Learning Mandarin in Hainan? Or Jilin?

[andi14]

Hi

I want to improve my Mandarin during x-mas break...I like the perfect pronounciation of people from Jilin province, but I hate the cold weather there ...don't laugh --- now i am considering to go to Hainan ...

Does anybody know a language school there (in Hainan)? Any experience, if the people there speak somehow understandable mandarin? Or shall i go to snowy Jilin? (any good schools there?)

Thanks!

[roddy]

Any particular reason you've chosen Jilin? Dalian would be a little less cold and there are private language schools there.

[andi14]

My Girlfriend comes fromt that area ... so, i am used to that pronounciation ;-)

[pandaxiongmao]

Haikou has Hainan University and Hainan Normal University. I can't seem to load the webpages of either right now, but when I studied at Hainan University for a year, it seemed like there was maybe two weeks of class following Christmas Day. The classes at that time were lightly attended because a lot of people decided to go on vacation early. In that respect, it might be a good choice.

Since I went, a lot of teaching staff has changed - I don't know how that would affect you. I don't know any foreign students there now, I just keep in touch with Hainanese people I became friends with while I was there.

If you stick to the city and regular shops, you could speak a fair amount of standard Mandarin. A lot of people on the street don't speak it as their first dialect though.

There are also some private schools in Haikou, but I don't recall where they are.

Hainan might be warmer than the mainland, but it still can get pretty cold in late December/January.

How much do you want to learn?

[andi14]

Thanks a lot, pandaxiongmao!

I learn chinese since 2 years (in my free time on weekends ... so, basic conversion level); I definitely need more of a "diving into it", really being surrounded by mandarin all day long (and not getting into temptation of speaking english) .... so, only few international people sound good from this perspective ....

Actually, i found a private school there, next to Hainan University ... I hope i can also get into contact with some students from there simply to practise ... (do you know any bbs or so where i can get into contact with students from there?)

One more question ... what mean "pretty cold" ;-) ... running around with t-shirt no way?

[pandaxiongmao]

By cold, I mean it can get down to 10C at night in the winter. With the humidity, I would want a lot more than a T-shirt, especially for sleeping!

If you want to meet people, just walk around inside Hainan University - the park area in the middle of the half with classrooms (not the area with professor housing closest 三西路) can be good to meet people. You could also meet people in the cafeteria, though I am not quite sure how you'd pay, since they normally use a RFID card for food payment.

With a low Chinese level, any language exchange would be tilted against you (you'd be more apt to talk in English), but you could certainly try.

[whereishunter]

Actually, i found a private school there, next to Hainan University ... I hope i can also get into contact with some students from there simply to practise ...

Do you have the details of the private school? I am also thinking about heading to Hainan for a couple of weeks of studying and relaxing.