Thanks Matt! Appreciate you. I feel like we're similar in that way, where yes, we want to have success and achieve things in life, but to do so in a way that feels true to you and what you want vs. an internalized external definition of success.
So very proud of you Jacky!! You were an inspiration back at Swat when you said you were moving to Taiwan to study Chinese, and are still an inspiration now as you lean into your creative pursuits full-time. So very excited for you in so many ways!
Thank you so much for sharing! I love the quote “leap and the net will appear”. I believe I read it in The Artist Way during my sabbatical and it helped guide me anytime my decisions seem intuitively right but hard to explain. Best of luck in this new chapter!
The Artist’s Way feels like the unofficial sabbatical manual, doesn't it? Either that or Pathless Path haha. But yeah, that quote really stayed with me. It felt like permission to move, even when nothing made sense yet.
Hmm during my time in Taiwan, I joined a non-profit consulting group and had to use business level Chinese and it was one of the most difficult things I've done, even as someone who at that point was already conversationally fluent and spoke Mandarin 24/7.
I'd say if depending on where your friend is starting from, if they don't have a strong base, they should work on their foundations first and then master specific vocabulary and contexts that they think they'll use mandarin in. Like if they need to be good at email writing and informal calls, that's a different matter than learning how to present. Hope this helps!
ah! before I forget., I made a lot of videos talking about my mandarin learning experience + time in taiwan on YT. Shared the playlists below! Hope it helps!
I hate giving this kind of answer because it's unsatisfactory, but it depends on what proficiency means to you (or to your friend).
I started learning Mandarin from scratch when I was in 18 in college. Though I grew up speaking Canto, I sucked at Mandarin and didn't really speak it, write it, or know much about it.
I took 3 years of mandarin classes and by end of Year 1 I could have basic conversations, communicate things like hobbies, make introductions, talk about plans. Super simple but foundational stuff. By end of Year 2 I could talk about media, discuss ideas in more depth, and by end of Year 3 I could give short presentations, debate, and talk uninterrupted for maybe up to 10 minutes. By most standard definitions, I was probably proficient and could've passed some HSK tests (never tried though).
Did I feel proficient though? Nope. First day I was thrown into Taiwan after studying for 3 years and I felt completely overwhelmed. Ordering coffee and breakfast was a whole new challenge. Reading street signs was a challenge. Maintaining FULL conversations with native speakers was a challenge. I wish I knew how much more input I needed to actually feel comfortable. I didn't watch a whole lot of Mandarin content while I was studying it in college. I just went along with the curriculum and thought I was pretty good. But man. That doesn't mean a whole lot when you're transported to a whole new place and trying to fit in. Ofc, my goals were fluency and learning to think in Mandarin. Most people probably won't have that goal. But that was my bar for being proficiency back then. So yeah, watch a lot of input and get comfortable not knowing a ton of words and trying to sus out meaning. That's my number one tip :)
I love this!! As a fellow job quitter and someone who burnt out of corporate tech, the feeling of relief when promoted is so real. So glad that you’re doing what feels right to you, even if it means being lost ❤️
Reflecting back, in comparison to acting and creative work, it’s crazy how much more satisfying it is to have a good day of rehearsals or a performance/piece you really put your all into and how that feels vs. the “objectively bigger deal” of getting a promotion. Really grateful for those little moments of clarity that make feeling lost a little less scary
Resonated a ton with the part about achieving the milestones only to realize they were never what you truly wanted to begin with. Keep it up!
Thanks Matt! Appreciate you. I feel like we're similar in that way, where yes, we want to have success and achieve things in life, but to do so in a way that feels true to you and what you want vs. an internalized external definition of success.
So very proud of you Jacky!! You were an inspiration back at Swat when you said you were moving to Taiwan to study Chinese, and are still an inspiration now as you lean into your creative pursuits full-time. So very excited for you in so many ways!
Thank you Michelle. Could say the same. Excited to see where this transition takes both of us!
Thank you so much for sharing! I love the quote “leap and the net will appear”. I believe I read it in The Artist Way during my sabbatical and it helped guide me anytime my decisions seem intuitively right but hard to explain. Best of luck in this new chapter!
Thanks Michelle! I love that 😊
The Artist’s Way feels like the unofficial sabbatical manual, doesn't it? Either that or Pathless Path haha. But yeah, that quote really stayed with me. It felt like permission to move, even when nothing made sense yet.
My partner is interested in learning Mandarin in Taiwan for business purpose any tips?
Hmm during my time in Taiwan, I joined a non-profit consulting group and had to use business level Chinese and it was one of the most difficult things I've done, even as someone who at that point was already conversationally fluent and spoke Mandarin 24/7.
I'd say if depending on where your friend is starting from, if they don't have a strong base, they should work on their foundations first and then master specific vocabulary and contexts that they think they'll use mandarin in. Like if they need to be good at email writing and informal calls, that's a different matter than learning how to present. Hope this helps!
Ahh got it thanks for the tip! How long did it take for you become proficient? Also is there anything you wish you knew before starting?
ah! before I forget., I made a lot of videos talking about my mandarin learning experience + time in taiwan on YT. Shared the playlists below! Hope it helps!
Mandarin + Taiwan: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyPWZmtd4EOHcM1tzBWerjAEqBVFz58hx
I hate giving this kind of answer because it's unsatisfactory, but it depends on what proficiency means to you (or to your friend).
I started learning Mandarin from scratch when I was in 18 in college. Though I grew up speaking Canto, I sucked at Mandarin and didn't really speak it, write it, or know much about it.
I took 3 years of mandarin classes and by end of Year 1 I could have basic conversations, communicate things like hobbies, make introductions, talk about plans. Super simple but foundational stuff. By end of Year 2 I could talk about media, discuss ideas in more depth, and by end of Year 3 I could give short presentations, debate, and talk uninterrupted for maybe up to 10 minutes. By most standard definitions, I was probably proficient and could've passed some HSK tests (never tried though).
Did I feel proficient though? Nope. First day I was thrown into Taiwan after studying for 3 years and I felt completely overwhelmed. Ordering coffee and breakfast was a whole new challenge. Reading street signs was a challenge. Maintaining FULL conversations with native speakers was a challenge. I wish I knew how much more input I needed to actually feel comfortable. I didn't watch a whole lot of Mandarin content while I was studying it in college. I just went along with the curriculum and thought I was pretty good. But man. That doesn't mean a whole lot when you're transported to a whole new place and trying to fit in. Ofc, my goals were fluency and learning to think in Mandarin. Most people probably won't have that goal. But that was my bar for being proficiency back then. So yeah, watch a lot of input and get comfortable not knowing a ton of words and trying to sus out meaning. That's my number one tip :)
Thanks for answering in details appreciate it! Will take a look at your videos
I love this!! As a fellow job quitter and someone who burnt out of corporate tech, the feeling of relief when promoted is so real. So glad that you’re doing what feels right to you, even if it means being lost ❤️
Thanks :)
Reflecting back, in comparison to acting and creative work, it’s crazy how much more satisfying it is to have a good day of rehearsals or a performance/piece you really put your all into and how that feels vs. the “objectively bigger deal” of getting a promotion. Really grateful for those little moments of clarity that make feeling lost a little less scary