Who says growth always has to come through suffering?

Out of all places, I recently learned to practice gratitude, appreciating the present moment, and going with the flow on a two-day solo trip to Tokyo Disney, all while rediscovering how important it can be to integrate more joy and play into my life.

In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 活在當下 / 活在当下 / huó zài dāng xià ("living in the present moment"), 隨遇而安 / 随遇而安 / suí yù ér ān ("to go with the flow"), 情緒調節 / 情绪调节 / qíng xù tiáo jié ("emotional regulation"), and more!

Coincidentally, I was able to use a ton of the vocab from our last upcoming course module, "Module 5: Self-Growth Journey," coming out very soon (I'm working hard to complete it ASAP, I swear!).

If you're interested in learning more vocab related to self-growth, head on over to https://www.realyoumandarin.com to join our new course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression because all that content will be rolling out shortly!

This is your last chance to save $10 off the regular course price before this final module comes out, and in the meantime you'll get instant access to the other four modules' worth of meaty content to learn while you wait!

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

For many of us in our 30s and beyond, while we've been finding out more about ourselves as adults, another aspect of getting older is coming to terms with the fact that our own parents are also getting older. With that comes the inevitability of discussions around medical decisions, potential changes in living arrangements, financial/estate planning, and more. Do you feel prepared to have those conversations in Mandarin?

We certainly didn't before creating our most recently released module for our Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression Course... Module 4: Caring For Aging Parents. In fact, while making the content for this module, Angela coincidentally had to make use of some of her newly learned vocab to assist with her own family circumstances.

Much like our entire course, while we cannot anticipate every conversation or situation you may encounter, we truly hope that what you do learn through our course gives you a solid toolkit to tackle some of these difficult life conversations so that you can feel more confident when approaching these topics.

To learn more about the newly released module and to join the full Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression course during its last stretch of discounted pricing before the full course release, head over to https://www.realyoumandarin.com ... if you haven't already, preview the free lesson to see if the course is right for you!

In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 年邁的父母 / 年迈的父母 / nián mài de fù mǔ ("elderly/aging parents"), 口譯 / 口译 / kǒu yì ("to interpret/oral interpretation"), and 主要照顧者 / 主要照顾者 / zhǔ yào zhào gù zhě ("primary caregiver").

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin.

In a not often spoken about topic in Mandarin, we're joined again by Zhifei from Xiaogua Chinese, where we discuss our respective experiences with psychedelics.

What started as a conversation broadly about our mutual interest in self-growth quickly pivoted to this topic where Angela shares how therapeutic MDMA was her initial gateway into this world, and Zhifei shares her deeply profound experience with psilocybin (magic mushrooms) in Bali.

In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 觸發點 / 触发点 / chù fā diǎn ("trigger/trigger point"), 靈修 / 灵修 / líng xiū ("spiritual practice / spiritual cultivation"), and 薩滿 / 萨满 / sà mǎn ("shaman").

If you like Zhifei, follow her YouTube channel at  ⁨@xiaoguachinese⁩  to watch other intermediate/advanced Mandarin level conversational videos!

If you like improving your Mandarin through this conversational-style format, make sure to subscribe to us here at Real You Mandarin: The Podcast to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes, and check out all of our resources at ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com⁠

Follow us on Instagram at ⁠@realyoumandarin⁠ and on TikTok at ⁠@realyoumandarin⁠

Frequent guest and Real You Mandarin: Beginnings partner teacher Jane Liu is back again, and this time to talk about one of her favorite pastimes... camping!

We talk about how camping in Taiwan is unique compared to in the West. Jane goes camping often throughout Taiwan's beaches and forests, has camped in the U.S. before, and has previously lived in a camper van traveling across Europe and Australia.

In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 露營 / 露营 / lù yíng (camping / to camp), 隨意 / 随意 / suí yì (casually / freely / as you like), and 生火 / shēng huǒ (to light/make a fire).

