Muhammad Ali Samsudin

A187998

4 August 2024.

What have you done?

This week, I focused on Phase 1 of my Mandarin learning journey, which involved Class 1 on Hanyu pinyin and the four tones, as well as Class 2 on further pronunciation studies. I also engaged in self-learning by using a list of examples from the videos and books provided.

Points to remember from week 1!

Class 1: Learned the four tones in Mandarin:

First tone (flat)

Second tone (rising)

Third tone (falling-rising)

Fourth tone (falling)

Neutral tone (no emphasis)

Class 2: Explored further pronunciation studies, including the importance of pinyin in correctly pronouncing Mandarin words.

Utilized videos and books to reinforce my learning through self-study.

Your feelings & thoughts

I felt excited and motivated to learn the tones and pronunciation, but also a bit overwhelmed by the complexity of the tones. It was rewarding to start understanding how they change the meaning of words. The videos and books helped me grasp the concepts more clearly.

Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

I found it challenging to differentiate between the tones, especially in spoken practice. To cope, I practiced with audio recordings, used visual aids to help memorize the tone marks in pinyin, and reviewed examples from the provided materials.

2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

Engaging and Challenging

Your plan for next week (Week 2)

For next week, I plan to enter Phase 2 by expanding my vocabulary with common phrases and learning basic sentence structures. I’ll continue to practice my pronunciation and incorporate more examples from videos and books into my study routine.

What have you done?

I joined my first Mandarin class this week and we learnt about Pinyin which is basically a system that helps to transcribe Mandarin Chinese sounds into a latin alphabet, and also the 4 tones (or 5 if you include the neutral tone). I’ve also learned on how to read numbers and introduce myself, nǐ hǎo, wǒ shì ā mǎ lín. wǒ èr shí yī suì! Besides joining my mandatory classes and doing my workbook, I have also taken the initiative to listen to Chinese podcasts almost every morning to enhance on my listening and pronunciation skills. 

Points to remember from week 1!

Some important points to remember is probably the 4  tones. It is crucial for me to keep on practising on differentiating the tones as some words in mandarin may sound similar but have an entirely different meaning. For instance, the number 4 (sì) and death (sǐ).

Your feelings & thoughts 

I feel anxious as I have never learned a new language up until this week. I was afraid of mispronouncing new words that I would often hesitate to say them in front of my teacher. At the same time, I felt captivated by learning something that seemed so foreign to me and this motivated me to learn more. 

Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

One of the difficulties that I faced this week was when I first learn on  how to correctly pronounce the numbers and how to form them. It took me awhile to grasp the concept behind it. After class, I watched more teaching videos to help increase my understanding. 

2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

Challenging & Fun 

Your plan for next week (Week 2)

My plan for next week is to expand my vocabulary related to common activities, do revision on what I had already learned as well as practice listening and speaking. 

✨What have I done?

For the first week of Korean class, I started with vowels and consonants and learn how to use a Korean dictionary to translate the words while learning how to type in Korean. I print out the vowels and consonants cause it is so hard to memorise in short time and need it to spell out every words. I also translate all Korean words in language I know, while labeling out the pronunciation of each words. I practice how to pronounce it correctly with the help of the dictionary which take time to familiar.

✨Points to remember from week 1

It is not easy to start lerning a language from zero. It's fun to explore a new language that has a totally different system from language I learn before and I realised is not an easy thing to master a new language in a short time. My teacher says for our level, it is good enough already if we can recognize the vowel and consonants and pronounce the words correctly. She says is important in this stage as it builds the basic of our language.

✨My feelings and thoughts

For now, I still feel fun and excited while being confused at the same time. Since I been influenced with Korean culture for a ling time, it is different from what I expected of what I learnt and what I heard in the Korean drama or those from multi media. From class we learn from a more system way, that is totally new to me, and is also confused me that what I learnt before whether it is correct or not, but I still interest stepping further to continue my learning journey, and hoping in future I able to understand this language as soon as possible.

✨Any difficulties/concerns?How do you cope it?

For now is still fine. Just that I not really familiar with the pronunciation. I cope it by labelling the words each and practises by following a dictionary. My teacher will also fixed my pronunciation when she spotted any errors in it.

✨ 2 words to describe my elective posting so far

Confusing and new

✨ Plan for next week

I am going to learn greetings and grammar next wek which is a lot for me. I have to do more practices by finishing my homework and repeat doing quizzes given by my teacher.

