I dislike people who go to other people's language sites for the sole purpose of trying to nit pick flaws. This guy is awesome. I am watching this video again after two years and studying a little Mandarin and I can at least understand some of it. Two years ago, I had no idea what he was saying. I can even somehow read some of the Mandarin in the comments. I have NO idea how I am doing this! Steve is an excellent teacher who gives great advice for learning languages.
try to learn cantonese, this is the most efficient in chinese's language and cantonese speaker is everywhere in the world, absolutely ..it's very hard to studying, i think you can overcome it
Two different languages are like two different sports. You do not teach a soccer player to play basketball by using the fundamentals of soccer. JUST TEACH HIM BASKETBALL AND CONSTANTLY REMIND HIM TO FORGET ABOUT SOCCER.
All your points are valid and helpful. However, your Mandarin speech is still very foreign by any standard, whatever accent you are trying to mimic. You still have NOT got the knack of it. Meantime, you have inadvertently picked up the terrible 尖團不分 problems manifested by young female adults in northern China as well as Taiwan. If you want to find a role model, try this Aussie, Kevin Rudd.
1. Our brain will find the principal 2. meaningful input first 3. help your brain to find principal 4. It is not just grammar 5. emotion, emotion, emotion 6. motivation and attitude 7. again, BE POSITIVE and wellcome the changes
I found your this film accidently, and I admire that you can speak ten languages.
I'm also interested in learning new languages, but I just could speak Chinese, Taiwanese and English. I need more time to watch all your films in youtube.
Finally, happy Chinese New Year! (By the way, how long do you speak Chinese?)
I watched this video more than one year ago and didnt understand anything. Now, however, I find it remarkable how much of this actually makes sense to me ;-)
@camille676767 J'ai surtout était dans le bois, et le suis toujours. Depuis 7 ans j'ai aussi un site web où nos members peuvent apprendre jusqu'à 11 langues, dont le mandarin. LingQ.
Hi. What do you think about the saying those people who speak multiple languages have multiple souls? Do you have certain thoughts more often when you are thinking in a certain language?
Another question, how did you learn all these languages? Did live in all those different countries.
@LilJellyS Don't believe in multiple souls but in broader view of world. In a few cases I lived in the country, in most cases I just studied at home. Go to LingQ and see how. Or Read my book, to be found on my blog, The Linguist on Language.
Ah! I can understand! It's so exciting for me after studying Chinese for awhile to understand about 80% of this video. I remember watching this when I was like 12 years old and now at 14 I can understand most. Immersion camp programs are the only way to go!
haha. that troll who left a comment saying you over used 'which' (na ge) too much is a goof. It's likely that to a beginner it might sound like at times ur saying "which, which, which"... when in fact ur just incorporating a standard linguistic idiosyncrasy into ur conversation.
Steve - I just want to say thank you for your method and your web site. Every time I come back to your foreign language videos here on YouTube I find I have learned even more with LingQ. I'll continue to use and support LingQ.
@lingosteve steve is one good example of how a lot of people in american should be many american just likes english and i dont think its fun speaking only one language the world is not a small place and this type of knowledge can help a alot,,,its funny to see steve speak Chinese lol hahaha i love his videos
Your accent is really a lot better than many of english speakers I know learning to speak mandarin. How do you work on your accents? Not only on chinese but on other languages as well. I've got problems pronouncing french(the R!) and Russian. I do realise that my pronunciation if slightly off and I do listen to lots and lots of native tapes of the target language but I can't seem to get the right sound no matter what I do.
Just be patient. Also focus on listening over and over to a limited amount of content, content you like and where you like the voice. Do not focus on individual sounds, they will come, get the rhythm. And be pateint.
Ask a native speaker where there tongue in placed. Is it flat, curled, on the roof of the mouth, behind the teeth? Are the teeth open, closed, slightly parted. Are the lips relaxed, pursed, open wide. Where is the sound coming from? Tho nose? The mouth? The throat? I found that in French many of the Rs come from the throat as if you were clearing it.
