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

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, we're launching a brand new course called "Real You Mandarin: Self-Expression," made for American-Born Chinese (ABCs), American-Born Taiwanese (ABTs), and other advanced Mandarin learners, focused on the most highly-requested topics from all of you! We're helping you navigate some of life's toughest challenges in this course created in collaboration with frequent podcast guest and partner teacher, LA-based Crystal Hsia.

Kicking things off with the release of the first module, "Expressing Your Feelings," the other 4 modules (Interpersonal Relationships & Dynamics, Fertility Journey & Parenting, Caring For Aging Parents, and Self-Growth Journey) will roll out through 2025.

All content is offered in BOTH Traditional Chinese & Simplified Chinese, Pinyin, and English.

In the "Expressing Your Feelings" module live now, you'll learn how to express yourself through realistic video lessons:

1. Happiness & Positive Emotions: 快樂與正向情緒 / 快乐与正向情绪 / kuài lè yǔ zhèng xiàng qíng xù

2. Sadness & Disappointment: 悲傷與失望 / 悲伤与失望 / bēi shāng yǔ shī wàng

3. Anger & Frustration: 憤怒與挫折 / 愤怒与挫折 / fèn nù yǔ cuò zhé

4. Fear & Anxiety: 恐懼與焦慮 / 恐惧与焦虑 / kǒng jù yǔ jiāo lǜ

5. Love & Affection: 愛與關愛 / 爱与关爱 / ài yǔ guān ài

6. Embarrassment & Shame: 尷尬與丟臉 / 尴尬与丢脸 / gān gà yǔ diū liǎn

7. Surprise & Confusion: 驚訝與困惑 / 惊讶与困惑 / jīng yà yǔ kùn huò

8. Envy & Jealousy: 忌妒與羨慕 / 忌妒与羡慕 / jì dù yǔ xiàn mù

Try the first lesson "Happiness & Positive Emotions" for FREE right now, including the videos, transcripts, and digital flashcards at: https://selfexpression.realyoumandarin.com/lessons/1-happiness-and-positive-emotions

Unlike our other course, this course is available for purchase as individual modules, as a Saver Bundle of 2 modules of your choice, or as the full course, with bigger savings the more you buy.

**THIS MONTH ONLY: Take advantage of early bird savings with the LOWEST PRICE the course will ever be offered by joining today. Save $50 OFF (- 25%) the regular price of the full course. Learn more and pre-ordering now at: https://www.realyoumandarin.com

Follow us on Instagram & TikTok at @realyoumandarin

Gene Hsu is a fellow American-Born Chinese (ABC) who had a previous career in cross-cultural communication & management, teaching non-Chinese individuals about Chinese culture, mentality, and perspectives.

On the side, he has also facilitated cross-cultural relationship mediation to help friends challenged in their marriages due to cultural differences and misunderstandings.

Lastly, inspired by his current life in Southern California surrounded by many Chinese immigrants, he was inspired to write children's books teaching language and cultural tidbits to foster cultural understanding ("What Do You Say To A Friend From China?").

We discuss a ton of new vocabulary words, including 全職爸爸 / 全职爸爸 quán zhí bà bà ("stay-at-home dad"), 語言障礙 / 语言障碍 yǔ yán zhàng ài ("language barrier"), 跨文化溝通 / 跨文化沟通 kuà wén huà gōu tōng ("cross-cultural communication"), and more.

Find Gene:

• Amazon books: https://www.amazon.com/Gene-J.-Hsu/e/B092FYDCN7
• YouTube Channel: ⁨https://youtube.com/@chinamyth

If you like learning new vocabulary through this conversational format, try the free preview lesson of our course Real You Mandarin: Beginnings at ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com⁠, and check out the full syllabus to see if the course format is right for you.

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

Meet Isy, a Hong Kong-based online Mandarin/English tutor and mother of two who appears on the surface to be the classic poster child for being a "third culture kid." She was born and raised in Taiwan, moved to South Africa when she was 12 and lived there through her early 20s, moved to the Bay Area in California for a few years, and now is living in Hong Kong with her husband and kids for the foreseeable future. 

In this episode, we sought out to discuss the topic of being of this "third culture," typically discussed as a feeling of a "stuck between worlds" or mixing of identities, and yet, the more we talked to Isy about her experience growing up and living in these various places, the more we started to wonder if this constant identity crisis is mostly a US-centric way of thinking...?

We discuss a whole slew of new vocabulary words, including 種族 / 种族 zhǒng zú ("ethnic race"), 政治正確 / 政治正确 zhèng zhì zhèng què ("politically correct"), and 大英國協 / 大英国协 dà yīng guó xié ("the British Commonwealth").

If you like learning new vocabulary through this conversational format, try the free preview lesson of our course Real You Mandarin: Beginnings at https://www.realyoumandarin.com, and check out the full syllabus to see if the course format is right for you.

Follow Isy on Instagram at ⁠@isy1025 to connect with her and learn more about her online tutoring.

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

We're back with Angela's "Real You Mandarin: Beginnings" course co-creator and Taiwan-based Mandarin teacher, Jane Liu - this time, talking about taboo topics and common mistakes in Mandarin.

We dive into 3 specific terms: 1. "舒服 (shū fú)" vs "自在 (zì zài)", 2. "要不要約 / 要不要约 (yào bú yào yuē)" vs. "要不要約出去玩 / 要不要约出去玩 (yào bú yào yuē chū qù wán)", and 3. the concept of "報喜不報憂 / 报喜不报忧 (bào xǐ bú bào yōu)" (only reporting good news, not bad). Let's just say the first two, if used incorrectly, could be mistaken for... *intimate* meanings.

Let us know in the comments or on social media what you thought about the episode and/or what surprised you the most!

If you want to learn other taboo topics and common mistakes, we have an entire module dedicated to this in our "Real You Mandarin: Beginnings" course. If you haven't already, try the free preview lesson on dating apps & describing your type, and check out the full syllabus to see if the course format is right for you. Head to ⁠https://www.realyoumandarin.com⁠ to access the free preview lesson and check out the full course.

Follow Jane on Instagram at ⁠@janesmandarin⁠ to explore working with her 1:1 and to stay up-to-date on her other Mandarin offerings.

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

In this episode, we're joined by Angela's "Real You Mandarin: Beginnings" course co-creator and Taiwan-based Mandarin teacher, Jane Liu.

We're talking about dating culture! What does it look like in contemporary Taiwan and how does that differ from our dating culture in the US?

Although the apps are prevalent in both parts of the world, Taiwanese culture still tends to be more conservative - for example, many people still have expectations around "告白 (gào bái)" or "confessing" your feelings towards the other person and formally asking to be in a relationship with them, vs. in the US we have a similar though different practice of "defining the relationship."

Let us know in the comments or on social media what you thought about the episode and/or your favorite new vocab word you learned!

If you want to learn more practical vocabulary around dating and relationships, try out the free preview lesson about dating apps & describing your type in the "Real You Mandarin: Beginnings" course. Head to https://www.realyoumandarin.com to access the free preview lesson and check out the full course.

Follow Jane on Instagram at @janesmandarin to explore working with her 1:1 and to stay up-to-date on her other Mandarin offerings.

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

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Editor's Note: We made a mistake with the vocabulary word referenced between 11:23-11:25 - the correct phrase is: 掙扎 zhēng zhá, which means "to struggle (with)"