Guiyang dialect tapes 贵阳话音档, includes above transcription and recording of “The North Wind and the Sun” 北风跟与太阳 in Guiyang dialect. To order: ISBN 7-5320-5449-7/G-5691
see uploaded scans of this book at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/sets/72157644983638411/with/14151126748/
from ISBN 978-7-5106-1247-3 新编普通话教程, 2012 :
The Chronicles of a Laowai, A Stranger’s Tales of China – All the People, So Many People [ blog of a foreign student of Chinese in Guiyang ]
Sunday, 31 March 2013
All the people so many people…Parklife!
Guiyang, Gateway to the dramatic countryside of Guizhou and the ecological delights of Yunnan and thriving city and provincial capital , romantically described in Lonely Planet as ‘A city that would never win any prices in a beauty contest.’…This is my new home
Sat. 8.55 am! I have a big weekend planned, its my first real chance to experience the state capital. Problem is the only free bus leaves in 5 minutes and I am still in my pants.
After a frantic dash I made it to the college bus, only to get stuck in traffic for 3 hours! the urban spread of
Guiyang begins 5 miles or so outside the city, the suburbs are a little like a box of biscuit misshapes, you munch through a load of shattered rich tea, and splintered custard cream and its sweet and ….just ok…then you pull out a pink wafer..whole! Demolition and construction is everywhere, this a rapidly growing business and travel hub. New international hotels, conference centres and warehouses the pink wafers and Oreos of the biscuit tin nestle underneath the flyover of the yet to be completed superhighway will soon connect Guiyang to Yunnan and Guangdong next door to the Radisson the tired street side restaurant or the dilapidated corner store spills into road like a crumbling bourbon creams..
(I think it may be time to put a lid on this cookie barrel analogy.)
I am here to meet a Local and get a feel for the town, I have been here before, twice, for my Government medical. I had to take a resit because of white blood cells in my urine, for a couple of days I thought I was going to get deported because I needed a new kidney. Luckily the only innards required were the ones on sale at the offal pick ‘n’ mix shop where gizzards, livers, feet and chickens necks are flash fried and smothered in hot sauce. I have also discovered boiled tripe wraps which are pretty killer too.
Guizhou university [ Guizhou Normal University ??] is situated in the northern part of the city and surrounded by bars and studenty stuff. The student teachers line the streets out side the campus entrance like intellectual rent boys advertising there skills all of which are for sale right price, there are loads of university’s in Guiyang I was lucky to get to the right one. Yang Ying is a teacher who resides on campus at Guizhou ‘Normal’ University and my host for the day.
I arrived flustered. Fortunately my new friend has keen eyesight and she spotted a freckly 6 ft ghost striding down the pavement with ease. After a brief handshake I was ushered to a fancy restaurant in a hotel complex called the ‘He House’. for a exquisite and refined lunch. She was polite, and very easy to talk too we both shared a love of travel especially India, she seemed to envy the freedom I have in my life and she felt stifled by Chinese bureaucracy and wanted to see the world. So the conversation flowed like the tea she suggested we mingle with the rest of the population of Guiyang and visit Qianling park and HongFu temple.
Saturday in Guiyang is park day. there is a scramble at the ticket office booth and the paths are jammed with buggies and minors in charge of mini electric cars. teen flushed with first love walk by fumbling nervously for each others hands, and older couples help each other down steep stairs. It seems its a park for everyone.
Just round the corner, left of the impoverished monk street performer who plays the harmonica with his nose. past the couples dancing in the bandstand and behind the middle aged man with portable amplifier and mic wailing a tuneless ballad. (I Imagine his wife had kicked him out the house for being under her feet all day! ‘..Shut up…you old git either fix that shelf or go and torment the people in the park with your talentless warbling!’ she must have said) are the stairs to the top of the 1300m mountain and the HongFu temple. Yang Ying bounded up the stairs. she was enjoying her day and tended to work a lot over the weekends so to have something different to do was fun.
Entrance to Hong Fu Temple
The smell of incense and blossom welcomed us to the 400 year old temple complex and the atmosphere was serene despite the crowds. In a small temple to the right of the main structure is probably the best temple i have ever been too, its a maze like room crammed filled with quirky Buddha all about the same size on three shelves which stretch all the way round the temple walls. Now these jocular, portly men are fortune telling Buddhas, and I was invited to play ‘You gotta pick as Buddha or two!’ The rules are easy. Pick a Buddha you like then count a round the room moving to your Buddha right until you have counted as many Buddhas as you have been on the planet, then remember the number of final Buddha and collect you fortune from the kiosk. my final Buddha was stubled, poorly attired with a small forehead and an uncomfortable expressions reminiscent of acute constipation. I doubted very much he had anything nice to say about my future. Ying’s Statue on the other hand was much more welcoming and happy so see decided to get her fortune told……..It could not have been worse!……Stay close to home and your Husband will arrive after he has travelled from afar….ooops!!….not the fortune you want to her when all you dream about is far off adventure in foreign lands.