A year or so ago my chinese wasn't so good but after living in China for a year a can understand your videos perfectly. I am an Englishman but i feel i comfortable saying your Chinese is v good (especially considering you can speak so many other languages)
steve 老师,我太佩服您了.我现在就是在用您的方法学英语,主要就是听和读.对语法并不太在意,不懂也不纠缠.我现在听英语障碍已经不大了.我听了8个月左右,每天5,6小时的NPR广播或者别的INTENET 广播.,看英语电视剧,读英语新闻,但是我现在还不能写,和讲.但是我觉得您的方法是绝对的正确.
so it is! I've just started watching your clips Steve as I'm about 5 months into my Mandarin study. Very impressive in 8 months (plus whatever input you've had in those 40 years ;) Would you recommend speaking already? As i've been following Antimoons method of just letting speaking come from alot of exposure to input.
I am less dogmatic than some of the folks at anti-moon but I believe in doing what you want. No pressure to speak. I spent at least 12 months on Russian (just part time of course) before speaking. Try LingQ.
I had a convrsation on the phone the other day and was ok with about 70% of it without asking that person for a translation. Although overall I'm still uncomfertable with it. Is it true you were able to speak on talk back radio in Mandarin (or Cantonese) after 4 months? That makes me curious as to what you consider full time and part time.
How long did it take you to get to this point in your Chinese? I have Chinese family and would really like to start learning. Is there a smarter more progressive way to go about this? Keep up the good work!
I am not easily discouraged I can assure you. However, I am against correcting people when they speak, especially if they did not ask for it.
This wangsishuo guy annoyed me because his comments were just silly. There is no word for "which" in Chinese so I could not have overused "which" in Chinese. I am quite sure, however, that I use constructions that are not native like. I doubt that he speaks Japanese. I think he was just trying to be clever.
its stupid pointing out one word mistakes when he has managed to pick up so much of this tricky language. People being like this can discourage very easily i should know. This is very inspiring because im finding starting a language hard yet now i know that it is possible, thanks even though i dont know what your saying,
I've noticed in this video you have made some sentence structure errors which is common for Chinese or Japanese learners . e.g :I want to learn chinese which is good for me ----> Learning chinese is good for me . don't use which too often.
1) I am sure I make lots of errors and will continue to do so. It has never been a problem.
2) I suggest that you do not correct people's language, nor point out that their hair is messy, unless they ask you to do so.
3) The word "which", as such does, not exist in Chinese as far as I can tell.
4) Your profile says "go China, go socialism, go communism". I presume this is intended tongue in cheek since there is neither communism nor socialism in China and you live in Toronto, not China.
I'm learning English as a second language too. and I'm glad other people point out the mistake I make when I speak.sometimes the way they correct you doesn't make you comfortable at all but you gotta accept it
It is not necessarily bad, just not very productive, especially while people are speaking. It can discourage some people. It is more important to encourage people to use the language more. Most mistakes are corrected by the learners without intervention, and intervention rarely leads to corrected output.
中文说的真好！
MrWizardandrew 3 weeks ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I dislike people who go to other people's language sites for the sole purpose of trying to nit pick flaws. This guy is awesome. I am watching this video again after two years and studying a little Mandarin and I can at least understand some of it. Two years ago, I had no idea what he was saying. I can even somehow read some of the Mandarin in the comments. I have NO idea how I am doing this! Steve is an excellent teacher who gives great advice for learning languages.
mindstate30 1 month ago
Comment removed
mindstate30 1 month ago
厉害呀，一门语言也学不好
zdmhunt 1 month ago
10種語言 我正係學英文都就死...
samiao173 2 months ago
大叔真厉害！
outerman100 2 months ago
in a good way
ipoonhobos 2 months ago
your crazy!!
ipoonhobos 2 months ago
厉害
lordzilu1584 2 months ago
try to learn cantonese, this is the most efficient in chinese's language and cantonese speaker is everywhere in the world, absolutely ..it's very hard to studying, i think you can overcome it
Cantonese2638 2 months ago
Too pedantic.
Two different languages are like two different sports. You do not teach a soccer player to play basketball by using the fundamentals of soccer. JUST TEACH HIM BASKETBALL AND CONSTANTLY REMIND HIM TO FORGET ABOUT SOCCER.
