Xiao-Li (小李) goes to get some water at Mrs. Kang's (康太太) house, but it seems that something else is on her mind... Lesson Outline: [00:21] Introduction to the dialogue [00:53] Dialogue (normal speed) [03:46] Slow version [06:30] Useful vocabulary and phrases from the dialogue Words and phrases from the dialogue, with examples (Chinese characters only): 孩子, 小朋友 我有三個孩子 我不喜歡孩子 小朋友好可愛 孫子, 孫女 這是你的孫女嗎？ 你有孫子孫女嗎？ 你的孫子幾歲？ 結婚 你結婚了嗎？ 我們五月要結婚 你結婚多久了？ 男朋友, 女朋友 你有男朋友嗎？ 這是我的男朋友 你的女朋友在哪？ 找 去找女朋友 我找不到 找到了！終於找到了！...
Jan 21, 2022•15 min
We'll hear the line-by-line translation of the dialogue from S02 Episode 8, and then we'll further reinforce the vocabulary and practice answering some questions with a mock interview. Lesson Outline: [01:53] Dialogue (normal speed) [03:19] Complete translation [10:00] Explanation of 才對 and 我如果把車子先開到對面去 [12:35] Mock interview (reinforcement and speaking practice) [14:40] Reference interview with A-Ming (阿明) Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only): 小李：便利商店在哪裡？ 阿明：那裡的路口有一家，我帶你去 小李：好，要走多久？我快熱...
Jan 07, 2022•17 min
After listening to S02 Lesson 08, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking four minutes a day to practice listening and imitating the dialogue. Repetition makes progress! README: How to use this recording You'll hear the dialogue from Lesson 08 twice. The first time, there will be a short pause after each line. During the pause, try to repeat aloud exactly what you hear. Repeating aloud is important, partly because you'll be training your speech muscles to make the sounds of Mandarin, and...
Nov 20, 2021•4 min
Xiao-Li (小李) and A-Ming (阿明) are on the way to the convenience store when they run into an unexpected obstacle. Lesson Outline: [00:21] Introduction to the dialogue [01:35] Dialogue (normal speed) [03:12] Slow version (and repeat) [07:40] Useful vocabulary and phrases from the dialogue [14:12] Dialogue again (normal speed) Words and phrases from the dialogue, with examples (Chinese characters only): 路口 這是什麼路口？ 到路口左轉 你去前面路口等我 分鐘 等我五分鐘！ 十分鐘就好！ 可以給我五分鐘嗎？ 差不多 差不多五分鐘 我差不多要走了 差不多了 正要 我正要走 我正要吃飯 我們正要開始...
Nov 19, 2021•16 min
We'll hear the line-by-line translation of the dialogue from S02 Episode 06, and then we'll further reinforce the vocabulary and practice answering some questions with a mock interview. Lesson Outline: [01:19] Dialogue (normal speed) [02:21] Complete translation [07:05] Dialogue again (normal speed) [08:08] Mock interview (reinforcement and speaking practice) [11:06] Reference interview with Xiao-Li (小李) Complete dialogue & translation (中文 only): 阿明：終於把行李都整理好了 小李：對，我好累，而且我出了很多汗 阿明：你要記得喝水哦 小李...
Nov 04, 2021•13 min
After listening to S02 Lesson 6, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking three minutes a day to practice listening and imitating the dialogue. Repetition makes progress! README: How to use this recording You'll hear the dialogue from Lesson 06 twice. The first time, there will be a short pause after each line. During the pause, try to repeat aloud exactly what you hear. Repeating aloud is important, partly because you'll be training your speech muscles to make the sounds of Mandarin, and...
Oct 12, 2021•3 min
Learning a new language can become a gateway to exploring an undiscovered side of yourself. Find out how in this lesson. In the dialogue, Xiao-Li (小李) and A-Ming (阿明) realize there's nothing to drink in Xiao-Li's apartment. Whether we like it or not, a lot of things happen in life just by accident. Some talents, skills, or passions may lie dormant, just because we never had the opportunity to uncover them. Learning a new language can be a second chance to explore what intrigues you, and to do so...
