Learn Chinese Free With Busuu - and the alternatives or additions

I tried out a new (to me) language learning website, Busuu, for Chinese. Chinese for speakers of English.

Where is Chinese useful? In China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, your local Chinese restaurant and supermarket.





You can choose which sort of language you want to learn. I chose conversation and reading newspapers. The course started with conversation.

Straight in with hello. What is your name.

Most of the options are only two choice, or three, which I prefer to websites, such as Duolingo, offering you four choices which I find time consuming, confusing and depressing.

My husband, who is a statistitican, and knows about surveys and multiple choice questions, told me that four is the standard number, because with only two choice you can guess. Yes, but it does mean that if you have no idea, you only make one mistake instead of three before the system lets you move on and come back to it again later.

Is there anything I dislike about Busuu. Any disadvantage? It does repeatedly ask you to upgrade.

Useful Websites

Here are the options I have looked at (in alphabetical order):
busuu.com
https://www.busuu.com/dashboard

Chineasy
I have the book and the flashcards.


Good for learning individual signs and how they link together.
No whole sentences, except the book ends with a short story,

duolingo.com
I have finished the German and started Spanish, Hebrew and Esperanto.

facebook polyglots page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/polygotcommunity/

mango

hellochinese
http://www.hellochinese.cc/
https://www.facebook.com/HelloChineseApp
Helloenglish


memrise.com
Lets you record your memory aids for each letter or word or phrase and lets you see if anybody else has shared a memory aid.

Lingua.ly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lingua.ly

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker

How to get your share of the speaker's time after a speech?

In the old days I was always the one left waiting to speak to a speaker after a book-signing, at the end of the queue, whilst the last person but one insisted on telling their life story.  Then, after I paid my money to get the signed book, the organizer would pull the speaker away, saying peremptorily to me, "Mr So and so needs a drink and has to catch his train".

Recently I had the opposite experience. I was the speaker. A lady behind me, an acquaintance, engaged me in conversation. I was very happy to talk to her. I was chatting away. I gave my opinion and advice on how I prepare speeches.

Then up comes a VIP, who had just won the prize trophy for evaluating my speech, who is also a friend of mine.

He starts to speak to me  - but the lady says angrily, to him, "If you don't mind, I was in the middle of a conversation with Angela! You interrupted. Go away."

Maybe she did not use these exact words, but that was the implication.

I have been puzzling over what I should, or could I have done?

How do you interrupt politely? How do you accept an interruption?
Often, at the end of a meeting, somebody ask a speaker or bystander a question. Another person approaches with a question. Sometimes I have stood for twenty minutes waiting my turn, then the speaker has to rush off. 

Maybe the speaker, can say to the first conversationalist, "Is this a quick question? Or to the second interrupter, "Is this a quick question?" 

Or should you say, "I'm talking to such and such a person about (whatever). Do you want to talk about this or something else?" 

If I had planned better, I might have said, "Let's talk about this for five minutes, and I'll give x five minutes in case he's in a hurry, then come back to you."

 Is it fair to make a second speaker wait whilst the first person hogs the attention? Or is the second person bound to wait? How have you dealt with this in the past, badly or well?

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Language Learning Groups

Conversation

A lagnuage or conversation group in Singapore has tables and they put flags for native speakers of that language. The rule is you must speak in that language. Only useful if you are already fluent. No use if you are trying to learn or want advice and help.

This is useful if you want to keep up a language you already know. But I would like:

A 'learn a language table. where I can get started on a new language which I am afraid to tackle, such as Tamil, Chinese (Mandarin) or Bahasa Malay. 

We could also have go-between translators. I can translate French and would like to practise translating.

B We could also have word of the night or subject of the night, for example drinks, or fruits, perhaps with photos. Add one sentence. I like oranges. I like apples. 

We could run a programme through the year, 52 themes.

Useful Websites

https://www.facebook.com/Speak-Easy-Singapore-353908498132718/

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Conversations On London Buses: Fighting For Space

Problem
How do you get to talk to people in London?