I also going to try to speak to the native to correct my pronunciation and try to read the words without refering the notes. Hence, memorising the vowels and consonants is the first thing in my to-do lists.

Matric Number: A188089

Date: 3/8/2024

2. What have I done?

• Upon registering by filling up the form given, I started the class by doing some introduction with the teacher. It was a one by one class that was held offline. Cikgu Hidayah gave me the textbook & exercise book that will be used throughout all the class. We started the class with the introduction to Hanyu Pinyin system used & the tone used for speaking Mandarin. My first topic that I learned was about introduction & greetings in Mandarin. Using the textbook, I learnt on how to converse the basic & common greetings such as saying hello, good morning, long time no see and thank you in Mandarin. As the teacher spoke, I would be asked to follow the pronunciation to help differentiate the tones & get used to it. I also learnt steps to write simple words Mandarin

• After the class with the teacher, I was given some exercise & assignments to be completed before the next session.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

• Mandarin Chinese has more than 400 basic syllables. Hanyu Pinyin is created for people to learn Mandarin Chinese pronunciation.

• There are 4 tones in Mandarin: high & flat, medium & rising, Dipping then rising, & high then falling.

• Wo --> saya

• Ta --> dia

• Ni --> awak

  
  

4. Your feelings & thoughts

• I was feeling excited as learning Mandarin was always been my goal but I did not have time & did not know from where to start learning. Throughout the class, I was able to focus & have fun interacting with Cikgu Hidayah. I feel overwhelmed as I thought that it would be hard to catch up as I used to think that Mandarin is a hard language to learn. However, the materials & the way Cikgu Hidayah taught me were very helpful & easy to understand. Overall feeling from this first week was that it was very enjoyable & I am excited for next session.

  
  

4. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

• I found it was hard to differentiate the tones by listening & repeating during the class. I also found it hard to remember on how to write words in Mandarin as there are many strokes. How I coped is by doing self revision at home by repeating the words & writing as it helped me remember better.

4. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

• Exciting & Challenging

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

• Be able to catch up with the different tones of pronunciation.

• I also hope to be able to expand my vocabulary.

2. What have you done?

For the first week, I watched video lectures on module 1 which are Chinese phonetics, focusing on pronunciation and tones, and basic greetings and introductions and also module 2 which include numbers and time of the day. Engaged in interactive exercises to practice pronunciation and tones. Took quizzes to assess my understanding of phonetics and basic phrases. There are also some reading materials about the Chinese mandarin.

3. Points to remember from week 1!

Firstly, Chinese is a tonal language and correct pronunciation is crucial. The four main tones significantly change the meaning of words. Secondly, common greetings and self-introduction and family members. Thirdly, different name of country in Chinese with pronunciation of some initials. Fourthly, some reading materials about Chinese mandarin and pinyin. Finally, the numbers in Chinese and also the time in a day with some activity such as wake up and breakfast.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

 I feel excited and motivated after completing the first week. It’s fascinating to learn a new language and understand it. Although challenging, the structured approach and interactive exercises make the learning process enjoyable.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

 The different tones were initially difficult to distinguish and pronounce correctly. To cope, I practiced extensively using audio aids and repeated phrases until I felt more confident. Other than that, remembering new vocabulary and phrases was a bit overwhelming. I practice it by taking the pictural quiz multiple time until getting full marks.

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

 Exciting and challenging

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

Keep motivated just like first week and try to not forget what learned in the first week while focusing on week 2.

Matric : A182398

Date : 5/8/2024

2) What have I done?

I registered for a Mandarin course by Peking University on Coursera on July 29, 2024. Although the course is designed to be completed in 7 weeks, I am determined to finish it in just 4 weeks. In the first week, I delved into the basics of Mandarin, starting with simple phrases like greetings, introductions, and stating my origin. This foundational knowledge has been incredibly useful for building my confidence in speaking Mandarin.

A significant part of the first week's lessons was understanding the four tones used in Mandarin. These tones are crucial for proper pronunciation and meaning, as Mandarin is a tonal language where the tone can change the meaning of a word entirely. Grasping these tones has been challenging but rewarding, as it has given me a deeper appreciation for the nuances of the language.

Additionally, I learned the pronunciation of the Chinese alphabet, which is essential for reading and writing in Mandarin. Coursera's structured approach, with quizzes and tests after each topic, has been instrumental in reinforcing my learning. So far, I have passed all the quizzes, which has been encouraging and motivating.