Oct 11, 2021•20 min
One fun, engaging way you can give your Mandarin learning a boost is by conducting interviews with your Mandarin-speaking language parents, friends, or teachers. In this lesson, I offer some advice about how to turn the interview into a powerful language-learning tool. Then, we'll hear a line-by-line translation of the dialogue from Lesson 04. Lesson Outline: [00:21] How do you conduct an interview in Mandarin? [03:49] The three biggest reasons to do an interview in Mandarin [07:00] Dialogue (no...
Sep 25, 2021•13 min
README: How to use this recording You'll hear the dialogue from Episode 4 twice. The first time, there will be a short pause after each line. During the pause, try to repeat aloud exactly what you hear. Repeating aloud is important, partly because you'll be training your speech muscles to make the sounds of Mandarin, and partly because you'll be getting feedback about how you sound (if you're listening with earbuds, I recommend practicing with one earbud out and one in, or else with both partial...
Sep 12, 2021•2 min
What makes a good language parent, and how do you find one? In this episode I share some tips based on my own language learning experience. In the dialogue, 小李 is finally home after a long absence, and 阿明 notices that he seems a little nervous. Q: Who are the best language teachers in the world? A: Parents. Whether they do it consciously or not, parents (and parental figures) are the people who teach us how to speak our first language, from the time we're born, until we start going to school, an...
Sep 11, 2021•19 min
After listening to S02 Episode 03, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking two minutes a day to practice listening and imitating the dialogue. Repetition makes progress! If you want to practice reading along in Chinese, here is the dialogue written out in Chinese characters only (you can find the translation and pinyin below that): Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only): 阿明：你現在要去哪？ 小李：我要去買禮物 阿明：送給女朋友嗎？ 小李：不是，要送給我的家人 阿明：是哦！你要買什麼？ 小李：我還不知道，現在很多店都關了！ 阿明：線上買呢？ 小李：可是我覺得我要看到、摸到才能確定 阿明：也...
Aug 23, 2021•3 min
Xiao-Li (小李) runs into trouble buying presents for the family back home, and A-Ming (阿明) tries to give some advice. Lesson Outline: I'll mention a few words that will appear in the dialogue. Listen to the dialogue at normal speed. Listen to the slow version and repeat. Hear the translation, line-by-line, and try to infer the meaning of the parts you don't know yet. Listen to the slow version again and repeat, trying to connect the sound to the meaning. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters onl...
Aug 22, 2021•12 min
We all acquire language in the same way, and it has nothing to do with talent or aptitude. In this lesson, we get the line-by-line translation of the dialogue and complete the picture from Lesson 01. Lesson Outline: Introduction: We all learn languages the same way, and talent has nothing to do with it. Listen to the dialogue at normal speed. Get the translation line-by-line, and try to infer the meaning of the parts you don't know yet. Listen to the dialogue at normal speed again, and repeat du...
Aug 12, 2021•13 min
After listening to S02 Episode 1, start reinforcing what you've learned by taking four minutes a day to practice listening and speaking the dialogue. Repetition makes progress! A transcript of the dialogue is available below. First, it is written out in only Chinese characters for those who are learning characters and want to practice reading along. Then it is written out with the translation and pinyin. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only): 阿明：小李，你回來了！ 小李：阿明，好久不見！ 阿明：真的好久不見。美國還好嗎？ 小李：美...
Aug 02, 2021•4 min
We're back for another season! In this episode, Xiao-Li (小李) comes back to Taiwan. Learning how to digest (and even to be entertained by) material that you don't completely understand is an important skill for learning a language. In this episode, we introduce a new dialogue, but don't translate it all at once like we did in Season 1. Instead, I'll introduce some of the key words and phrases, and we'll let your language intuition work to try and figure out the rest. It's ok if you don't get all ...
