Tips for Learning While Watching Chinese Television

[edelweis]

I did not realize that in order to receive advice I must promulgate my life story.

You don't exactly have to give details, just like you don't have to rewind, look up vocabulary, shadow what the actors say etc. when viewing a Chinese TV series.

After all, you have had many answers to your initial query, so obviously you can get answers out of the forum members without giving details, but is the result up to your expectations?

Think of giving details about your situation as a way to optimize the usefulness of the answers you will get.

[Kobo-Daishi]

So, you're essentially already fluent in speaking in Mandarin. It's just that your vocabulary isn't that sophisticated.

I suggest you watch more modern Taiwanese dramas (since you're Taiwanese) or mainland dramas if you prefer. Ones set in a modern environment and skip the costume dramas for the time being.

A good one is the romantic comedy series "It Started With A Kiss". Not too difficult but challenging enough to get you on your way. Do a search of these forums.

Or you might try for a series set in a business setting to get an idea of the interaction between clients and customers are handled.

Kobo.

[ccyjie]

Everytime I watch Lie to me, Desperate Housewife or some other American TV, I focused on the TV show rather than English itself. Although I use English subtitles. improvement of my English is too slow. My point is that, entertainment is entertainment, never try to replace entertainment with hard working.

[Adam_CLO]

I disagree with some of the posters above, that there is no educational value in watching Chinese television shows. I can think of a few educational benefits off the top of my head, many of which aren't sufficiently taught in traditional books, CDs, podcasts etc. since those materials tend to lack emotions and a variety of contexts.

Passive learning: These are things you can learn just by watching and enjoying the show, without actively trying to learn anything. Let your brain do the background work of piecing things together.

1. Learn more about intonation and how speakers talk when they are happy, sad, angry etc.

2. What types of common expressions people use and the types of situations they are used in. Eg. What situations would I use duìbuqǐ over bùhǎoyìsi?

3. What are some of the interjection particles used in the language and in what situations, such as wa, o, yi etc.

4. Reading Chinese subtitles: Try to follow the subtitles as much as you can. Over time, your brain will learn to fill in missing characters, improving your reading comprehension.

5. Knowledge of Chinese culture: What kinds of rituals do Chinese people follow in their daily lives

6. How is humor expressed? What makes a joke funny?

7. Knowledge of Chinese pop culture (depending on how modern the show is)

Active learning: This requires active effort on your part.

1. English subtitles (assuming the subtitles are good): How are common English expressions and sentences translated into Chinese?

2. Chinese subtitles: Which characters can you pick out?

I've met many students in Taiwan who learned the bulk of their English and knowledge of western pop culture by watching DVDs like Friends. No reason we shouldn't be able to learn Chinese the same way!

[edelweis]

This SOAS language center page has a worksheet with some original tips about active learning/practicing while watching soaps.