Comments on: One week at Shi-Da http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/ commentary on all things Taiwanese -- Taichung, Taiwan Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:46:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Mark http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/comment-page-1/#comment-35422 Mark Sat, 23 Jun 2007 15:00:19 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/#comment-35422 I had forgotten about your feelings about learning how to write Chinese characters. Had you known that Shida required its students to take written quizzes and tests before you chose to study there? I used to study there myself, and we had a tingxie every week. If you don't want to spend time on writing, you might have better luck at Pioneer across the street. They offer private and small group classes that focus on pretty much whatever the students are interested in. I think Shida is okay, but it's sure not the most flexible school out there. I had forgotten about your feelings about learning how to write Chinese characters. Had you known that Shida required its students to take written quizzes and tests before you chose to study there? I used to study there myself, and we had a tingxie every week.

If you don’t want to spend time on writing, you might have better luck at Pioneer across the street. They offer private and small group classes that focus on pretty much whatever the students are interested in. I think Shida is okay, but it’s sure not the most flexible school out there.

]]> By: David Reid http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/comment-page-1/#comment-35143 David Reid Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:55:50 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/#comment-35143 I am still forming an opinion about Shi-Da. I'll write some more about it on this blog soon. I am still forming an opinion about Shi-Da. I’ll write some more about it on this blog soon.

]]> By: somimi http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/comment-page-1/#comment-35132 somimi Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:35:03 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/#comment-35132 Hey there, Sounds like a pretty intense class! I'm in one of those overseas Chinese classes for people who can speak and comprehend, but not read or write. How do you like ShiDa? Sonia Hey there,

Sounds like a pretty intense class! I’m in one of those overseas Chinese classes for people who can speak and comprehend, but not read or write. How do you like ShiDa?

Sonia

]]> By: Keith Grey http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/comment-page-1/#comment-34192 Keith Grey Mon, 18 Jun 2007 13:12:02 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/#comment-34192 Hey David, You're a better man than I for continuing your Chinese writing studies! Back in Seattle, I took a Chinese course at the <a href="http://www.washington.edu/" title="UW Web Site" rel="nofollow">Univeristy of Washington</a>, and it was very difficult! The teacher was from the mainland and we were forced to learn about 10~20 new characters per day! Of course they were all in simplified Chinese, which has been totally modified from its original form and does not make any sense at all. Some part of me could not bring myself to memorize how to write all those symbols with no relation to the oringal meaning. More often than not, I would draw a blank on the test. One day outside of class I found my fellow students outside of class. They all appeared of Asian descent and they were talking in Mandarin! I asked them why they were taking the class? Was it only for the "easy A" ? They responded that they were only in the class to "learn how to write the characters"! Sheesh... I had to work my butt off to get a C- in the class. I could only endure one year of Chinese Studies, but it did serve me well upon landing in Taiwan. Keith Hey David,

You’re a better man than I for continuing your Chinese writing studies! Back in Seattle, I took a Chinese course at the Univeristy of Washington, and it was very difficult! The teacher was from the mainland and we were forced to learn about 10~20 new characters per day! Of course they were all in simplified Chinese, which has been totally modified from its original form and does not make any sense at all. Some part of me could not bring myself to memorize how to write all those symbols with no relation to the oringal meaning. More often than not, I would draw a blank on the test.

One day outside of class I found my fellow students outside of class. They all appeared of Asian descent and they were talking in Mandarin! I asked them why they were taking the class? Was it only for the “easy A” ? They responded that they were only in the class to “learn how to write the characters”! Sheesh… I had to work my butt off to get a C- in the class. I could only endure one year of Chinese Studies, but it did serve me well upon landing in Taiwan.

Keith

]]> By: nostalgiphile http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/comment-page-1/#comment-33271 nostalgiphile Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:31:34 +0000 http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2007/06/one-week-at-shi-da/#comment-33271 Hang in there, man, it gets easier...except the part about writing. lol...Just kidding, if you never type in Chinese you should be okay. I thought about getting myself a Chinese penpal from remote Xinjiang or someplace just to keep up the writing habit, but then I remembered I can't write in simplified anymore...hmm, perhaps I can find one from Pingtung? Hang in there, man, it gets easier…except the part about writing. lol…Just kidding, if you never type in Chinese you should be okay. I thought about getting myself a Chinese penpal from remote Xinjiang or someplace just to keep up the writing habit, but then I remembered I can’t write in simplified anymore…hmm, perhaps I can find one from Pingtung?

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