Slang is a great way to have fun with learning Mandarin, and hence an easy way to internalize it. Over the last few months, I've gotten a few slang terms from my teacher at the end of each class and I want to share a few of them. If you say these to your friends you might get a few laughs, but you'll also get to know different ways to express yourself and connect with p...

One of the MANY ads on Taobao grabbed Tiffany's attention: Shenzhen or Shanghai 900RMB for original Labradors – breeder direct sale to you (no shops). 136-5555-2137.

Slang is a great way to have fun with learning Mandarin, and hence an easy way to internalize it. Over the last few months, I've gotten a few slang terms from my teacher at the end of each class and I want to share a few of them. If you say these to your friends you might get a few laughs, but you'll also get to know different ways to express yourself and connect with p...

As expats, we're always bumping into one another and asking the common question, "So where are you from?" The conversation devolves into, "I'm from fill in the blank, and so on." This is a perfect time to utilize some of those Mandarin skills outside of the classroom, which is critically important to internalizing lessons. The next time you're in a situation with new ac...

The spring could not be a more welcome time after the brutal Shanghai winter. After trying to cope with blustry winds, buildings without proper heating systems, and wearing your jacket seemingly everywhere, spring is perhaps better appreciated for people living in Shanghai. Yet just around the corner lies spring, and with it comes the promise of better weather, more s...

It can be difficult to meet people who aren't teachers on an ESL teacher's schedule, but for sanity's sake and to make your life more interesting it's wise to have a social life or at least a few friends outside of your job. Unless you're the type to randomly join social functions by yourself, chances are that you will need some support to expand your social network. ...