Answer
People don't talk much to strangers on underground trains. You stand more chance on an intercity trains, where you can choose to sit at a table for four. (Some trains haver reserved seating.)

However, if you are chatty, like me, you stand a fair chance of talking to somebody on a bus, if it's a long journey, so you have several different people, and you smile.

The seating is designed on the 142 bus route along the Edgware Road and other buses so that the front four seats are allocated with priority seating for those with greater needs. In the day time you get a high proportion of people who are elderly or schoolchildren or students. So there's a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, and ''have a seat," and 'Thank you".

I got on the bus and saw a seat with a woman who turned sideways so I could squeeze past to the window seat. However, after hesitating, I decided to take the empty aisle seat next to another woman who was by the window.

She immediately got into a muttered conspiratorial conversation with me, starting with her view of the woman in front. "I'm surprised she even moved aside for you. People are so unhelpful."

I nodded. it turned out the speaker was already aggrieved about other passengers. She said, "Earlier I tried to sit down and a woman had a cake on the seat. I said, very politely, "
'Excuse me, would you mind moving your cake.' She replied, indignantly, 'Where am I supposed to put it!' I said, 'On your lap. You haven't paid for two seats!' "

The front of the bus has a high level area where people place their shopping out of the way.

The conversation certainly livened my journey. A short-lived friendship, but a friendship.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Taxi Drivers, Telling Troubles And Asking For Advice

Problems
1 If you tell others your problems they don't sympathise but offer advice.
2 But when you want practical advice they merely sympathise.
3 The reverse applies when they talk. Sometimes your advice annoys them. They reply, "I know what to do." Or,they retort, "I'm not short of suggestions".
4 How can I be more like mother who just listens, until asked for practical help.

Answers
The answer lies in the problem. The speaker has to make it clear whether they want sympathy or advice. Usually if they want advice, they will ask for it, "What should I do?"

Even then, they often answer their own question: "I know I need to take the motorway, but I prefer the scenic route."
Sympathy is called for.

Story
Once, on my way to the airport in the USA, I started telling my troubles to a taxi driver.
He cut me short: "Lady, I've got troubles of my own!"
Nowadays I'm always bright and cheery to taxi drivers. If it's sunny, I say, "Lovely sunny day!"
If it's raining, I say: "Rain - is it good for you? Does that mean lots of customers?"

Tip
Start cheerful if you want a cheerful conversation. Stay silent if the other person wants to pour out their troubles. You may gain insight.

Story
I once spent the first half of the dinner trying to make conversations with somebody who had no interest in any of my cultural pursuits. I tried writing, art, music, visiting far away places, London. Blank looks. Silences. I asked if he travelled on holiday. He'd never left the UK, only went up mountains in Wales and Scotland, leading his school's scout troupe.

I asked what precautions you needed to take in advance. The moment I'd asked, I thought, that was a mistake, "Oh, dear. I'm being negative."

However, he immediately launched into an account of how he planned his trip, the numbers of adults needed per ten children, what equipment was needed, the weather forecast, and so on." I hardly needed to say more than uh huh and nod for the remaining, last half hour.

I went home thinking, "What a disaster. Nothing in common. He must have hated the meal and me."

I was astonished when he rang to say, "What a delightful meal .. I did enjoy your company, what a wonderful evening, we must do that again."

I made my excuses and left - the country.

The moral was, when I stopped talking about myself and trying to find a mutual interest, and simply listened to his favourite subject, I was 'a good listener' and he was delighted.

That applies in social life, business and your taxi to and from the airport.

Quotation
Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.
I have compiled two books of quotations. See Amazon.com and Lulu.com

Where to sit on a plane? Your options ...

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160919-where-should-you-sit-on-a-plane

Where do you sit on a plane? Obviously first class, if you can afford it or somebody else is paying.

Two factors are not necessarily dovetailed, comfort and safety.

In the middle of the vehicle, on planes like in ships, means less problem when you are dipping forwards or backwards.

I hadn't realised that the larger planes fly higher which is one factor which makes them less bumpy, above the turbulence.

The report says you are more likely to get an empty row of seats towards the unpopular back area.