Aug 02, 2021•20 min
After you've listened to Lesson 16, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M)：小李，我問你喔，你有兄弟姊妹嗎？ Xiao Li (L)：我有一個姊姊 M：她做什麼工作？ L：她是醫生。你呢？你有兄弟姊妹嗎？ M：有，我有一個弟弟，還有一個妹妹 L：那，他們做什麼工作？ M：他們沒有在工作，他們還在唸書 L：還在唸書？他們幾歲？ M：我的弟弟29歲，我的妹妹27. L：他們那麼大，還在唸書？ M：對啊，這樣不好嗎？ L：沒有不好啊... M：唸書很重要啊 L：對啊，對啊，很重要啊 M：對啊 L：對啊 M：幹嘛 L：沒事 M：你很無聊 Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and transl...
Aug 15, 2020•5 min
In this lesson, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) ask about each other's families. This is the last episode of Season 1. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M)：小李，我問你喔，你有兄弟姊妹嗎？ Xiao Li (L)：我有一個姊姊 M：她做什麼工作？ L：她是醫生。你呢？你有兄弟姊妹嗎？ M：有，我有一個弟弟，還有一個妹妹 L：那，他們做什麼工作？ M：他們沒有在工作，他們還在唸書 L：還在唸書？他們幾歲？ M：我的弟弟29歲，我的妹妹27. L：他們那麼大，還在唸書？ M：對啊，這樣不好嗎？ L：沒有不好啊... M：唸書很重要啊 L：對啊，對啊，很重要啊 M：對啊 L：對啊 M：幹嘛 L：沒事 M：你很無聊 Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) Ah-Ming (M)：小李，我問你喔，你有兄弟姊妹嗎？ Xiǎo lǐ, wǒ wèn nǐ...
Aug 14, 2020•13 min
Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M)：你吃飽了嗎？ Xiao Li (L)：吃好飽！ M：不好意思，我們要買單！ Waiter (F)：好的，這樣五百八 M：好，來 L：等一下！你要請我嗎？ M：對啊，你剛來台灣，當然要請你啊 L：不行，上次你請我，這一次換我請你啦！ M：不要啦！我請你就好，等我去美國你再請我 L：很不好意思 M：不用不好意思！你來我的地盤，當然我請你啊 L：那好吧... M：不好意思，這裡一千，麻煩你 F：收你一千，請稍等一下... 好，找你四百二！ M：好， 謝謝！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) Ah-Ming (M)：你吃飽了嗎？ Nǐ chī bǎole ma? Are you full? Xiao Li (L)：吃好飽！ Chī hǎo bǎo! So full! M：不好意思，我們要買單！ Bù hǎoyìsi, wǒmen yāo mǎidān! Excuse me, we'll take the check! ...
Aug 07, 2020•5 min
In episode 15, I talk about how you might be misunderstanding your own forgetfulness. Meanwhile, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) fight over who's going to pick up the check. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M)：你吃飽了嗎？ Xiao Li (L)：吃好飽！ M：不好意思，我們要買單！ Waiter (F)：好的，這樣五百八 M：好，來 L：等一下！你要請我嗎？ M：對啊，你剛來台灣，當然要請你啊 L：不行，上次你請我，這一次換我請你啦！ M：不要啦！我請你就好，等我去美國你再請我 L：很不好意思 M：不用不好意思！你來我的地盤，當然我請你啊 L：那好吧... M：不好意思，這裡一千，麻煩你 F：收你一千，請稍等一下... 好，找你四百二！ M：好， 謝謝！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and transla...