DrSpeakwell 3 months ago
All your points are valid and helpful. However, your Mandarin speech is still very foreign by any standard, whatever accent you are trying to mimic. You still have NOT got the knack of it. Meantime, you have inadvertently picked up the terrible 尖團不分 problems manifested by young female adults in northern China as well as Taiwan. If you want to find a role model, try this Aussie, Kevin Rudd.
DrSpeakwell 4 months ago
您中文说的真是棒！
sungilkim2010 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
1. Our brain will find the principal 2. meaningful input first 3. help your brain to find principal 4. It is not just grammar 5. emotion, emotion, emotion 6. motivation and attitude 7. again, BE POSITIVE and wellcome the changes
Thanks so much for your experience sharing:)
hellovivi100 5 months ago
感謝您的分享！
Alionce210 5 months ago
さきほど同じテーマの日本語版を見て、これも見て、Ｓｔｅｖｅさんの中国語の発音は…文句無しです！日本語よりもうまいんじゃないかなと思ってます。とにかくすごいです！
私も語学が大好きなんです。しかし、中学のときから、英語の勉強をさせられて、すごく嫌になりました。大学生になって、ゲームがきっかけで日本語にはまって、勉強に取り込んできて、いまは日本留学中です。今になってやっと英語の大切さを気がついて、英語を頑張って勉強しようと思っています。
素晴らしい内容です、勉強になりました。Ｓｔｅｖｅさんのような、立派な語学家になっていきたいと思います！
ylxk 9 months ago
很欽佩你的語言能力!
anleedesigner 9 months ago
謝謝你的分享！
abc190207 10 months ago
Steve linq is awesome, however I wish you could add more lessons using traditional chinese just that...take care...XD
Gorrita615 1 year ago
@Gorrita615 It is up to the members to add lessons and there is nothing against adding lessons in traditional characters.
lingosteve 1 year ago
@lingosteve Ohh ok...I get it...sorry Im kind of new to linq XD...
Gorrita615 1 year ago
@Gorrita615 The best thing is for you to get on our Forum and say how much you would appreciate more content in traditional characters.
lingosteve 1 year ago
@lingosteve OK I will...thank you for taking the time to answer me though, appreciate it...
Gorrita615 1 year ago
I found your this film accidently, and I admire that you can speak ten languages.
I'm also interested in learning new languages, but I just could speak Chinese, Taiwanese and English. I need more time to watch all your films in youtube.
Finally, happy Chinese New Year! (By the way, how long do you speak Chinese?)
Stephenkuan 1 year ago
I watched this video more than one year ago and didnt understand anything. Now, however, I find it remarkable how much of this actually makes sense to me ;-)
Cheers and thank you for Lingq
u2bealot 1 year ago
@camille676767 J'ai surtout était dans le bois, et le suis toujours. Depuis 7 ans j'ai aussi un site web où nos members peuvent apprendre jusqu'à 11 langues, dont le mandarin. LingQ.
lingosteve 1 year ago
Hi. What do you think about the saying those people who speak multiple languages have multiple souls? Do you have certain thoughts more often when you are thinking in a certain language?
Another question, how did you learn all these languages? Did live in all those different countries.
LilJellyS 1 year ago
@LilJellyS Don't believe in multiple souls but in broader view of world. In a few cases I lived in the country, in most cases I just studied at home. Go to LingQ and see how. Or Read my book, to be found on my blog, The Linguist on Language.
lingosteve 1 year ago
声音有点像孙敬修爷爷。
championofcathay 1 year ago
不錯。。。中文說的不錯. UNBELIEAVALBE natural Mandarin!!!
sf108com 1 year ago
Ah! I can understand! It's so exciting for me after studying Chinese for awhile to understand about 80% of this video. I remember watching this when I was like 12 years old and now at 14 I can understand most. Immersion camp programs are the only way to go!
ocergnairb 1 year ago
haha. that troll who left a comment saying you over used 'which' (na ge) too much is a goof. It's likely that to a beginner it might sound like at times ur saying "which, which, which"... when in fact ur just incorporating a standard linguistic idiosyncrasy into ur conversation.
