I really have nothing against this Mandarin Online thing. In fact, I got really excited when one of my colleagues told me that our company is going to launch this Mandarin Online. I have been planning to formally study Mandarin while I am still in A Plus but the biggest problem I have is time. Mandarin Online would be the best option for a busy person like me. Yes I am busy!

The biggest problem is.....


I'm going to be one of the teachers!!!!!!!!

Like, SERIOUSLY?!

It all started in 2003, when F4 was really popular here in the Philippines. I was like amazed with the lyric translations I find on the internet yet not contented with majority of it. Since then I have wanted to become a translator. I actually didn't take formal lessons. I didn't even buy a book since I can't afford one. I basically learned vocabs on songs. I would sometimes notice that there are two similar words on the translation and I would find those words on the lyric, and, that's how I learned it! Just like the word 失去 [Shīqù] in F4's Can't Lose You (oh baby baby baby, my baby baby, wo jue bu neng shi qu ni) which is also present on Vanness' Imagining Ten Of You (Wo shi zhen de ai ni, zhe ci bu xiang shi qu ni~), from these two songs, I learned that 失去 [Shīqù] means "lose (or lost)".

I also learned vocabs through watching idol dramas. One of the first words I learned from a drama is 秘密 [Mìmì] or "secret". I learned it on Vanness' part on Meteor Rain, where the Japanese girl was asked where she got the wallet and she said 秘密 [Mìmì] several times. Then she said it was from a 白馬王子 [Báimǎ wángzǐ] or a "prince charming'. I also learned sentence patterns on idol dramas. Actually, watching modern, typical idol dramas could really help a beginner learn everyday Mandarin. I suggest watching those typical high school romance drama, a romantic comedy would also do. Watching business themed dramas is a bit difficult since they usually use business words, which I think, is still not that important for a beginner. However, never ever watch those ancient themed dramas. These dramas usually use formal Mandarin, and I don't know, I think watching it would make you too formal... Haha!!!

Okay, so that's how I have learned Mandarin for almost 10 years now. Yes, I am still in the process of learning. I am proud that I have watched 4 idol dramas and 3 movies without English subs. I have translated a number of songs now. I have been trying hard to translate every weibo update FRH posts. I have also subbed a full length movie and some concert clips. But! Never ever expect me to speak. That is really my weakness. I never had the chance to talk to a native speaker, I just did recently, and everytime I try to speak in Mandarin, I always have this feeling of nervousness, most especially in class, I am really afraid to make a mistake, most especially if I'm not that close with my student.

So, yeah, I am still not capable enough to teach Mandarin. It's like you were asking a high school student to teach English to a .... to a group of Koreans who never knew a single English word! The worse thing is, we're expected to teach COLLEGE students, who would be taking up Mandarin as their elective! Waaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!! I think I could die now........