Aug 06, 2020•17 min
After you've listened to Lesson 14, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M): 菜都上了！你快試試看！ Xiao Li (L): 好 M：好吃嗎？ L：好吃！但很辣！ M：你會怕辣嗎？ L：還好，不會，我喜歡 M：那就好，要不要喝一點茶？ L：好 M：來，我幫你倒 L：謝謝 M：鍋貼也吃看看吧 L：那是什麼？ M：美國沒有鍋貼嗎？ L：有啊，可是美國的鍋貼看起來有一點不一樣 M：我們這裡的鍋貼很好吃，你吃就知道了 L：裡面有什麼？ M：裡面有肉跟高麗菜，很好吃！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) Ah-Ming (M): 菜都上了！你快試試看！ Cài...
Jul 30, 2020•4 min
Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) are enjoying the food they ordered, and we learn how to talk about trying things, whether or not you can handle spicy foods, and how to compare foods that look (or sound) different. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) Ah-Ming (M): 菜都上了！你快試試看！ Xiao Li (L): 好 M：好吃嗎？ L：好吃！但很辣！ M：你會怕辣嗎？ L：還好，不會，我喜歡 M：那就好，要不要喝一點茶？ L：好 M：來，我幫你倒 L：謝謝 M：鍋貼也吃看看吧 L：那是什麼？ M：美國沒有鍋貼嗎？ L：有啊，可是美國的鍋貼看起來有一點不一樣 M：我們這裡的鍋貼很好吃，你吃就知道了 L：裡面有什麼？ M：裡面有肉跟高麗菜，很好吃！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and ...
Jul 30, 2020•14 min
After you've listened to Lesson 13, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) A-Ming (M): 不好意思，可以點餐了！ Waiter (F): 好，你要點什麼呢？ M: 一個宮保雞丁，一份鍋貼，還有一個炒青菜 F: 要白飯嗎？ M: 要！誒，小李，你要吃飯嗎？ Xiao Li (L): 好啊 M: 那我們要兩碗白飯 F: 這樣就好了嗎？ M: 對，這樣就好 F: 好的，請稍等 M: 他們的鍋貼超好吃！對了，你要不要喝啤酒？ L：我不能喝酒，等一下還要開車啊 M：對齁，那... 我們喝茶吧！ L：好 M：好，我去拿 Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) A-Ming (M):...
Jul 23, 2020•4 min
Which dialect of Mandarin should you learn? In the dialogue, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) order some food! How do you call the waiter in Mandarin? (Hint: it doesn't involve eye contact.) Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) A-Ming (M): 不好意思，可以點餐了！ Waiter (F): 好，你要點什麼呢？ M: 一個宮保雞丁，一份鍋貼，還有一個炒青菜 F: 要白飯嗎？ M: 要！誒，小李，你要吃飯嗎？ Xiao Li (L): 好啊 M: 那我們要兩碗白飯 F: 這樣就好了嗎？ M: 對，這樣就好 F: 好的，請稍等 M: 他們的鍋貼超好吃！對了，你要不要喝啤酒？ L：我不能喝酒，等一下還要開車啊 M：對齁，那... 我們喝茶吧！ L：好 M：好，我去拿 Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and transla...
Jul 22, 2020•14 min
After you've listened to Lesson 12, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) L：到了！好餓！ M：我也是，我們快一點點菜吧！ L：好，菜單呢？ M：菜單在這裡！看你想吃什麼... L：呃... M：怎麼了？ L：我看不懂... M：喔！你看不懂中文字！ L：對啊，還是看不太懂 M：那我幫你，來... 這個是「飯」，這邊是「青菜」，然後這邊有「湯」，看你要哪一個 L：我不知道... M：沒關係，還是我幫你點好了 L：好，謝謝！ M：不客氣！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) L：到了！好餓！ L: Dàole! Hǎo è! L: We’re here! So hungry!...