Where there are people, food and trees in asia there are Macaques, loveable,cuddly, funny,dirty, rabies carrying monkeys, the most adaptable species on the planet after humans. I have a love/hate relationship with Macaques after one stole my samosa and pee-ed on me from height in Varanasi train station. In Qianling they pry on the timid and the weak, playfully fighting each other to get biscuits nuts, and sweet sugary drinks, they drink so much Sprite and OJ, they must be on a mental sugar rush all there lives until they die from diabetes! I had a terrific day in the park I saw so many wonderful things I really enjoyed watching the men loving write on the pavement with water and big sponge quills to demonstrate the art involved in beautiful calligraphy. The company was magical, Ying and I became good friends on that walk in park. and the day had only just begun……next came a Siwawa masterclass!
from www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9981092315/ , uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9981293814/
studying Chinese in Guiyang 在贵阳学习汉语 , uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9964494864/
BY MICHAEL WALTON mwalton@record-eagle.comTraverse City Record-Eagle
TRAVERSE CITY — An international exchange potentially involving hundreds of students and millions of dollars for local schools appears a step closer to becoming a reality.
Traverse City Area Public Schools board members said they expect to approve a memorandum of understanding with Weiming Education Group, one of China’s largest private schools, during a meeting Monday night. The agreement could bring up to 200 Chinese students — and an infusion of up to $2 million tuition dollars and extra state school aid money — to TCAPS annually for years to come.
“I haven’t heard any one voice of opposition (from board members),” board President Kelly Hall said. “I anticipate it will pass and be strongly supported.”
TCAPS officials are lauding the proposed partnership with Weiming as part of district efforts to prepare students for an increasingly globalized world. The agreement also will generate more revenue for TCAPS, and allow the district to offer more classes and programming options to all students in the district, officials said.
The TCAPS-Weiming partnership, if approved, likely will begin with dozens of Chinese students enrolling as junior and seniors at TCAPS’ high schools in the 2014-15 school year, district officials said. Some seniors also could enroll at NMC.
Weiming will pay $10,000 annually in tuition per student to TCAPS under the proposal before the board. The district also can collect the state per-pupil foundation grant for the Chinese students during their junior year.
But two school districts in Kent County experienced bumps in the long road from China that suggests true student numbers — and the associated revenue — are not easily pinned down.
Rockford Public Schools and Kentwood Public Schools began to work on similar agreements with Weiming about 18 months ago, Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said.
Each district was prepared to receive 20 students from Weiming for the 2013-14 school year. Instead, far fewer showed up.
Rockford ended up with only two juniors and three seniors after selecting 20 host families and budgeting for their tuition payments.
Recruiters from other high schools in the United States plucked the other Weiming students. Shibler said Weiming officials never told Rockford officials about the recruiting practice.
“Initially, I was very disappointed,” he said. “I was never aware this even existed.”
But Shibler is still pleased with his district’s agreement with Weiming, which he said at its core is about developing mutual respect between youths in China and the United States.
“We are a global society now,” he said. “We do need to develop strong relationships with other countries.”
TCAPS Superintendent Stephen Cousins said he’s are aware of the competition between districts to attract Weiming students and their families.
The memorandum before the TCAPS board doesn’t spell out a minimum number of Weiming students who’ll head for Traverse City.
“They’ll judge TCAPS based on the merits of our program and we’ll get the students whose parents feel we’re the best fit,” Cousins said.
TCAPS officials did look into Weiming’s background, including the institution’s credit history and business practices. Everything checked out, said Paul Soma, TCAPS associate superintendent of finance & operations.
TCAPS leaders also were impressed with Weiming’s institutional philosophy, Cousins said.
