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Shanghai Expat Forum Index » City Living Forums » Learning Language

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lemongrass
StreetBeater

Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 2320

Posted: Mar 03, 2005 - 09:42 PM

No, talk to Nathalie.

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peecee

Lurker

Joined: Feb 06, 2005
Posts: 22

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 03, 2005 - 11:45 PM

Slang is very unique to different towns and cities, so it depends on who you're talking to. A native speaker can correct a non-native speaker talking slang, but only according to that individual's own experience! The problem with writing slang in a forum like this, is that people from many different places are reading it, and dont relate to it. We all use slang, but I wouldn't use my slang in this kind of forum because it would alienate people. Also, I'm sure some Shanghai native speakers would think it strange if I started using their slang when 'trying' to talk Chinese to them, unless it was in a specific situation and the meaning was understood by all!

dalc87

Reacher

Joined: June 04, 2004
Posts: 215
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 04, 2005 - 10:17 AM

Don't get me wrong lemongrass, I laugh my ass off when watching friends. At one point I spent an entire week watching the whole friends season with a girlfriend at home, granted maybe I missed a few parts, but heard most of it hahahaha!

Concerning it's just a TV show, well yeah, most people with commom sense will know it's just a show, but god knows what some people might believe to be true from watching TV, specially in China where everything foreigners do seems to be correct in the eyes of Chinese people!

lemongrass
StreetBeater

Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 2320

Posted: Mar 04, 2005 - 12:19 PM

No dalc87, I hear you! yes I do. Donot worry about the misunderstanding......

Oh the whole season!!! By far I have just watched 3 series. God it must takes a long time for me to finish the whole season. Laugh your ass off?! hahaha, it is a very vivid slang and so do I!!!

Well, maybe the people here are not realistic enough to realize the difference between TV and life, but I suppose it still depends on the individual.....

happy weekend!!!

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Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 05, 2005 - 07:25 PM

Hi,all, see you here again! Well, i like watching the movie which it called
"pretty woman" few years ago.
I like watching it because some music in it, it was so fabulous and cool.
I wish i could play piano. yeah....!

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 06, 2005 - 05:08 PM

ok, i know my words like a mocker of some notorious movie star. Sad

lemongrass
StreetBeater

Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 2320

Posted: Mar 06, 2005 - 09:35 PM

haha, by far I haven't watched the movie <pretty woman>, so no comments about it.

Dont worry, you sound good!!!!

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Howie

Seeker

Joined: Mar 05, 2005
Posts: 72

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 07, 2005 - 01:15 AM

Join a Toastmaster Club! That will help. Rgds.
Howie

peecee

Lurker

Joined: Feb 06, 2005
Posts: 22

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 07, 2005 - 01:27 AM

Toast, I remember toast...but where to get the right bread...

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 07, 2005 - 09:27 AM

hum,bread?toastmaster club? what are you talking about???

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Jørgensen_M
Barker
Barker

Joined: Mar 08, 2005
Posts: 127

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 02:11 AM

Toast as in slices of bread that have been toasted Nathalie.

Jørgensen_M
Barker
Barker

Joined: Mar 08, 2005
Posts: 127

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 02:17 AM

But what I wanted to say is, I'm not going to send you an e-mail, but we can chat here and I can give you some tips if you 'wanna' Laughing

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 08:45 AM

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功高盖主，必有祸出。人生是人类生命中内心和万般经历的真实写照。 http:/

Jørgensen_M
Barker
Barker

Joined: Mar 08, 2005
Posts: 127

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 08:54 AM

Does that make you happy? Smile

dfoo

Post Roaster

Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 4140

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 08:59 AM

Nathalie25 wrote:

hum,bread?toastmaster club? what are you talking about???

Toastmaster club is a club that gives people experience/mentoring/help in public speaking -- that is lectures, talks, that type of thing.

Regards, Matthew

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 09:01 AM

really? where is it? where is that club,may i ask? hope it is not in the paradise, I am too young, you know?

tuoermin

Seeker

Joined: Feb 03, 2005
Posts: 73

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 10:30 AM

I think that this "native speaker" mania is becoming a serious problem here in China. It is a brand name which everybody wants to have. Today I saw a post for job entitled "native kindergarden teacher"?!?! They need someone who was born and lives in kindergarden? Once on a train one Chinese came to me and asked me in English: "Are you from English speaking country?" I replied to him (also in English): "No." And he just left?!? I'm still wondering what was he thinking?!
This "natives" mania is not good for Chinese, becouse they are limiting their experiences to just one foreign culture and ignoring the rest of the world. I never had a "native english teacher" but my Engish is not bad. Why? Becouse I had good english teachers. But here in China it doesn't matter if you are good or bad, as long as you are "native". And I think that this is also one of the reasons why Chinese find English so difficult to learn.

knockknock_ca

PopStar

Joined: Nov 27, 2003
Posts: 1066

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 11:36 AM

You know in China, there's only one "foregin language"(wai yu), that is, English. I have read something like this " Oh, he's so handsome and nice. It's a pity that he can only speak French, but not English!" Gees!

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 11:53 AM

Why french? how about japanese?

kan bai xi ma xio ! -----japanese.

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Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 11:56 AM

knockknock_ca wrote:

Why french? how about japanese?

kan bai xi ma xio ! -----japanese.

but I prefer the english one, cause it is my favor . Smile

dfoo

Post Roaster

Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 4140

Status: Offline

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 03:24 PM

Nathalie25 wrote:

really? where is it? where is that club,may i ask? hope it is not in the paradise, I am too young, you know?

Toastmasters is an international organization. 3 seconds with google gave me this like for Toastmasters in Shanghai.

http://www.cntoastmasters.org/

Regards, Matthew

Jørgensen_M
Barker
Barker

Joined: Mar 08, 2005
Posts: 127

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 04:30 PM

How much?

Nathalie25
Board Legend

Joined: Aug 24, 2004
Posts: 10269
Location: Shanghai

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 06:14 PM

Jørgensen_M wrote:

How much?

lol,money, i hate it ! but i am not rich, neither slummy ! Razz

Last edited by Nathalie25 on Mar 12, 2005 - 09:51 AM; edited 1 time in total

lemongrass
StreetBeater

Joined: Jan 15, 2005
Posts: 2320

Posted: Mar 10, 2005 - 11:06 PM

I remember I once took part in a similar club like the Toastmasters, Nathalie, suppose that they will request you to hand in a certain amount of money every year, but it should be a reasonable price for you to afford.

This kind of club is quite cool, you can impove your oral English by a public speech in front of many people, so it is also a good chance to meet some new people and have a lot of fun.

Donot be afraid, try it a little bit! Good for you!

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