Jul 16, 2020•4 min
In this lesson, I talk about how I went from not knowing a single word of Mandarin to starting a Mandarin learning podcast! Meanwhile, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) finally sit down at the restaurant to order. But there's a problem... Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) L：到了！好餓！ M：我也是，我們快一點點菜吧！ L：好，菜單呢？ M：菜單在這裡！看你想吃什麼... L：呃... M：怎麼了？ L：我看不懂... M：喔！你看不懂中文字！ L：對啊，還是看不太懂 M：那我幫你，來... 這個是「飯」，這邊是「青菜」，然後這邊有「湯」，看你要哪一個 L：我不知道... M：沒關係，還是我幫你點好了 L：好，謝謝！ M：不客氣！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and ...
Jul 15, 2020•16 min
After you've listened to Lesson 11, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) L：欸？餐廳在哪裡... M：你不知道怎麼去？ L：我忘記了... M: 你忘記怎麼去！要不要我幫你看Google Maps? L：不用了，我可以的 M：你看左邊！是那家嗎？ L：喔？不是。不是那家 M：好吧... 欸？等一下！是左邊那家很大的餐廳嗎？ L：在哪裡啊？ M：在那裡啊！ L：喔！對！就是那家！我的眼睛有問題了 M：沒關係，趕快停車！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) L：欸？餐廳在哪裡... L: Éi? Cāntīng zài nǎlǐ... L: Huh? Where’s the ...
Jul 09, 2020•4 min
In this lesson, we talk about the similarities between learning a language and learning to play music. In the dialogue, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) get lost looking for the Korean restaurant. Language and music have a lot in common. We learn both of them in large part because they feel good. It feels good to connect with other people; it feels good to express yourself. Sure, you might say the real reason you're learning Mandarin is to help with your career, your studies, or any number of other...
Jul 08, 2020•12 min
Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) M：怎麼辦？我好餓。我想去吃飯！ L：喔！我知道了！我們可以開我媽的車 M：真的嗎？真的可以嗎？ L：可以啊，沒問題！ M：你不是不會開車嗎？ L：呃... 騙你啦！我只是沒有駕照。 M：沒有駕照... 這樣可以嗎？ L：還好吧，沒有人知道 M：好吧，那... 我們走吧。你知道怎麼去嗎？ L：我當然知道啊！沒問題的！ M：好！走！ Dialogue transcript (w/ pinyin and translation) M：怎麼辦？我好餓。我想去吃飯！ M: Zěnme bàn? Wǒ hǎo è. Wǒ xiǎng qù chīfàn! M: What are we gonna do? I’m so hungry. I want to go eat! L：喔！我知道了！我們可以開我媽的車 L: Ō! Wǒ zhīdàole! Wǒmen kěyǐ kāi wǒ mā de chē L: Oh! I got it! We can drive my mom’s car. M：真的嗎？真的可以...
Jul 02, 2020•5 min
In this lesson, I talk a little about discovering the unique logic of a new language. In the dialogue, Ah-Ming (阿明) and Xiao-Li (小李) decide to break the law. One of my favorite things about learning a new language is discovering the unique way it expresses ideas: the logic, the way of thinking that the language makes possible. For example, take the word get in English. There are so many ways English speakers use this word, including to say "I got it!" when we have an idea or a solution to a prob...
Jul 01, 2020•10 min
After you've listened to Lesson 9, use this track to reinforce what you've learned with short listening and speaking practice sessions every day over the following week. Transcripts are available below, first with only Chinese characters, and then with pinyin and the translation. Dialogue transcript (Chinese characters only) M：小李，你吃飯了嗎？ L：還沒，你呢？ M: 我也還沒。你餓了嗎？ L：好餓！ M： 我也是，我也很餓 L：你想吃什麼？ M：我想吃飯！你呢？ L：好啊，我也想吃飯 M：那我們去吃飯吧！ L：好，去餐廳吃怎麼樣？ M：好！你要開車嗎？ L：我開車？不是你要開的嗎？ M：我沒有車啊，我把車子賣掉了 L：你把車子賣掉了幹嘛？ M：我沒錢啊 L：可...
Jun 25, 2020•5 min
