How to make the most out of a trip to China?

[Bird in a Forest]

Hello everyone,

I will soon have the opportunity to go to China (yay!) for two weeks. I have been dilligently learning Chinese ever since in anticipation of this trip. I won't be going alone, however, and will be travelling with some other native English speakers who are trying to learn Chinese.

Want I want to know is how to make the most of this trip so that I can improve my Chinese as much as possible. If possible I want to try a "no English policy" where I don't use any English as soon as I get on the plane (I am roughly at HSK 5 standard). However, the others aren't so keen on me speaking to them in Chinese (they said it will make the feel uncomfortable and nervous).

Ultimately, what I'm looking for above all else is to gain confidence speaking in Chinese as I hold myself back whenever an opportunity to speak to a Chinese person arises. I'm hoping being surrounded in an evironment where the local people only speak Chinese will force me to use my Chinese for once.

Aside from the language aspect, I'm also looking to pick up as much of the culture as possible and to try out some crazy foods there (heard you can get deep-fried spiders at the night market, yum!).

Has anyone hear been on a trip like this? And if so, how much did your Chinese and confidence improve after only two or so weeks? Did it change the way you use Chinese back in your home-country?

Thank you

[Shelley]

You sound very enthusiastic and confidant .

 

I think if you are looking forward to deep-fried spiders you are ready to take on anything!!!

 

I would just go and be yourself, talk as much as you want in Chinese but don't get stressed if you end up speaking English, remember that the Chinese people you meet may want practice their English with you

 

With your excited attitude you should have a wonderful time.

 

Two weeks is probably not enough time to really make a huge difference to your Chinese but it should be fun, go with that in mind and you will have a great type soaking up the atmosphere, culture and eating deep-fried spiders!!!!

 

Enjoy, take loads of photos and share some with us

[hedwards]

I think that if you only have 2 weeks to study, I'd recommend getting something like bite-sized Mandarin and work on it pretty much constantly. 2 weeks is a very short period of time, but if you spend enough time and energy on it, you can probably at least be able to manage some of the basics.

 

From personal experience, it doesn't necessarily take that much Chinese to access parts of Chinese culture that aren't usually available to foreigners. In many cases just expressing an interest in Chinese culture is about all it takes. Learn to write a small number of characters, literally even 2 or 3, and you'll find a huge amount of encouragement.

[MPhillips]

I suggest sticking with the baked or boiled spiders--deep frying produces carcinogens--bad for one's health.

[大肚男]

I suggest hanging out in parks where old people congregate to play majiang. I had many ridiculous conversations with old people.

The best thing about old people is that generally they speak zero English, so 100% if any conversation will be in Chinese.

But this only works were mandarin is the local dialect.

[hedwards]

You might consider getting an italki account and just pay for a couple lessons. You're not going to learn much, but if you start saying something right away, it's going to help you start with a positive mindset.

[ChTTay]

If you're at HSK5 isn't your speaking already okay to good? What kind of preparation do think you need to do in terms of speaking? Suggestions of iTalki are good, you could also find Skype language exchanges on their or elsewhere.

In terms of mental preparation, be prepared for some people not to understand you however well you speak. Unless you look Chinese, the assumption you can't speak Chinese blinds some people and they just won't understand. It doesn't happen that often but it can happen. Equally, don't worry if you speak to someone, say a bus ticket operator or taxi driver and you have no idea what they say... Some local waccents can be pretty tough. Essentially what i'm saying is... Don't be put off my small things like this if they do happen, just keep trying to speak to people.

I also reckon your Chinese isn't going to improve in two weeks really, however, your confidence could which, in effect, might "improve" youe Chinese. As above, i'd just focus on speak Chinese as much as you can but don't get too concerned if your speaking English. You might meet some nice foreigners somehwere and need to spesk English or some Chinese might want to speak English to practice.

Anyway, good luck. Let us know how it goes.

[Bird in a Forest]

Thank you everyone for the advice.
 

大肚男 I think talking to the older people in the park sounds like a great idea. I might learn how to play Mahjong XD (Do they play Go there? I can play that and Chinese chess). I find older people usually enjoy having talks to people about everything and anything. Perhaps a "No-Chinese policy" is going a bit far but I will try to talk as much as possible in Chinese.
 

ChTTay, I wasn't looking for preparation, only things to do while I'm actually on the trip itself. I have had the experience before where people could not understand what I was saying because they were expecting me to speak English. I've had the opposite as well though where I spoke a little Chinese and it was like the other person had a switch flip. He spoke quickly and completely in Chinese. I had no idea what he was saying but I was happy that he spoke to me in any Chinese at all. XD

[roddy]

I don't think you see much Mahjong played outside, at least in the north. Maybe in the south? It's mostly Chinese chess and Go. If you're happy to squat down and watch a game, people'll be delighted to talk to you.

[ChTTay]

"ChTTay, I wasn't looking for preparation"

You might not have been looking... But you will probably need some to make the most out of your trip :-)

It's mostly Chinese Chess in Beijing. A lot of older people work out in parks too (a lot of parks have outdoor gyms) so that would be another good way to meet and talk to people if you workout at all. A decent sized park should have a good outdoor gym with various pull up/chin up options, dipping stations etc. You see a lot of hench old men walking around in Summer.

Also, anywhere were you are forced to be with people for an extended period of time is a great opportunity to talk - train, taxi, bus, flight for example. On long train journey's i usually bring a Chinese graded book with me to read. Once my "bunk mates" see that they usually start talking to me.

[Bird in a Forest]

I absolutely love Chinese Chess and Go. I wander if they'd let me play (and win!) haha .

True, I'll definitely need some preparation. I'll try bringing along a book in Chinese with me onto a train and see how other people react. I'd probably have to buy one first.
On that topic, does anyone know what I should buy in China?

[imron]

Also Mahjong more or less almost won't be played unless there is money involved to "make it interesting".  Trying to convince people to play just for the fun of it can be an uphill battle.

[ChTTay]

A few people on here have read or read the Goosebumps series in Chinese and also The Hunger Games trilogy. I just had graded readers (Chinese Breeze). Probably better if its a paper book and not kindle/tablet as they people can easily nosey at what you are doing/reading.

Chinese chess is everywhere so you should be fine. I am sure the old guys in the park would love to play you. In China they play Chinese Chess really fast though, not like Chess, and they like to slam the pieces down on the board quite often too.

[roddy]

Which part(s) of China are you going to?

[Bird in a Forest]

Mostly 南京, I've already been there once before but that was when I only had very limited Chinese (Could count from 1-10 and that was it I didn't learn much from that trip when I came back either, I pretty much forgot any expression I had picked up).

From what I remember it was a very beautiful city, there were all these small lanes where I could buy street food (using pidgin English and a few "Tai Gui Le"s).

I'm hoping I get to use more Chinese in China this time round. I went with English speakers last time as well and let's just say I didn't really make much of an effort to use Chinese back then. (It probably made us stand out even more than we already were XD).

[Johnny20270]

Honestly I think its just about attitude. I have been in China several times and always interacted with the locals. And I'm at about a hsk 2 (if that) lol

A lot of hand signals and friendly gestures gets you a long way, especially with older people. Even ended up doing some sort of weird game where you kick a feathered metal object about. Other old boys were keen for me to try out some whip device that spins a metal can about. Was good fun.

Ate everything from millipedes, snakes, scorpions, and a toad which made me violently ill. Ended up in hospital in Kunming:(

I found its attitude and a friendly persona makes a lot of a difference when traveling. Of course I'm not just referring to China. Same experience in many countries I have been to. You have great advantage in that you can speak Chinese.