“They actually have, as part of their corporate goals, that they would increase the understanding between the Chinese and American cultures to improve the working relationship between the countries,” Cousins said. “That was important to us.”
books with photos of old Guiyang – Guizhou Provincial Library, Beijing Rd, Guiyang, 5th fl. Local Collections Reading Room, uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9837192235/in/photostream/
English corner at Guizhou Library, Saturdays, 2:30-4:30 pm, Beijing Rd,4th fl., foreign language book collection room, uploaded at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/98531730@N02/9837581555/in/photostream/
English corner at Guizhou Library, Guiyang,Dec 2013 – incl Rajeev Kumar from India,cancer researcher at Guizhou medical university
English corner at Guizhou Library (Beijing Rd) – article in Guiyang Evening Post,Nov 29,2013
English corner in Qianling Park, Guiyang – about 2005, Camel (r) with English teacher from Africa
2005 article about Qianling Park English corner – Will it continue ？ (lt reopened at the Guizhou Library)
photo of English corner, from its founder Camel, formerly in Guiyang’s Qianling Park, now at Guizhou Provincial Library
FROM MY HOMETOWN PAPER IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN, USA
September 8, 2013
By BRIAN McGILLIVARY bmcgillivary@record-eagle.com Traverse City Record-Eagle The Record Eagle Sun Sep 08, 2013, 07:14 AM EDT
TRAVERSE CITY — Board members for Traverse City Area Public Schools will consider a partnership with one of China’s largest private schools in a student exchange program that could draw up to 200 Chinese high school students to the district.
The board will discuss entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Weiming Education Group when members meet Monday at 6 p.m. at the Boardman administration building.
The proposed exchange program would start with the 2014-2015 school year with 30 Chinese students — high school juniors — who would live with host families.
Superintendent Steve Cousins said that number could increase over time to 50 juniors and 50 seniors at each of the district’s two high schools, based on available capacity.
“It fits in with our strategic plan to increase global competency and it will be a revenue-builder for TCAPS,” said Kelly Hall, school board president.
The students will pay $10,000 annually in tuition to TCAPS, and the district can collect the state per-pupil foundation grant for the Chinese students during their junior year. No foundation grant is available for the students’ senior years under their visa because they also would have to be dual-enrolled at Northwestern Michigan College.
Cousins said the tuition will cover any of TCAPS extra costs, plus generate a small profit.
Hall said her only concerns are logistical, such as finding enough host families. But once the program is established the Weiming Group proposes to build a residence hall for its students.
The program would create jobs and be an economic boost to the community, Hall said.
Weiming also will offer exchange opportunities for TCAPS students and teachers.
The memorandum of understanding is scheduled to come back to the board for a final decision on Sept. 23.
As many of you know, I have been teaching English in Guiyang, China for several years now. I am at Guizhou Normal University now and will have about 100 freshmen students this semester, studying (practicing) oral English. I have been given two tasks: 1) Teach students about Western Culture, and 2) Help them practice their oral English skills.
I have decided to use movies to teach the culture of the West and to give students something to talk about in class. I will show one movie a week and we will have students talk about these movies in class. We will practice famous sentences from the movie, such as “Houston, we have a problem, and “I’ll be back”. One problem with talking to 20 year olds is that they have little life experience and little to talk to an old guy about. These movies are a way of motivating these discussions. Another consideration is that the movies should be sufficiently stimulating to capture their interest.
The following is a list of movies and a description that I will show the students. They will have a chance to give input about the the movies that they want to see. My questions for you all is, in your opinion:
1) Are the movies the right movies, considering the objectives?
2) Are the descriptions appropriate?
3) Are there other movies that should be included in the list?
Here’s the list:
1) Appolo 13
The USA lost 17 people in it’s space program. This movie explores the reasons why it is so important to explore outer space. Appolo 13 was supposed to be a space mission to the moon, but got into trouble. This is a true story.
2) Rocky
Rocky Balboa is a loser. He had a chance to do well, but he was too lazy. Nobody respects him, not even himself. He meets a girl and gets another chance to be a winner.
3) Doctor Strangelove
Doctor Strangelove is a German scientist that helped Hitler in his efforts to conquer the world. The US captured him and used him for the US military. One day a crazy US General attack Russia with nuclear weapons and tries to force a war that will destroy Russia, and maybe the world.
4) The Matrix
How do we know when we are dreaming and when we are awake? The machines take over the world and use their technology to enslave the humans in a dream condition. Neo discovers this secret and finds friends to fight the machines.
5) The Duchess
A 17 year old girl in old England was noticed by an old bachelor Duke, who marries her in order to get an heir to his estate. Georgina becomes the Duchess of Devonshire when she marries the Duke in 1774 and becomes the most loved woman in England, but she has an unhappy marriage. This is a true story.
