April 2007 Archives

The Beeb wrote an article on difference between Math exams for Chinese U entrance exams to UK 1st yr students, with example questions.

I think the maths examination can apply here in Ireland as well. Anyone doing the Leaving this year should try their hand at higher level maths from 1987. The leaving cert changed when I did it in in '94, even then, I could barely do the '87 maths questions. The standards of maths has been pushed down further and further.

People find Leaving maths hard now, just have a go with the '94 paper and then '87. You'll see a big difference.

Heh, came across this blog entry about someone chaperoning some Japanese students in the States. Heh, it's a funny read. He definately generalised alot of the more local attractions, like say the mullet, or Walmart with a good explanation as well to boot.

So if I was showing someone around here, pub, pub, pub... where the Irish all hangout. It's not really a generalisation, is it? And the Northside-Southside bashing, don't go there! Heehee.

So it's closer to home now, 2 wi-fi leechers were cautioned, as apposed to being punished for the abuse, as was the case in Singapore.

People should just secure their wi-fi.

This is what happens with all the technological advances, and we rely so much on software, as in this case, labelling the colour of a sofa. A direct entry from an out of date dictionary from a Chinese software company into their translation engine caused this furore with the family who found the error of the description. I'm not even going to mention the word in this entry, you'll have to read the article yourself. But is this another form of Chinglish and/or Chinese ignorance?

It's not surprising to hear that nearly half of imports that are dangerous originate from China. I am sure the publicity this makes on Chinese goods will have an impact, for the good of consumers awareness, of course. The authorities are already clamping down on counterfeit goods produced there e.g. eggs, baby food, soy sauce, Chinese medicine etc. Having standards raised on pruduct quality and safety will hopefully be looked into as well.

From HK government site, dried squid unhealthy The levels of arsenic found was quite high. Other tested dried food snacks like dried beef (ngau yuk gong), dried pork (gee yuk gong) states that it contains high sugar and salt content, but were deemed satisfactory.

I suppose anything that tastes nice is always going to be bad for you.

Give a show of hands of those born overseas who can speak Chinese (Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka etc).

*Raises hand
Okay, I can speak Cantonese, and understand Hakka. But I have no clue of Mandarin. Mandarin is getting so important to know nowadays. I have already made some blog posts about Mandarin.

Anyway, I came across this news article on learning Mandarin via Skype with a qualified Chinese tutor from Mainland China. What a fantastic idea. Cheap teleconferencing, cheap lessons, and learn proper Mandarin.

Technology is a great thing, isn't it?

Even RTE news gets to report on Chinglish!

[...]a petrol station might be called an 'oil gate' with warning signs like 'the slippery are very crafty' (slippery when wet).

Found this on youtube about how America Asians feel about their identities. Pretty good, and really open your eyes, and maybe touch a few things that we feel about ourselves.

Discuss at the IBC forum.

Folks who have not sorted out changing to the new smart id card, should now go to Registrations of Person's Office from now on according to the latest press release.

People who could not have their identity cards replaced during the specified call-up periods due to their absence from Hong Kong should apply within 30 days of their return to Hong Kong.