To supplement my learning, I have also been using Pleco, a Mandarin dictionary app. This has been incredibly helpful in expanding my vocabulary. Some of the words I've learned so far include "shāngdiàn" (shop) and "míngtiān" (tomorrow). Using Pleco has made it easier to look up new words and practice their pronunciation and tones.

Overall, the first week of the course has been an eye-opener to the complexities and beauty of Mandarin. The methodical approach of Peking University's course on Coursera, combined with the additional practice from Pleco, has made the learning process engaging and effective. I am looking forward to the upcoming weeks and continuing my accelerated journey to mastering Mandarin.

3) Points to remember from week 1

1. The Four Tones in Mandarin

• First Tone: High and steady

• Second Tone: Rising

• Third Tone: Falling and then rising

• Fourth Tone: Sharp and falling

These tones are essential since they can change the meaning of words.

2. Pronunciation of Similar Syllables

• "qī" (七): "ch" sound with the tongue against the roof of the mouth.

• "xī" (西): Soft "sh" sound, like in "she".

• 
  

Understanding these differences is crucial for clear communication.

3. Using Pleco for Vocabulary Building

• I've been using Pleco, a Mandarin dictionary app, to expand my vocabulary.

4) My feelings and thoughts

Starting the Mandarin course by Peking University on Coursera has been both exciting and challenging. Even though it's a seven-week course, I aim to finish it in four weeks. The first week has been intense but rewarding. Learning the four tones and their impact on meaning has been fascinating. It’s amazing how a slight change in pitch can change a word's meaning completely.

The pronunciation of similar syllables like "qī," "cī," and "xī" has been tricky but essential. Using Pleco has been a great help in building my vocabulary. It makes learning more interactive and engaging.

Overall, I feel excited and determined. The course structure and tools like Pleco make the learning process effective and enjoyable. I'm looking forward to the upcoming weeks and am confident I'll master the basics of Mandarin within my four-week goal.

5) Any difficulties

In the first week of the Mandarin course, I found mastering the four tones quite challenging. It's difficult to remember and consistently use the correct tones, as they can completely change a word's meaning. Another difficulty has been memorizing vocabulary and retaining new words, given the complexity of Mandarin characters. Adjusting to the structure of Mandarin sentences, which is different from English, has also been a bit tough. Despite these challenges, using resources like Pleco has helped me gradually improve.

6) 2 words to describe

Exciting and challenging

7) Plans for week 2

In Week 2, I plan to expand my vocabulary by learning words related to food, transportation, and common activities. I’ll focus on understanding and practicing basic sentence structures, such as forming simple questions and statements. To improve my listening and speaking skills, I will engage more with spoken Mandarin and practice pronunciation with correct tones. I'll continue using Pleco to support my learning, particularly for new vocabulary and pronunciation. Overall, I aim to build on the foundation from Week 1 and work towards forming more complex sentences.

Nur Qistina Aryssa Bt Mohd Apandi

A187859

2. What have I done ?

To kickstart my Mandarin language learning journey, I enrolled in an HSK1 course. The program consists of two intensive, two-hour classes each week. During these sessions, I've immersed myself in mastering the fundamentals of Mandarin pronunciation through the Hanyu Pinyin system. This involved a deep dive into the intricate details of initials,finals, and tones, the building blocks of the language.

Beyond pronunciation, I've laid a foundation in basic Mandarin vocabulary. I can now introduce myself and count from 1-50 with reasonable accuracy.

To solidify my learning, I've incorporated the language learning app, Duolingo, into my routine. Its interactive exercises have been beneficial in reinforcing vocabulary and refining pronunciation.

For a more immersive experience, I've begun listening to Mandarin children's songs, which has been enjoyable and helpful for improving my auditory comprehension.

3. Points to remember from week 1?

One of the most striking aspects of Mandarin is the pivotal role of tones in conveying meaning. A subtle shift in pitch can dramatically alter the word's interpretation, emphasizing the importance of mastering this fundamental element.

Developing a strong foundation in tones is essential for achieving fluency in the language. It's like learning the musical notes before attempting a melody; without a solid grasp of tones, effective communication becomes challenging.

Furthermore, the numerical system in Mandarin is built upon the foundation of numbers 0-10 (líng - shí) . Just as a house requires a sturdy base, proficiency in these core numbers is crucial for expanding one's numerical vocabulary. By diligently practicing these foundational numbers, I'm setting a strong groundwork for future mathematical expressions.