Camping also happens to be one of the main topics covered in Jane's upcoming vlog-style course on fun places to go in Taiwan! To learn more, follow her on Instagram at @janesmandarin and join her waitlist in her link in bio.

Learn more about Real You Mandarin at https://www.realyoumandarin.com

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

I moved to Japan y'all! Sorry for the delay in episodes recently... it's been a lot prepping for this new major life chapter.

In this solo episode, I reflect on the experience of deciding to immigrate to Asia as an Asian-American, comparing/contrasting with my parents' own immigration 30+ years ago from Taiwan to the U.S., and what major differences I've already experienced culturally/societally this time moving here pursuing permanent residency compared to my previous time spent in Japan as a digital nomad on tourist visas.

Even though there is no native speaking guest this episode, I looked up key vocab prior to recording so we could all still learn new vocab together. In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 近況更新 / jìn kuàng gēng xīn (TW) or 最新動態 / 最新动态 / zuì xīn dòng tài (CH) ("life update/latest update"), 生活品質 / 生活品质 / shēng huó pǐn zhí ("quality of life"), and 驚喜 / 惊喜 / jīng xǐ ("to be pleasantly surprised").

If you like improving your Mandarin through this conversational-style format, make sure to subscribe to us here and on YouTube to stay up-to-date with the latest podcast episodes, and check out all of our resources at https://www.realyoumandarin.com

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

Zhifei is the Creator of Xiaogua Chinese, popular Mandarin teaching platform that focuses on comprehensible input and practical/real life Mandarin.

As a polyglot herself (speaks Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, English, Portuguese, and is learning French!), she fully understands the struggles that language learners face, especially in achieving a level of fluency that feels "real" to well...real life! With the similarities between Real You Mandarin's philosophy of empowering you to feel confident speaking immediately useful, practical, "real life" Mandarin only, it's no wonder we gravitated towards Zhifei and her platform.

Beyond her teaching experience, we discuss the many things we have in common between our respective experiences as digital nomads, being multilingual, our mutual connection to Spain, and more -- we loved getting to know Zhifei and think you will too.

In this episode, you'll learn new vocab like "digital nomad": (CH) 電子遊民 / 电子游民 / diàn zǐ yóu mín vs. (TW) 數位遊牧 / 数位游牧 / shù wèi yóu mù, 定居 / dìng jū ("to settle down" / "to make one's home"), and 幸虧 / 幸亏 / xìng kuī ("fortunately" / "luckily" / "thanks to").

To learn more about Zhifei and Xiaogua Chinese, you can find her on YouTube and Instagram at @xiaoguachinese

If you like learning Mandarin through this conversational format, try a free lesson from our newest course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, lock in early bird pricing for huge savings, and review the full syllabus at ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com.

And if you're interested in transcripts from this podcast episode to deepen your learning, you can unlock full transcripts in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English by joining our Podcast Transcript Membership at https://transcripts.realyoumandarin.com - download the first episode's full transcript for free to try it out before you join. AND, if you end up joining our course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, you have the option to add on the Transcript Membership at a huge discount at checkout.

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

Whether you're already a parent or on your journey towards becoming one, this is one of the most in-demand topics we've heard from both existing students and our followers on social media.

That's why we 嘔心瀝血 / 呕心沥血 / ǒu xīn lì xiě (poured our heart and soul into) building this new module from our course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression... Module 3: Fertility Journey & Parenting, out now!

We discuss both what to expect in the module itself and our reflections on why it's an interesting topic for so many of us diaspora folks, not only because we're grappling with cultural differences between East and West, but also overcoming generational knowledge gaps in how society has changed compared to our parents' generation (the prevalence of fertility treatments, gentle parenting, etc.), and also finding our rhythm creating a bilingual environment for our own kids, often already being one step removed from the motherland societies ourselves.

You can buy the new course module on its own or at a steep discount when you purchase the entire course. Learn more at https://www.realyoumandarin.com and if you haven't already, try the free preview lesson from Module 1 to test out the course format before you join.