I used to like a window seat so I could see the cities as we flew overhead and approached. You can also take photos. And you can lean against the wall.

The aisle seat means your elbow gets knocked. Your toes might be run over by a passing trolley or trodden on. Then the passenger who empties the overhead rack sending flying missiles at your head is more likely to score a direct hit on on a target such as somebody sitting in an aisle seat.

The centre seat gives you two chances of making a friend. You are more likely to be left with empty seats, because couples will take a row with a free aisle seat.

I am just telling you this to persuade you to take the window seat or the centre seat. I prefer the aisle seat. I need to hop up and down to the loo and to get exercise because I eat all the food.

Rest assured, in an emergency I won't be blocking the way. I'll be first out. And I won't stop for my overhead luggage either. I'll have my passport and phone in a pocket.

If you are ever in the centre seat and I'm beside you, you have the opportunity for plenty of conversation.

http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160919-where-should-you-sit-on-a-plane

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

French words of the day: Chez

Where are we meeting, your place or mine?
Chez moi. My place. 
No, too far. Non, trop lion.
OK. Chez vous. Your place.
Oui, d'accord - chez nous. (Yes, agreed - in accord or accordance. That's right - our place, the spouse or colleague agrees.)

Glossary
Chez - in/at the home of
Chez moi - my place
chez vous - your place
oui - yes
loin - distant, as in long way, also long time to get there!
moi - me/mine
non - no
notre - our (Notre Dame cathedral in Paris - our lady)
nous - we/ours
trop - too much (Silent last letter p. Pronounced trow to rhyme with throw. Memory aid - think of a whole troupe traipsing into your small house or shop)
votre - yours
vous - you/yours

Angela Lansbury B A Hons, teacher and home tutor, French and English conversation, spelling, grammar, proof-reading, packaging, translation and websites,

Why staff are closing early and clearing up on Sunday night in the UK

Sunday night 2015, you might think easy to book. But some hotel restaurants find Sunday lunch time is busy with family meals. Sunday evening is less busy because people are going to work next day so they want early nights or time to prepare postponed jobs or be ready for an early start travelling to a far off destination.

As a result, some hotels keep their chef busy Friday night and Saturday night and Sunday lunch and give the chef Sunday night off. This means a shorter menu, bar meals only - main restaurant closed (for example, Hawtreys Restaurant at the Barn Hotel in Ruislip), or half the restaurant area closed (Carvery near Watford) because of smaller number of customers and not enough staff.

I puzzled over this. Why can't customers sit where they want? The seating area is 'full' - but it's a self-service carver, and I see empty tables. Why can't I take a drink there while waiting for a table? Why can't I eat a meal there?

Glass or restaurant half full or half empty? Does it annoy you when you are having dessert or lingering over coffee, and staff start sweeping in the distance, or worst of all, putting chairs on the table next to you. Are they trying to tell you to go?

I watched staff clearing up around 9.30 when many places close in the UK on Sunday night. (Just when restaurants are opening in other parts of the world, such as hot Spanish countries where they have had a siesta in the hot afternoon.) It struck me that in the UK, if I were the minimum wage waiter, or even the well paid manager, shutting the restaurant on Sunday night, I'd want to clear up quickly and go home.

The cleaners/staff/managers are clearing tables after you've finished. They are re-laying tables and wiping tables and cleaning up tables and floors under tables, will want everybody in one area to halve their work load and get home quicker.

If you've ever worked in a fast food place or restaurant, the customers int he USA have often worked their way through college, and a high proportion have taken a job at a fast food outlet when they were students. This is not considered demeaning, but is very useful experience. If nothing else, you understand why the staff are doing what they are doing. Like most people, they are not inconsiderate or annoying you to spite you. They have good reasons for doing what suits them. You think they should be thinking of you. You are the customer. But if you think of them, you might find you increase your own goodwill and satisfaction with their service.

I sometimes start a conversation out of curiosity, or to break a silence. It's amazing how often an apparently introverted, maybe tired, server, brightens up when asked a basic question. Even responding to hearing you address them with a remark such as: 'You seem busy tonight. Are you busier on Saturday?'

