Comments on: Lesson 009. Weather and Seasons. http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/ Learn Mandarin Chinese with theme-based, progressive and easy to follow lessons Fri, 25 Jul 2008 15:41:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Serge Melnyk http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-1539 Wed, 22 Nov 2006 08:16:35 +0000 http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-1539 An update here. Now both simplified and traditional versions are available. An update here. Now both simplified and traditional versions are available.

]]> by: Serge Melnyk http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-51 Thu, 02 Mar 2006 16:46:00 +0000 http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-51 Well, I thought about it. Maybe it's better to use simplified characters as majority of people who learn Chinese nowdays plan to have something to do with Mainland China, like business, travel, etc. In fact, I do not emphasize written language in my lessons as I don't really know how to teach writing through Podcasting. My reason for using Traditional characters is that, I believe, they are more universal, people from Mainland China can read them and people from Taiwan, HK and other Chinese abroad can also read them. If I use simplified characters, it will be only readable by Chinese from Mainland China. Another reason is that traditional characters are more authentic, they represent Chinese writing culture which has 5000 years. Simplified characters were adopted only after 1949 in order to eliminate illiteracy among Chinese population, because traditional characters are too complex to learn, they were simplified. Well, I thought about it. Maybe it’s better to use simplified characters as majority of people who learn Chinese nowdays plan to have something to do with Mainland China, like business, travel, etc.
In fact, I do not emphasize written language in my lessons as I don’t really know how to teach writing through Podcasting.
My reason for using Traditional characters is that, I believe, they are more universal, people from Mainland China can read them and people from Taiwan, HK and other Chinese abroad can also read them. If I use simplified characters, it will be only readable by Chinese from Mainland China. Another reason is that traditional characters are more authentic, they represent Chinese writing culture which has 5000 years. Simplified characters were adopted only after 1949 in order to eliminate illiteracy among Chinese population, because traditional characters are too complex to learn, they were simplified.

]]> by: Chris http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-50 Thu, 02 Mar 2006 06:22:00 +0000 http://www.melnyks.com/lesson-nine-hows-the-weather-today/#comment-50 Hi Serge, Keep up the good work! Just one question about the transcripts and worksheets though. I notice you use traditional characters, any reason why you prefer these over the simplified ones? I have started already with simplified. This isn't a big problem as I can convert any differences as part of the learning process. I was just wondering what your opinion was. Hi Serge,
Keep up the good work!

Just one question about the transcripts and worksheets though. I notice you use traditional characters, any reason why you prefer these over the simplified ones? I have started already with simplified. This isn’t a big problem as I can convert any differences as part of the learning process. I was just wondering what your opinion was.

]]>