dkmo 1 year ago
不錯。。。中文說的不錯。。。你祖籍是德國嗎？Kaufmann是德國人的姓氏哦。。。那你是德國人？
manachurch 1 year ago
Steve - I just want to say thank you for your method and your web site. Every time I come back to your foreign language videos here on YouTube I find I have learned even more with LingQ. I'll continue to use and support LingQ.
superdog797 1 year ago 2
@superdog797 Thanks for the support. It is greatly appreciated.
lingosteve 1 year ago
i understand nothing but i just want to say , you are amazing and talented in languages :)
OldfashionGirl90 1 year ago
你的中文非常好。
Codylangaugesblog 1 year ago
你的汉语很棒！ 你也会说德语吗?
007JamesB0ND 2 years ago
oh gosh. ur so awesome!!! my idiol!! ahhh
sussanaweljones 2 years ago
What are all the languages you speak?
seigaru830 2 years ago
Zaujímavé. Aj ja som rozmýšľal učiť sa čínštinu, no nemal som ako vtedy. No jedného dňa sa istotne dám do toho.
tomispev02 2 years ago
I do not speak Slovak but one day maybe.
lingosteve 2 years ago
Good, at least you know it is Slovak. :-)
tomispev02 2 years ago
When I saw "do toho" I knew it was either Czech or Slovak then I check at google translate.
lingosteve 2 years ago
You are so cool, my first name is Steven and I want to be a linguist. Favorite languages so far are Japanese/Chinese/Korean/Swedish.
8bittt 2 years ago
每次看到您的錄像，都會覺得受益匪淺，這次也不例外！
您的中文好像帶有一點北方的腔調。您當初在學中文時，是不是特意地學北京的腔調呢？真可謂字正腔圓，我應該好好向您學習！
UnclePolyglot 2 years ago
how long have you been studying Chinese?
Adonay96 2 years ago
I studied Chinese for about one year, over 40 years ago.
lingosteve 2 years ago
That is amazing. How much time did you spend each day?
Adonay96 2 years ago
He mentions in his book that he spent around 8 hours a day studying it.
qzchris 2 years ago
@lingosteve You still remember all that?
v1rati 1 year ago
@lingosteve steve is one good example of how a lot of people in american should be many american just likes english and i dont think its fun speaking only one language the world is not a small place and this type of knowledge can help a alot,,,its funny to see steve speak Chinese lol hahaha i love his videos
thereallles 1 year ago
u r very good in speaking mandarin! very very very impressive^^ well done!
tedDlovecookie 2 years ago
how long did it take to come to this level? How many sings do you know?
hilbert2547 2 years ago
блин ну ты мужик крут!!! я тоже хочу ещ какой-нибудь изучить теперь!
sukablianah2 2 years ago
太牛了！！！！
chaohuoxudong 2 years ago
Your accent is really a lot better than many of english speakers I know learning to speak mandarin. How do you work on your accents? Not only on chinese but on other languages as well. I've got problems pronouncing french(the R!) and Russian. I do realise that my pronunciation if slightly off and I do listen to lots and lots of native tapes of the target language but I can't seem to get the right sound no matter what I do.
thechinesebonbon 2 years ago
bonbon,
Just be patient. Also focus on listening over and over to a limited amount of content, content you like and where you like the voice. Do not focus on individual sounds, they will come, get the rhythm. And be pateint.
lingosteve 2 years ago
Ask a native speaker where there tongue in placed. Is it flat, curled, on the roof of the mouth, behind the teeth? Are the teeth open, closed, slightly parted. Are the lips relaxed, pursed, open wide. Where is the sound coming from? Tho nose? The mouth? The throat? I found that in French many of the Rs come from the throat as if you were clearing it.
didUhaveNorgazm 2 years ago
Steve, there was a video question put to you in Chinese a few days ago by a user on YouTube. If you search for '請問Kaufmann' you'll find it.
qzchris 2 years ago
A year or so ago my chinese wasn't so good but after living in China for a year a can understand your videos perfectly. I am an Englishman but i feel i comfortable saying your Chinese is v good (especially considering you can speak so many other languages)
B0l0joe 2 years ago
steve 老师,我太佩服您了.我现在就是在用您的方法学英语,主要就是听和读.对语法并不太在意,不懂也不纠缠.我现在听英语障碍已经不大了.我听了8个月左右,每天5,6小时的NPR广播或者别的INTENET 广播.,看英语电视剧,读英语新闻,但是我现在还不能写,和讲.但是我觉得您的方法是绝对的正确.
tom0326 2 years ago
哪個 is the closest thing i can think of
anticks 2 years ago
that only works for the interrogative which?, not for which as a relative pronoun.