You might get an answer such as, 'It's quiet/busy because it's the school holidays. / We ran out of food/drink/were busy because we had a wedding. It's always busy/empty on Saturday/Sunday.'

To my amazement an apparently grumpy server became animated, all smiles, keen to talk. Just one sentence from us to them had 'opened the floodgates'. What a difference a short conversation makes.

We left very happy, feeling that we had a friend at the restaurant. Ended on a high. We left a good tip, and didn't begrudge it. We felt they deserved it, for making our evening.

We also feel that if we go back to the same restaurant, we have a friend. We are a regular customer. A good customer. Even if they have run out of tables, they might shift the barrier and say, 'It's OK - you can sit here.'

Angela Lansbury B A Honours, travel writer.

Crying children on transport? Suggested solutions.

Should you shout at children, 'Shut up!' Or whisper? What do you think works best?

Sound In Public Places
Thank you to a lady on Facebook for teaching me the word hyperacusis. It means sensitivity to sound.

Strangely, I am less affected than others by squeaking chalk on a board. But a child screaming at the other end of a supermarket makes me highly stressed, when others don't even notice.

I have to cover my ears when people applaud in concerts or after speeches at Toastmasters. We used to meet at a pub (now being demolished) which had a noise meter on the wall. I used to watch it reach red.

Noise on Planes
I sit at the back on planes, away from babies which are placed on bassinets at the front. I once watched an airline stewardess kneel down beside a fractious toddler to talk to it. She distracted it, after parents had failed.

Coffee Bar Cacophony
I often sit in a coffee bar such as Costa, or even stand washing my hands whilst a mother is nearby washing her hands whilst a child wails ever more loudly from a stroller nearby.

Children Want Attention, Conversation
Children want attention. If they are ignored or alone, they think they've been abandoned and grow anxious. 
You can offer different sorts of attention: talk and listen: conversation, talking to them, listening to them. Eye contact, making funny faces. More musical sounds: singing lullabies, whispering, humming, whistling, shaking rattles. Touch: hugging, stroking, shaking hands, waving, thumbs up, clapping. If you give up, you could give them a dummy to suck. 

Parents and Grandparents Ignored
The same symptom of querulousness at being abandoned is shown by parents and grandparents and friends and spouses who demand, 'Why didn't you phone me!' Two different anxieties could affect them.  Sometimes they feel anxious and unloved. Sometimes, they are afraid that some mishap has taken away their friend and protector.

Suggested Solutions
What are the solutions? I've heard it suggested that parents should have children facing the parent in a pram to allow the baby to see mother at all times. But at some point the child should learn to be interested in and aware of surroundings (as well as friends and dangers nearby). 

Interaction
Parents should allow interaction and encourage it. For example, tell the toddler to ask Mummy if it's OK to touch something - not grasp fruit with dirty little fingers, nor swipe tins off the supermarket shelf.

Distraction
You can carry rattles to distract crying babies.  Finger puppets can be used to entertain and distract whining toddlers. 

Lots of parents ignore toddlers in prams who scream at increasing levels to get attention. I've watched mothers talking to other mothers across a coffee table in Costa, while ignored babies grew increasingly fractious.

Dinner Dates and Waiters
The same rules apply to children and adults. If my partner or date in a restaurant talks for too long to the waiter without any eye contact with me, I feel ignored. It is easy to talk to one person, whilst giving the occasional glance at a third party so they feel included.

I once sat patiently several hours in a restaurant with somebody who conducted an afternoon's business on the phone. He asked me, 'May I take this call?' He was paying for my lunch. I wanted company. I agreed. He would make constant contact with me, his face showing boredom, looking at his watch, holding up his finger, in the air, or to his lips, to show he needed to listen, tapping his watch and shaking his head before telling the person on the phone, 'I'm with somebody so I have to go'.

Talking To Toddlers In Restaurants
In a restaurant  when sitting near a child you can make faces at the child even though you are talking to another adult. Talk to toddlers or even sing quietly and they will listen.

Angela Lansbury B A Hons, travel writer, author.