4. Your feelings & thoughts

When I first saw the course materials, I felt overwhelmed. There was so much to learn, and I didn't understand anything. It was like looking at a foreign planet. But when I started class, my teacher was really nice and made me feel comfortable.Even though I messed up a lot when I tried to speak, she was patient and helped me over and over.

I noticed that some of the other students already knew a little bit of Chinese, which made me feel a bit shy and afraid to express myself in the class. I didn't want to hold everyone back by asking too many questions or making mistakes. To catch up, I decided to study really hard on my own. I spent three hours every day listening to songs, going over the lessons, and using a language app.

At first, learning Chinese felt like climbing a really tall mountain. But as I kept practicing, it started to get a bit easier. I'm proud of myself for trying something new and challenging. It's fun to see myself improve, even if it's just a little bit at a time.

5. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

What Was Hard

One of the biggest challenges I faced was getting the tone right. Mandarin has four different tones, and even a tiny change can completely change the meaning of a word. It was like trying to hit a moving target! Another thing that was tough was saying certain sounds correctly, like 'zh', 'sh', and 'ch'. It felt like my mouth was in a wrestling match with the language.

What I Did About It

To tackle these challenges, I decided to put in extra effort outside of class. I spent hours listening to Chinese songs, going over the lessons, and practicing with a language app called Duolingo. I also found some helpful videos on TikTok that broke down how to say different sounds. Duolingo was great for building my vocabulary. I used it for about 20 minutes,three times a day, and it helped me learn words like tā men (you guys) , duì bu qǐ (sorry) & many more.

Learning Chinese songs was a fun way to practice. The music helped me remember the tones and numbers. I wish they had songs about other stuff too, like science or history. That would be so cool!

6. 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far

   Fun & exciting.

7. Your plan for next week (Week 2)

Next week, I'm going to keep practicing how to say the different sounds in Chinese. I want to make sure I can say them right without thinking too much.

I'll also try to learn more words so I can introduce myself better. I'm hoping to practice talking to my Chinese friends in Chinese next week. It will be scary, but I think it will help me improve.

I also want to learn how to say times and numbers quickly and correctly. I'll practice counting and saying the time over and over.

Matrics Number : A188514

Date : 15 August 2024

2. What have you done ?

   For my elective posting, I decided to learn Thai language and I registered for Thai language by MulaThai. For the first week, I was provided with soft copy lecture notes and I have the first class for the language lesson. The class was around 2 hours and I learned basic Thai language and we were focus on how to speak correctly. The first class was filled with simple things like how to introduce myself, age and numbers in Thai.

In addition, we were learned about alphabet in Thai which consist of 44 consonant and 58 vocal. In this class, my focus is to be able to talk with Thai people during travel to Thailand.

3. Points to remember from week 1

Since the first week is the fundamental week where I learned basic Thai language, there is a lot of things to remember such as sawadeekap where is it use for male speaker while sawadee is use for the female speaker. Even it is a simple thing but as a Malaysian, I think it is a new knowledge for me since we were use sawadeekap as it is the most knpwn word we know in Thailand. Not only that, since we learned about number in Thai language, I need to remember since it is very useful for the upcoming class.

4. Your feeling and thoughts

I decided to learn Thai language because when I was a secondary school student, I studied in Malaysia-Thailand border which is Pengkalan Hulu, Perak. There is a lot of Thai people in my school and I frequently met Thai people during outing. Not only that, most of the market in Pengkalan Hulu town use Thai language and open Thailand radio station on their radio. Taking Thai language as my elective posting was make me flashback myself 6 years ago when I was in Pengkalan Hulu. I was very excited at first to learn Thai language as I find it unique and interesting. When I was in Form 5,I had a Thai friend, he taught me simple Thai language such as "mae" means mom and "arewa" means what. But after going thru the first week of EP, I find it is difficult for me to learn Thai language since it is has it's own letter and it is totally different from normal alphabet.

4. Any difficulties/concern? How did you cope?

   Thai language has it's own alphabet and it is totally different from normal malay or english. I find it is very difficult for me to learn Thai language in a short period of time. After the class for 2 hours, I usually spent my free time chatting with my Thai friend to teach me how to pronounce Thai words correctly. My friend name is Adeesak Sukcharean, a Malaysian Thai people. In addition, I downloaded an apps called Ting on apple store where I can learn Thai language on my own. I found it very useful and I helps me a lot with those exercise and example.

