It’s no secret that when it comes to a universal language, the closest thing we have is English. So it’s also no wonder that millions of people born in non-English speaking countries dedicate thousands of hours to studying it. However, analyzing books and grammar is not the only way to learn a language. In fact, I would argue that it’s one of the worst ways to do so.

Forget this!

Throughout my years of studying languages, I have learned that the absolute best way to master any language is through experience rather than traditional study methods. Forget about textbooks and taking notes. Rather, get outside and talk to someone who speaks English fluently. If that’s still a bit too daunting, try eavesdropping on some conversations (we promise it’s not as sketchy as it sounds) or watch TV shows that aren’t dubbed in your native language. There are plenty more ways that you can be creative in your learning, and here are a few suggestions:

Consuming English media

In a country as large as China, most of the media that teens consume such as music, videogames, and TV shows are readily available in Chinese. However, a dependence on local media can also slow down the process of language acquisition. Coming from a relatively small state in the Balkans, most of my friends and I had no choice but to rely on English media given the dearth of Macedonian music and TV. This, along with courses we were taking at school, helped speed up the process of language learning and made us more fluent English speakers in the process. Who knew watching TV and listening to music could be so beneficial to our future?

Converse in English

With the number of English speakers increasing by the day, there is no excuse for not partaking in, or at least trying to understand, English conversations. While it may seem strange at first to people who did not grow up speaking the language, conversing in English is a surefire way to learn it faster, and integrate it into your native vocabulary. At home, my friends and I spent so much time talking to each other in English that by the time we had finished elementary school we had our own language, a hybrid between our native Macedonian and popular US slang.

Keep trying

Arguably the most important part of the entire process – trying to understand what you encounter – is the entire point of this learning method. Learning any language is going to be tricky at first, however, only by forcing ourselves to keep going can we truly become fluent speakers. The next time you see a sign in English or hear a news broadcast from an English-language media outlet, or even visit an English speaking country, try to comprehend what is going on around you. Even with the lowest level of language comprehension, you might discover something you didn’t know before. Likewise, even if you make mistakes don’t be afraid to go back and examine them. After all, correcting mistakes is the lifeblood of the learning process.

As someone who has spent countless hours studying multiple languages in different ways, I can confidently say that the only way to truly learn any language is by living as though that language was your mother tongue. So the next time you think about studying English, try putting away your notebooks and textbooks and try acting like you live outside of China. I can guarantee that it will not only make you a better learner but also clear your head and give you a fresh view of the language you are learning.

Do you have any tips or tricks for learning a language? Share them with us in the comments!

KEEP READING: Mind Your (Text) Language: Texting and Teen Literacy

Images: Unsplash

The kuaidi – delivery – business is booming in China, but if you’re only using it to order things to you, then you’re missing out on half the fun. It’s time to discover the wonderful world of Didi-for-stuff courier services.

Forgot your keys? Ask your SO to send a spare set to you! Too sick to get to your friend’s birthday party? Send the cake you lovingly prepared anyway! Going on a hot date but need a clean shirt? Delivery guy to the rescue!

While there are a few different apps which offer similar services in China such as Shunfengtongcheng 顺丰同城 and Meituan 美团 (yes, the food ordering app, they kinda do everything), one of the most reliable companies for rapid delivery of almost anything under the sun is Shansong 闪送. Shansong usually promises to deliver goods within an hour, and the app is pretty easy to navigate. It’s also fast: claiming to need only 23 minutes for a 5km delivery, 33 minutes for a 10km delivery, and 39 minutes for a 15km delivery.

Before we begin, it’s worth noting that like Didi, the service relies upon drivers, and if there are no delivery “little brothers” (小哥) in your proximity, well, you’re out of luck. For that reason, we don’t recommend using this service in emergencies (say, delivering insulin to your diabetic friend), unless you really have no other option.

It’s also important to note that the delivery man will usually give you a call when he’s waiting for you downstairs, so if you really don’t speak any Chinese, this may not be the service for you.

How to place an order on Shansong

After you download and open the Shansong app, a page with a sending and receiving address will show up. Your current location will be pinned, giving you an estimate in minutes for how long it is likely to take for you “little brother” to show up after you pay (although in our experience, it usually takes longer).