6) Moneyball
Billy Beane is the manager of a baseball team that is losing too may games. His team doesn’t have enough money to get the best baseball players. He knows that he will always be a loser against the big money unless he changes his way of doing business. He is worried about losing his family too. This is a true story.
7) How to Train your Dragon
The boy is a Viking in ancient times. His village is fighting the dragons and his father is the leader of the village. His father is very fierce, but the boy is weak, and his father is ashamed of him. The boy can never satisfy his father unless he can kill a dragon. The boy goes out at night alone to catch a dragon and kill it.
8) Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter
Abraham Lincoln is known to be the most important President of the United States, after George Washington. This is a story about what might have happend to him when he was growing up.
9) Hunt for Red October
The Red October is a Russian Submarine that was so advanced that it could maybe win the cold war if it attacked the USA. The captain of Red October was the best submarine commander in Russia. He knew that this could start World War III and destroy the world so he stole the submarine in order to bring it to the USA. He told the Kremlin his plans, but couldn’t tell the USA. The USA knows he is coming and thinks he is attacking, so the USA is chasing him. The Russians are also chasing him and both countries are trying to sink the Red October.
10) Enemy at the Gates
The Russians are being destroyed by the German Nazi army in World War II. The leader of Russia makes his last stand in Stalingrad and refuses to surrender the city. A simple soldier is an excellent sniper and, with the help of a propaganda officer, inspires the Russians to resist the Facists.
11) Mud
Two teenage boys find a man hiding from the police on an island. They decide to help the man get away from the police and find his girlfriend.
12) Ghost Warrior
A Japanese Samurai is killed while he defends his bride. He falls into the icy water and is frozen. He wakes up hundreds of years later in Los Angeles where American scientists bring him back to life. He has trouble adjusting to modern living.
13) Little Miss Sunshine
A little girl wants to compete in a pageant but has a very poor family and has trouble going to the event. Her family tries to take her there, but has a lot of trouble.
14) Best in Show
The owners of beautiful dogs will compete around the world. The best of the dogs all come to a dog show to compete and become the best dog in the world.
15) Independence Day
The earth is attacked by aliens that want to exterminate the humans and take over the world. Two young men fight the aliens, but have trouble with their girlfriends while they are fighting.
16) The Wizard of Oz
Dorothy has her dog Toto taken away by the evil landlord, but the dog escapes and returns home. To save the dog Dorothy runs away from home, but gets caught in a tornado. She gets hit in the head and while she is sleeping everybody tells her she is dead. She doesn’t believe it and keeps trying to go home.
17) Casablanca
Rick owns a bar in North of Africa during World War II. An old girlfriend who broke his heart comes into the bar and asks him to help her and her husband escape from the Facists. Rick has two visas (letters of transit) that could let her go to the USA with her husband, but he still hates her and doesn’t want to give them to her.
18) Terminator
The world has been taken over by machines, but the machines are losing out to the rebels. The rebels are led by John Connors who taught the humans how to fight the machines. The last chance for the machines is to send a terminator (killer cyborg) back in time to kill the mother of John Connors. Sarah Connors, who knows nothing about the future, becomes the target. Kyle Reese goes back in time to defend her from the terminator, but the terminator is almost indestructable.
19) The Last Samurai
The Americans have come to Japan and are selling weapons to the Emperor in the 1880s. The US navy visits Japan and a naval officer has to fight a samurai warrior. After the fight he must live with the Samurais. These Samurais don’t want the Emperor to buy weapons from the US, but they are loyal. The officer has a mixed loyalty.
20) Star Wars
Darth Vader is taking over the universe and is controlled by the leader of the “Dark Side” of the force. Princess Liah is against him and tries to get help from her uncle’s friend, Obewan Kenobie. Luke Skywalker gets the message. He tries to help her and save the universe from the Dark Side of the force.
21) True Grit
A 13 year old girl goes after the man who killed her father in the old west. This is a true story.
22) Friday Night Lights
In the US, people unite behind their teams. A Football coach in a small town gets a lot of pressure to win a State championship. The high school students also get a lot of pressure from everybody. This is a true story.
23) Rain Man
A rich man dies and gives just a car to the younger son and millions to take care of the older son who has mental problems. The younger brother kidnaps the older brother to try to get more money.
Aston English 外教在中国——贵阳
video with scenes of Guiyang and Aston English school 阿斯顿英语
OK, OK, it’s a promo for Aston. But it shows scenes of Guiyang, Qianlin Park, and expat ESL teachers in a typical private conversational English school setting. Similar to what many English teachers here have