to tell if there are mistakes.
    For commercial reasons, I cannot reveal who typed in those subtitles.

    More importantly, enjoy the songs

  79. All the learners came out in force in anticipation of acquiring new skill in improving their Mandarin. Daniel Chan never fails to deliver in helping us to utilize whatever tools or apps to help us. Lesson proper was just for an hour and 4 hours for singing and fellow-shipping.
    The venue was large enough for 40 pax and the sofa seats were comfortable and with a big screen to boost.What more could we ask for $5.00 per pax for a whole afternoon. Thank you Susan for preparing porridges and mee-hoons to feed 30 pax without charge. The DJ was very friendly with all our songs selection.
    For those who patiently waited till dinner time we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner at the fish-head steamboat restaurant.
    A precedent was set, the 4 EOs did not contribute to the event. Whatever remain from the collection was use to defray part of the restaurant bills. The question here is and I may start a new post ‘Should EO enjoy a free ride?’ in the event they organized. Will this encourage more EO to step forward? We know that in the past many EOs have put in time, effort and money to make their event a success.
    Due to the great response, we will have this as a monthly affairs. The next event is set for September 29 in a nice Clubhouse in the West, stay tune!
    Dan/Daniel/Susan/Joy.

  80. Congratulations Dan, Daniel, Susan and Joy on your successful event. I am sure the participants are looking forward to the next session.

    I would have loved to attend if not for another appointment. Hopefully, I can make it to the next one.

    Have a great week ahead everyone.

    Cheers
    Carly

  81. Hi Dan
    You are one of the very few who willingly EO an event or activity that interest you instead of waiting for someone else to do it. Well done.!

    Setting a precedent is easy but may not be easy to maintain in some events. For small token sum is not an issue but what if the amount is substantial?

    For examples : An overseas trip? Are participating members have to pay for the EO? What about D&D ? Should the EO and the committee team (which can be quite a number) be entitled to free entry? If so, their total cost will have to be built into the price for participants right?

    Yes, please do a post on this issue. It will be interesting to know what the members think.

    Btw, I have deleted the DJ’s name from your comment. Kindly refrain from posting non member’s name on this forum. Thanks for your understanding.

  82. Hi Dan

    Lily’s comment is my thoughts exactly.

    It will get tricky and lead to problems and members will end up unhappy.

    Let’s not forget if EOs do not need to pay, it will motivate those who will take advantage of a ‘free ride’ in the name of organizing an event/activity/gathering/overseas trips.

    Do put up the Post and we will have a better understanding of members’ thoughts.

  83. Lily/Geraldine,
    Well said , I totally agreed with both of you.

    But I would like to add on:
    Are those members attending the event being told in advance that the amount they paid will be also covering for all expenses incurred by the organizing committee? – Members attending this event, we would like to hear from you also – your comments would help us to improve further….much appreciated.

    Nevertheless, Dan, put up a post for this suggestions and lets all hear from the members with regards to this proposal.

    Regards, Dolly

  84. It was brought up many times whether EOs and Organising Committee should pay for a ticket to events organised for SHC. If we organise an event and look forward to a free ride, then it loses its essence cos the ticket price will go up for members wishing to attend. I agree with Lily, Geraldine and Dolly’s take on this, especially the big ticket events.

    However, as suggested, I hope Dan would put up the post. It will be an interesting topic for discussion.

    Regards
    Carly

  85. Hi all,

    I was about to say something, but there were early birds ahead of me. I shall settle for the smaller worms then, hee…

    I will not hesitate to say that Dan Huang is one of the very few EOs who enjoys organising events untiringly for SHC members, despite he unfailingly bangs his head against that brick wall… so often depicted by the cute emoticon.

    Yes, I was rather taken aback when I READ that the balance of money collected at last Sunday ‘s event was used for a “free ride”. Although I was one of the last few to leave, I did not join the dinner owing to personal reason. As a matter of fact, many did not stay for dinner. My thoughts now are,

    1) it would be proper if those present were informed, preferably in advance;

    2) this is about other’s money set aside for a specific purpose, very very touchy issue;

    3) the balance could be used to defray miscellaneous costs incurred, i.e. photocopy, learning material, etc.; Presumably these out-of-pocket expenses were incurred by Daniel Chan;

    4) personally, I feel Susan Tan should be reimbursed for all cooking ingredients which she bought to cook that huge pot of porridge for all of us. That was so sweet of her. Thank you Susan. Enjoyed it!

    Just sharing… and let’s wait for Dan’s much anticipated new post.

    Cheers!
    GingkoT

  86. Hi Daniel/Dan/Susan/Joy

    My humble thank you to all especially Daniel ?? for d fun way of learning pinyin last Sunday. For me hor 1 hr ???, ?? i m meeting Jassmine at Nex (serangoon) around 2.00 pm tomorrow, those ??? group ????? come join us.

    Cheers
    Freda

  87. Hi Freda
    It’s not tomorrow but Thursday 29th at 2.30pm. Will prepare an introduction to hanyu pinyin for the basic spoken Mandarin lesson. Hanyu pinyin will help beginners to remember how to pronounce the Chinese words. It’s also essential for smsing and emailing in Mandarin. Am sure Dan will appreciate it too.

    Hi Dan
    Hope you don’t get cold feet and chicken out . lol! You will learn a lot when it’s one to one basis, and double dose when it’s one to two! lol!
    C u both on Thursday 2.30pm outside Food Junction 4th level, NEX shopping mall.
    p.s. bring a Chinese-Engl dictionary with hanyu pinyin if you have one.

  88. Sorry Jassmine, will not be able to join you tomolo.
    The Mandarin class has gone underground and away from any form of jurisdiction. All participant will be inform by email or watapps.
    Watch out for a new post on the Bookworm Club.
    Dan

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