他所提到的那个原因。The reason which he pointed out. Etc.
lingosteve 2 years ago
so it is! I've just started watching your clips Steve as I'm about 5 months into my Mandarin study. Very impressive in 8 months (plus whatever input you've had in those 40 years ;) Would you recommend speaking already? As i've been following Antimoons method of just letting speaking come from alot of exposure to input.
anticks 2 years ago
I am less dogmatic than some of the folks at anti-moon but I believe in doing what you want. No pressure to speak. I spent at least 12 months on Russian (just part time of course) before speaking. Try LingQ.
lingosteve 2 years ago
I had a convrsation on the phone the other day and was ok with about 70% of it without asking that person for a translation. Although overall I'm still uncomfertable with it. Is it true you were able to speak on talk back radio in Mandarin (or Cantonese) after 4 months? That makes me curious as to what you consider full time and part time.
anticks 2 years ago
How long did it take you to get to this point in your Chinese? I have Chinese family and would really like to start learning. Is there a smarter more progressive way to go about this? Keep up the good work!
ih8nico 2 years ago
I studied full time for 8 months about 40 years ago and have just kind of tried to keep it up.
lingosteve 2 years ago
I am not easily discouraged I can assure you. However, I am against correcting people when they speak, especially if they did not ask for it.
This wangsishuo guy annoyed me because his comments were just silly. There is no word for "which" in Chinese so I could not have overused "which" in Chinese. I am quite sure, however, that I use constructions that are not native like. I doubt that he speaks Japanese. I think he was just trying to be clever.
lingosteve 2 years ago
its stupid pointing out one word mistakes when he has managed to pick up so much of this tricky language. People being like this can discourage very easily i should know. This is very inspiring because im finding starting a language hard yet now i know that it is possible, thanks even though i dont know what your saying,
ih8nico 2 years ago
I think what's important is not how his grammar is but what he wants to convey.
Jazzymne 2 years ago
I've noticed in this video you have made some sentence structure errors which is common for Chinese or Japanese learners . e.g :I want to learn chinese which is good for me ----> Learning chinese is good for me . don't use which too often.
wangsishuo 2 years ago
1) I am sure I make lots of errors and will continue to do so. It has never been a problem.
2) I suggest that you do not correct people's language, nor point out that their hair is messy, unless they ask you to do so.
3) The word "which", as such does, not exist in Chinese as far as I can tell.
4) Your profile says "go China, go socialism, go communism". I presume this is intended tongue in cheek since there is neither communism nor socialism in China and you live in Toronto, not China.
lingosteve 2 years ago
I'm learning English as a second language too. and I'm glad other people point out the mistake I make when I speak.sometimes the way they correct you doesn't make you comfortable at all but you gotta accept it
wangsishuo 2 years ago
How do you say "which" in Chinese?
lingosteve 2 years ago
why is it bad to point out their errors? not asking in an offensive way, just curious.
19fas88 2 years ago
It is not necessarily bad, just not very productive, especially while people are speaking. It can discourage some people. It is more important to encourage people to use the language more. Most mistakes are corrected by the learners without intervention, and intervention rarely leads to corrected output.
lingosteve 2 years ago
太厉害了！！ 你学了多长时间的汉语？？
wangsishuo 2 years ago
OMG! you r good
yangrui3 2 years ago
wow this guy is my hero! just when i thought asian languages were unlearnable (except japanese)
sushi123 3 years ago
Maybe change the "information" for this video from Japanese to Chinese? I love these vids, by the way :-)
madaozeki 3 years ago
Done, thanks.
lingosteve 3 years ago