Mandarin Lessons on My Terms

I always wanted to learn a new language. Growing up in Manila, you can only get so fluent in English and Filipino. In college, I had a spreadsheet where I compared the amounts for learning German (Goethe Institut), French (Alliance Francaise), and Spanish (Instituto Cervantes). I must have had what they call paralysis by analysis because I only started last week — learning Mandarin.

I’ve had a free membership at ChinesePod.com since they officially launched in December 2007 but I just filtered their emails straight to label(folder) called (Old/Learn Chinese) so it was hidden right away. I decided to face it, that sometimes you have to spend for something to dedicate yourself to it, like how others pay for exorbitant gym fees or tutors. So I started with the Basic Plan, which is USD 39 for 6 months — exactly PHP 1753.10 (I called my credit card hotline the day after to know the exact peso amount for my monitoring). Less than P300 a month! Beat that! When I get a bit past Newbie, I’ll likely upgrade to the Guided plan.

It’s pretty neat actually. Now that I’ve paid for it, I actually listen to a new Newbie Mandarin lesson at least every other day. My roommates must find it weird when I practice saying aloud “zaoshang hao” (good morning) when I’m still too lazy to get up in the morning.

I download the audio to my iTunes — I have my own feed URL and access to lesson reviews and PDFs. I copy it to my pq1 USB disk (2GB, P540 from CD-R King) so that I can listen when I’m using the HP laptop. I also sync a copy to PalmOne Real Player for JP’s Palm Tungsten T3 which I’ve claimed for myself. And I have a printout of the first 6 Newbie lesson PDFs at my bedside.

Screenshot of my customized Chinesepod subscription on iTunes

It’s really suited for me since I like to do things at my own pace. Affordable quality Mandarin lessons — don’t you just love the magic of the web? I’ve listed other places you can get beginner Mandarin lessons in the real world, however I can’t attest to their teaching methods.

Next, I’ll be mastering the First Tone! Xing! But here’s one for you.

Good quality right there. If you sign up for a free membership at Chinesepod via the links on this post, I get a teeny-tiny thank you from them, so I’d appreciate that. And oh, I just remembered. I don’t have a Chinese name :( So I still can’t fully practice the “What is your name?” exercise. Know how I can get one?

Learn Chinese with ChinesePod.com
Here’s what ChinesePod’s customers are saying…

“It is the first time in years that I am truly learning.I am able to fit the learning into my schedule. Many thanks.”
“I simply love ChinesePod. Keep up the good work!”
“This is a great way to learn. I love the flexibility of the material presented. The podcasts are so listenable and the extra learning tools for the dialogues are extremely helpful.”
“Very high quality lessons — interesting, contemporary, relevant.”

Why not see for yourself.
Click here for a free trial.

June 20, 2008 | Filed Under From SexyMoneyGenius, International Economics, Personal Development | Leave a Comment 

Why I’m a Filipino Who Won’t Go Abroad

Everyone wants to go abroad.

Two of my high school friends, Rachel and Joy will go to the California, US and Australia to try to establish a new life in “greener pastures”. My aunt is always pushing me to find work abroad for me to prosper. Yeah, I’ll be in Hong Kong later this month for the HPAIR 2007 Business Conference for a couple of weeks - but that’s just to visit.

Why would I want to leave? Not because of the money…

I have no immediate (or medium-term) plans of going abroad to find work. For graduate studies maybe but I’m fine living here in Manila, Philippines. I’d also rather move to the cities of Cebu or Davao when I settle down.

I’m one of the rare Filipinos who won’t go abroad.

Prosperity in entrepreneurship and investing. There’s money to be made right here! Henry Sy is expanding SM by at least 5 SM Supermalls every year and Jollibee is going into the carinderia industry. Heck, the Chinese, Indians, Koreans, and Western expats are migrating here because there’s money to be made off us!

Things are looking up! I almost cried when I heard on the radio that Dr. Romulo Neri was the new Chair of CHED. On one side, the the public now has to confront the reality of the worsening “mismatch” in the education sector. Fortunately, 88% of female college students are starting to recognize the vast potential in the Philippine market and want to become entrepreneurs.

“To solve that mismatch, we have to reorient our education system, particularly higher educatio… So we have to go through more ‘techvoc,’ or technical-vocational, engineering courses. We’re promoting entrepreneurship, education reoriented to entrepreneurship, instead of just [studying to be able to get] employment, among other things.” [Neri is education czar 7/29/07 Inquirer]

On the other hand, the currently unemployed and “mismatched” have to recognize that self-employment, starting their own business, and learning right money management can give them a better life than any instant cash loan or pitiful job (”just for the sake of having a job”) they don’t like.

Low cost of living. Infrastructure isn’t perfect and pollution in Metro Manila is so bad. Still, the Philippines has the conveniences of broadband internet connection, telecommunications. A single individual can live comfortably on $500 a month or even less and still have savings.

Filipino families in the Philippines can even afford a house maid ($2/day) to take care of laundry, cleaning the house, and tending to the children. We spend too like the Westerners but we manage to keep the costs down.

In comparison, just look at the string of OFW-themed movies that display the good and bad of working abroad. It’s sad how they work their asses off, live less comfortably than in the Philippines, and are unable to build enough funds for retirement or for a business.

Do something for the Philippines. I truly want to make a difference - whether it’s just accompanying someone to a money management seminar, or finishing a project for a new client or spreading the campaign for financial literacy. I’m happy to do what I can from my home base.

 

Tags: aga muhlach, claudine barretto, dubai, movie, ofw, filipino abroad, migrant filipinos, jollibee carinderia, sm supermalls, sm build new malls, why filipinos go abroad, personal development, web startup philippines

August 2, 2007 | Filed Under International Economics, Personal Development | 5 Comments 

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