This new course module covers the following lessons, and includes a staggering amount of vocab (462... that's 3x the number in Module 1 & 2 respectively!) to give you the confidence you need to tackle these topics:

1. Fertility Testing, Challenges, & Emotional Impact | 生育檢查、生育困難與情緒影響 / 生育检查、生育困难与情绪影响 (shēng yù jiǎn chá, shēng yù kùn nán yǔ qíng xù yǐng xiǎng)

2. Birth Plan | 生產計劃 / 生产计划 (shēng chǎn jì huà)

3. Setting Boundaries With the Grandparents About Your Parenting Style | 和祖父母劃清教養界線 / 和祖父母划清教养界线 (hé zǔ fù mǔ huà qīng jiào yǎng jiè xiàn)

4. Daily Routines | 日常作息 (rì cháng zuò xí)

• A. Getting Ready For School | 上學準備 / 上学准备 (shàng xué zhǔn bèi)
• B. At the Dinner Table | 吃飯時間 / 吃饭时间 (chī fàn shí jiān)
• C. Bathtime | 洗澡時間 / 洗澡时间 (xǐ zǎo shí jiān)
• D. Bedtime | 睡前時間 / 睡前时间 (shuì qián shí jiān)

5. Gentle Parenting: Encouragement & Building Self-Confidence | 溫和教養：鼓勵與建立自信 / 温和教养：鼓励与建立自信 (wēn hé jiào yǎng: gǔ lì yǔ jiàn lì zì xìn)

6. Gentle Parenting: Working Through Big Feelings When You’re Triggered | 溫和教養：當你情緒被激發的時候，陪孩子度過強烈的感受 / 温和教养：当你情绪被激发的时候，陪孩子度过强烈的感受 (wēn hé jiào yǎng: dāng nǐ qíng xù bèi jī fā de shí hòu, péi hái zi dù guò qiáng liè de gǎn shòu)

7. Culture: Explaining Why Learning Chinese Is Important Living in the West | 文化：解釋為什麼住在西方還是要學中文 / 文化：解释为什么住在西方还是要学中文 (wén huà: jiě shì wèi shen me zhù zài xī fāng hái shì yào xué zhōng wén)

8. Getting to Know Holidays | 文化篇：認識節日 / 文化篇：认识节日 (wén huà piān: rèn shì jié rì)

• A. Lunar New Year | 農曆新年 / 农历新年 (nóng lì xīn nián)
• B. Mid-Autumn Festival | 中秋節 / 中秋节 (zhōng qiū jié)
• C. Dragon Boat Festival | 端午節 / 端午节 (duān wǔ jié)

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If you're interested in transcripts from this podcast episode to deepen your learning, you can unlock full transcripts in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English by joining our Podcast Transcript Membership at https://transcripts.realyoumandarin.com - download the first episode's full transcript for free to try it out before you join.

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

Kelly Mosa is a Taiwanese content creator (recently naturalized US citizen!) who shares both funny and heartwarming content about her Taiwanese perspective on life in Minnesota and moments of levity in her cross-cultural relationship with husband Nicholas.

Little could she have imagined how many people would relate to her story, turning her platform into a thriving community of people like her both on and offline - first-generation immigrants trying to adapt to a totally different culture/country, feeling otherwise stuck and alone - coming together to find a piece of home and a safe space to share their experiences.

Since Kelly is not a Mandarin teacher but rather a native speaker willing to share her real story, we ironically learned some of the most "real life" vocabulary we've ever learned through recording this podcast - in this episode, you'll learn words like 人生轉變 / 人生转变 / rén shēng zhuǎn biàn ("life change/transformation"), 你不孤單 / 你不孤单 / nǐ bù gū dān ("you are not alone"), and 精神上面的支持 / jīng shén shàng miàn de zhī chí ("moral/emotional/psychological support").