Enter your address

After you enter the pickup and delivery address, you will be taken to a second page where you can add extra information about the order as well as details about the sender and receiver (name and phone number).

Enter information about the item you are sending

To confirm your order, you need to indicate what it is that you’re sending. Options range from documents to flowers to an actual cake, though sadly no glitter bombs as of yet (though we would assume that they fall under ‘miscellaneous’). You also need to indicate the weight of the item, using the + and – symbols to adjust as necessary. Don’t wrap up the item yet, because the delivery man will need to inspect it first.

Pay

The very last step includes the final price of your package (shown on top) as well as your preferred method of payment (Apple pay is included!). For deliveries under 5kg and within 5km, the price is RMB 16. After that, RMB 10 is added for every additional 5km.

Await pickup

Now, just wait for the delivery guy to show up. When he arrives, he’s likely to call you. A typical exchange would go like this:

• 您好，闪送，我到楼下了。Nín hǎo, shǎn sòng, wǒ dào lóu xià liǎo. Hello, It’s Shansong delivery, I’m downstairs.
• 好的，谢谢，我现在下楼。Hǎo de, xiè xiè, wǒ xiàn zài xià lóu. Okay, thanks. I’ll come downstairs now.

All being well, he’ll inspect the item to make sure it is what you say it is, and be on his merry way.

Receipt

You can track the delivery progress on the app, and the order will close when the delivery is completed. Easy!

READ: How to Use China’s Food Delivery Apps for (Hungry) Dummies

Images: Expertise.com, Shansong

Beijing is in the forefront of the “no waste” movement. The world is over-polluted with plastic; it’s everywhere in our lives. I am partly to blame as I love ziploc bags, and our family has a huge waste output. One of my friends has been urging me to take a hard look at my plastic fantastic life. I am inspired by her energy and commitment to use less plastic, and be part of making the world a better place for our kids. Another friend made a big order of beeswax wrapping. These wraps can be used for food instead of plastic wrap. Now, I am a bit of a DIY person, and when I got them I investigated how I could make more myself. I found out this was super easy, and I’ll share my newfound knowledge with the rest of Beijing.

I would not recommend wrapping up meats or fish with these wraps as you can only wash them with cold water. The materials and supplies can only be used for this purpose, so use your old stuff and use it in the future only for beeswax wrap making. Check out Roundabout for supplies. If you are lazy and still want to save the world and do you part, check out www.baluchon.net

What supplies do you need to make these non plastic wraps?

• Beeswax
• 100 percent cotton fabric, cut into the size you want.
• Baking Tray
• Paintbrush
• Cheese Grater

How to make beeswax wraps 

• Heat your oven to 180 degrees celsius
• Put the fabric on the baking tray
• Grate the bees wax evenly on the fabric – you don’t need a lot
• Place in the oven for less than five minutes, remove when the wax is melted.
• Use the paintbrush to distribute the wax
• Hang to dry. When it’s dry, it’s ready for use!

(Pictures show wraps home made by Baluchon of Shanghai)

Photos: Pauline van Hasselt

Often on social media, especially on WeChat Moments and group chats, we’ll see “missing persons reports.” We are encouraged to share them in every group we know and ask our friends if so-and-so foreign national or child has been sighted anywhere.  Even though we’re in Beijing, sometimes we’re asked about residents of Shenzhen or Shanghai, and many ads will continue to circulate even after the person is found. Clearly, there must be a better way.

We’re not discouraging anyone from asking their communities/networks for assistance, but if it’s your friend or family member who’s gone missing, you should know how to get help from authorities.

When can you file a “missing person’s report”?
In the US it’s 36 hours, but in China the police will not open a case until a person has been missing for at least 48 hours.  Foreign nationals can also get in touch with their embassy and have the embassy contact the police on their behalf (especially if there’s a language barrier).

What do you need to file a report?
When you go to police station, make sure you have the missing person’s basic information, such as their name, nationality, eye and hair color, height, and weight.  Bring the person’s photos and clothes. The police will use the clothing to extract DNA, which they will run through their bank of missing persons.

What if you’re not in China, but your loved on might be missing in China?
You can still contact your embassy and have them contact the local police and file the report on your behalf.

Source: Global Times

Photo: Flickr