5. 2 words to describe elective posting so far

   Amazing, Interesting

6. Your plan for next week?

   My plan for next week is to be more focus in the class and become active student so that I can learn more and able to speak Thai language with the right pronunciation

Matric No. : A179298

Date : 10 August 2024

~ What have you done? ~

It was my first week learning japanese after having my level test done in last June and i managed to start from Elementary one which is only 1 level higher from Beginner. I’m doing my Japanese course through a language school, ICLS that’s located in Bukit Bintang. This course will go on for 5 days a week with duration of 2 hours, and will be finished in the middle of September 2024.

For this 1st week, i’ve learned to memorize Katakana which is the 2nd type of Japanese alphabet. Every days we will learn a new set of Katakana and try to memorize it, as well as trying to form a word using Katakana as the main alphabet. After katakana session in the first 15-25 minutes, we continued with grammar learning. So I did learned about grammar to express the things that you can or cannot do, and things that you like and dislike.

~ Points to remember from week 1! ~

That katakana is very much a ‘sharper’ alphabet than hiragana, that’s a way to differentiate two of them according to my Sensei. Also, to remember that in Japanese there’s level of likes and dislikes as well!

~ Your feelings & thoughts ~

I’m quite glad that i decided to take this course since i am really interested in learning languages. And so far, Japanese is very interesting to learn.

~ Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope? ~

Honestly it was quite awkward when i began, because it has been sometimes since i formally learned a language. To have actually speak a foreign language and try to form sentences from the grammar was a little bit uncomfortable at first. But at the last class in this week, i realized that it is a really fun experience. So maybe i just need some time to adjust.

Katakana was quite hard to remember as well, but regardless, i tried the ‘write repeatedly’ method until i can remember the shape of the alphabet.

~ 2 words to describe elective posting progress so far ~

~ Your plan for next week (Week 2) ~

I am planning to get on to duolingo to sharpen my katakana memorizing, also to continue learning new grammars

Matric :A185598

Date : 24 june 2024

1. What have you done?

For my elective posting, I decided to learn Mandarin. I registered at a language center in Bangi, which conducts intensive Mandarin learning classes over three months. Upon registration, I was given two books: one was a textbook for use during classes, and the other was a workbook for homework and activities. All the classes were conducted via Zoom, with two classes per week. In the first class, I was taught how to pronounce consonants and vowels in different tones, and I was given homework on writing numbers in Chinese.

2. Points to remember from week 1

Ways of addressing people:

• wo - me, I

• ni - you

• ta - it, she/he

• women - we

Tones used to differentiate words that sound the same:

1st tone: Normal tone
2nd tone: Rising tone
3rd tone: Falling and rising tone
4th tone: Falling tone

3. Your feelings and thoughts

At first, I felt overwhelmed when I saw the thickness of the books and the number of notes and classes I had to attend in just three months. I was unsure if I could complete the intensive course within the given period, but my teacher was very motivating and assured me that I could finish the course. I always thought learning a new language would be difficult, especially since it was completely new to me, but my teacher made it much easier by teaching in the simplest and smartest ways possible.

4. Any difficulties/concerns? How did you cope?

I found it difficult to pronounce words in the different tones since there are four distinct tones. However, my teacher guided me through the lessons, which helped me complete my homework on tones with more confidence. Additionally, I had issues with my internet connection at home, so I had to travel to my dad’s office for a better connection during class time.

5. Two words to describe the experience

Interesting and exciting.

6. Your plans for next week

Next week, I will be learning how to greet friends and engage in basic conversations. I also have homework based on what I learned in the first week. I need to list words according to their tones and write numbers in Chinese. Additionally, I plan to study some new words in advance by going through the next chapters.

Matric :A185598

Date: 24 june 2024

1. What have you done?

For my elective posting, I decided to learn Mandarin. I registered at a language center in Bangi, which conducts intensive Mandarin learning classes over three months.

Upon registration, I was given two books: one was a textbook for use during classes, and the other was a workbook for homework and activities. All the classes were conducted via Zoom, with two classes per week. In the first class, I was taught how to pronounce consonants and vowels in different tones, and I was given homework on writing numbers in Chinese.

2. Points to remember from week 1

Ways of addressing people:

• wo - me, l

• ni - you

• ta - it, she/he

• women - we

Tones used to differentiate words that sound the same:

1st tone: Normal tone

2nd tone: Rising tone

3rd tone: Falling and rising tone

4th tone: Falling tone

3. Your feelings and thoughts

At first, I felt overwhelmed whe