Jeffson said: "I have been looking for a good way to remeber a lot of vocabulary, but I have not found it till now, and could you help me ?"  I suggest: ". . . remember . . . , but I have not found a good method.  Could you help me?"  Can you see the four changes I suggest?

 

Here's my suggestions.  Feel free to correct my abuse of the Chinese language:

 

1) Use many methods.  用很多办法。

2) Remember rule number 1.  办法第一程。

3) Use flashcard.  用教学用，抽人卡。

4) Read a lot.  读很多。

5) Use Dioenglish Family on QQ (104490944).  用 Dioenglish Family 在 QQ。

6) Write to me on QQ (1139510842）.  你写我在 QQ。 

7) Remember rule number 1.  办法第一程。

 

I have intentionally made a seven errors in my use of English.  Can you find them?  I will list them at the end of the blog.

 

我不会中文很好。于是我写英语。  I don't have many specific suggestion.  I would suggest you use as many methods as you can think of.  Here's my method.  In January 2004, I knew absolutely no Chinese words.  I found I could not read Chinese characters because i did not know how to pronounce them.So, I quickly decided pronounciation was key.  At first I listened to chinese language tapes.  My main suggestions are the use of flashcards and doing a lot of reading.  I need to use my Chinese flashcards more frequent. 

 

I tell you a story.  My mother used to read 10 to 12 books a week when she was alive.  The library would not let her check out more books than that!  In Franklin, North Carolina she read every book in their tiny, one room library.  She had a huge vocabulary.  When I graduated from high school, my vocabulary was small and my reading speed was slow.  Then I went to college.  My vocabulary increased.  Then I taught school for five years.  My vocabulary increased.  Then I worked on a master's degree.  My vocabulary increase.  Then I worked for the US Forest Service.  I took on jobs related to writing and editing.  My vocabulary increased. 

 

Why do I tell you this?  Your vocabulary will only increase through use.  If you do not use it, it will not increase.  It increases only through effort.  Is you Chinese vocabulary perfect?  Probably not.  Do you know all 50,000 chinese characters?  Probably not.  I want to read and write Chinese better than the average Chinese person.  Can I do that now?  Not at all.  Can I do that in my lifetime?  That is my goal!  How dare I, a 58 year old American who can barely write any Chinese sentences say I want to do this?  Because I know Americans.  Most Americans cannot write English well.  I suspect that most Chinese people have not mastered the Chinese language and are not writing experts.  I am a writer.  I continue to improve my English writing skills.  I've made significant progress in the last ten years.  I want to master the Chinese language.  What is my point?  Use your vocabulary, and it will increase.  Practice you skills.  That's the only method that works.

 

My errors: 1) Using "i" and not "I." 2) No space after a period.  3) Using "chinese" when I should have typed "Chinese."  4) Using "frequent" when I should use the adverb form "frequently."  5) The sentence "I tell you a story." should say "I will tell you a story" because it is in the future and you have not heard the story at that point.  6) I said "My vocabulary increase." when I should have said "My vocabulary increased."  7) I don't know of any other mistakes, but I probably made one!  Let me know if you find one!  That's the fun of writing in any language.  It can always be improved.  I would love to see people write several suggestions for improving this blog!  It can be done.  If I re-read it ONCE, I'm sure I'd make several changes.  I have not edited it!

 

pH