Tudou

joined 2 years ago
 

I'm curious about people's experiences of using AI to help them with their learning. Perhaps particularly relevant to us Chinese learners given the recent success of models like Deepseek.

For me it isn't a primary tool, but I have used ChatGPT in a couple of different ways.

  1. Speaking practice

I think the ChatGPT new voice mode is an interesting tool for language practice when you don't have too much access to native speakers.

When I have used it like this, I have prompted it to sort of create a single player role play scenario in Chinese. I then play through it in Chinese.

The biggest downside I'd say is that any hesitation in your speech at all and ChatGPT will interrupt. Not great when it's your second language.

  1. Writing analysis

I think it's pretty good for reviewing things you have written.

For e.g. if you've written an email you can share it with ChatGPT and tell it what your intended meaning was in English and the tone you were trying to strike. It will then give suggestions with explanations, for e.g. "this sentence is understandable, but a little bit casual. You can say instead..."

Pretty good for correcting things that, perhaps aren't grammar mistakes but are simply not how a native speaker would phase things.

Anyway, curious to hear how others are making use of AI.

[–] Tudou@feddit.uk 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Truly life being stranger than fiction, in that he was recently in the news after being acquitted in the US.

He had this to say on the American legal system at the time: "the reason I'm sitting here, let's be honest, is not only because I was innocent... but because I had enough money not to be swept away by a process that's set up to sweep you away".

 

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among the six people missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning.

The 56m (183ft) vessel was carrying 22 people - 10 crew and 12 passengers - including British, American and Canadian nationals. Emergency services rescued 15 people, including a one-year-old British girl. Local media reported the yacht, sailing under the name Bayesian, sank after encountering a heavy storm overnight that caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air, to appear over the sea.

Mr Lynch, known by some as "the British Bill Gates", co-founded software company Autonomy, which was later bought by tech giant Hewlett-Packard for $11bn (£8.6bn).

 

As with previous threads, the idea behind this is to have a - not quite - weekly post where learners of all levels, heritage and native speakers can post the Chinese content they have been consuming this week in whatever form.

If people also give an indication of their level (or the level of content) as well it can act as a way for people to discover new content which may be suitable for them.

 

Archive link here: https://archive.ph/4Glyj

 

It has been a month since the last one of these posts, so a good time for attempt #2.

As before, the idea behind this is to have a weekly post where learners of all levels, heritage and native speakers can post the Chinese content they have been consuming this week in whatever form.

If people also give an indication of their level (or the level of content) as well it can act as a way for people to discover new content which may be suitable for them.

Edit: not sure why all of my posts here get immediately downvoted. Would be great if downvoters could contribute their own content.

 

These are the learning channels which I have found most helpful over the course of learning Mandarin. Please do share your own as well!

  1. Mandarin Corner

This channel is well known and has a large variety of videos for all levels, including street interviews, vlogs and podcasts.

Where I think this channel really shines is in providing listening content that will help someone bring their listening skills from lower-intermediate to upper-intermediate. I credit the walk around series, where the host walks around various places talking about what she is doing and seeing, with my own breakthrough in listening.

Example video: https://youtu.be/b_d-Yf-Gzyw

  1. Free to learn Chinese

This is another superb channel with lots of content focussing on HSK grammar and vocab. Where this channel really shines is that it provides teaching for all levels entirely in Mandarin. These are great for listening to in the background, and for getting into the habit of doing as much of your learning as possible in the language.

Example videos: https://youtu.be/JBZ8UGCKq6A

  1. Twin cities chinese tutor

This is almost the opposite of the above channel in that the videos are almost entirely in English. This channel provides exceptionally clear and succinct explanations of Chinese grammar principles.

Example video: https://youtu.be/jlpo7S4p5HI

 

This is a Malaysian channel which produces high quality videos in Mandarin. Whilst most of their videos relate to Malaysia, they have one series where two sides debate social issues which is really well made. I find this sort of content quite hard to find in Mandarin generally, so quite enjoy using them for listening practice.

They also have Chinese and English subs which is helpful for learners.

 

I have always thought it would be a good idea to have a weekly post where learners of all levels, heritage and native speakers can post the Chinese content they have been consuming this week in whatever form. If people also give an indication of their level as well it can act as a way for people to discover new content which may be suitable for them.