Learn more about Kelly, Kelly Mosa Cafe Chats, and The 30s Room on Instagram at @kelly.mosa

If you like learning Mandarin through this conversational format, try a free lesson from our newest course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, lock in early bird pricing for huge savings, and review the full syllabus at ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com.

And if you're interested in transcripts from this podcast episode to deepen your learning, you can unlock full transcripts in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English by joining our Podcast Transcript Membership at https://transcripts.realyoumandarin.com - download the first episode's full transcript for free to try it out before you join. AND, if you end up joining our course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, you have the option to add on the Transcript Membership at a huge discount at checkout.

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

A lot of us have started finessing our communication skills in our 20s and 30s as we work through our own self-growth in the language we're most comfortable in - English. And yet, when we want to apply these same skills of expressing our needs, setting boundaries, navigating conflicts with empathy, and other critical interpersonal skills in Mandarin, we lack the vernacular necessary to express ourselves fully in those contexts.

We're so proud to announce that Module 2: Interpersonal Relationships & Dynamics from our new course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, is now live! This module covers:

1. Expressing Love, Needs, & Managing Expectations

表達愛、需求與期望管理 / 表达爱、需求与期望管理

biǎo dá ài, xū qiú yǔ qí wàng guǎn lǐ / biǎo dá ài, xū qiú yǔ qī wàng guǎn lǐ

2. Setting Boundaries, Saying No, & Handling Conflict

設立界線、說不與處理衝突 / 设立界线、说不与处理冲突

shè lì jiè xiàn, shuō bù yǔ chǔ lǐ chōng tú / shè lì jiè xiàn, shuō bù yǔ chǔ lǐ chōng tū

3. Giving Feedback & Handling Criticism

提供回饋與應對批評 / 提供回馈与应对批评

tí gōng huí kuì yǔ yìng duì pī píng

4. Understanding & Expressing Gratitude

理解與表達感激 / 理解与表达感激

lǐ jiě yǔ biǎo dá gǎn jī

5. Apologizing & Making Amends

道歉與彌補 / 道歉与弥补

dào qiàn yǔ mí bǔ

6. Planning For the Future

規劃未來 / 规划未来

guī huà wèi lái

This module is now available to purchase individually or as part of the full Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression course. It's jam-packed with 193 critical vocabulary words/phrases taught contextually through realistic conversations and reinforced through transcripts & digital flashcards, supported in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English.

If you haven't already, try a free lesson from Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, lock in early bird pricing for huge savings, and review the full syllabus at ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com.

And if you're interested in transcripts from this podcast episode to deepen your learning, you can unlock full transcripts in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English by joining our Podcast Transcript Membership at https://transcripts.realyoumandarin.com - download the first episode's full transcript for free to try it out before you join. AND, if you end up joining our course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, you have the option to add on the Transcript Membership at a huge discount at checkout.

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin

Does Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month mean much to first-generation Asian immigrants who immigrated to the U.S. as adults? We explore the concept of the Asian-American identity with Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression course collaborator Crystal Hsia, a first-generation Taiwanese-American and Mandarin teacher who moved to the U.S. 10 years ago for grad school. How does she feel about Asian or Asian-American representation in media when it's not Asians from her own ethnic group? In this episode, you'll learn vocab like 亞太裔美國人傳統月 / 亚太裔美国人传统月 / yǎ tài yì měi guó rén chuán tǒng yuè ("AAPI Heritage Month"), 社群 / shè qún ("community"), 層面 / 层面 / céng miàn ("layers"/"dimensions"), and more. If you haven't already, try a free lesson from our new course Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression, lock in early bird pricing for huge savings, and review the full syllabus at https://www.realyoumandarin.com - if you purchase the course, you can also unlock a steep discount for the podcast transcript membership when you add it on at checkout.To learn more about the Podcast Transcript Membership, unlock full episode transcripts that feature Traditional & Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, English, and highlighted vocab, and download the first episode's transcript for free, head over to https://transcripts.realyoumandarin.com

Follow us on Instagram at @realyoumandarin and on TikTok at @realyoumandarin