This week we take a look at what Beijing's REAL spring is like: catkin fluffs floating through the air being whisped around by the whims of the Big Wind (大风). That means it's mask season all over again, not just for allergies, but to keep those things out of your nose and mouth. They can be especially distracting while riding a bicycle or running outside.

And that brings up a question: do you prefer to study inside or outside? We consider some of the pros and cons of being outside in Spring time or whether it's simply better to stay inside separated from the elements.

Finally, another languager progress check has been uploaded to YouTube. This time I made the video in a few different places throughout the day. I also had to substantially edit the video because I was on the move which meant I was not only out of breath, but also not able to keep my focus on what I was saying. Good practice? Or waste of energy?

Transcripts here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-sDW4HyeAH9PssJp8kE6XWQduAHOXj7n?usp=sharing

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Time stamps:

 00:20 Beijing's Catkins Season

00:44 Recording Challenges and Preferences

06:09 Studying Inside vs. Outside

10:25 Language Progress and Practice

27:11 The Big Wind in Beijing

32:53 Upcoming Videos and Conclusion

In this episode, Episode 35, we take a look at one of the recent videos published to the YouTube channel, all about a walk back from the university to the hotel. We take a look at the neighhourhood, some of the things that are developing, and how the place could potentially change over the next few years.

Next, we go over some of the things that go on in Beijing and in China over the recent QingMind holiday. It's not a long holiday, only one day, and oftentimes people have to complete a "make up work day", but this year we didn't have to. What are some of the traditions that go on and why are they important?

We also cover a simple yet effective method to practice your language skills when you don't want to: typing. Find a text, any text, and start typing out on a keyboard or touchscreen, each letter and word. The aim is for contact time with the language and developing the ability to type in the target language. This is an underated practice and one that deserves some attention as these days we so often use electronic devices but mostly for speaking practice, not writing practice.

Finally, the big entertainment news of the month is iShowSpeed's visit to China. I'm a little surprised that he's still here but apparently he's still streaming from the country. So, what's he up to now?

Transcripts here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-sDW4HyeAH9PssJp8kE6XWQduAHOXj7n?usp=sharing

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Sign up for our Chinese course by email!

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Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:39 Outdoor Recording Challenges

03:37 Beijing's Springtime Catkins

05:03 Coursework and Video Production Updates

06:18 Language Progress Checks

08:22 Walking Tour of Changping District

12:49 Typing Practice in Target Languages

17:19 Qingming Festival Insights

21:45 IShowSpeed's Visit to China

26:32 Podcast and YouTube Updates

28:12 Conclusion and Contact Information

This week's episode takes a look back at Beijing's Temple Fairs, particularly LongTanHu in the southern portion of the city. We discuss a little bit about what goes on at these fairs, what makes them unique, and whether or not you have to go to them all.

We also review another video just posted to the YouTube channel that talks about teaching English as a Second Language overseas - is it worth it in 2025? Short answer is "Yes" but there are some things to consider before going. Not only that, the one thing to keep in mind is that if you choose to go for only a year, that year will fly by fast.

Finally, we consider the future of teaching, education and language learning, including how much of the process can be automated and if students will care if their teacher is just a video. Not only that, Steven asks, "Can I teach Chinese?"

Transcripts here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-sDW4HyeAH9PssJp8kE6XWQduAHOXj7n?usp=sharing

Keep in touch! Join our newsletter!

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Enjoying what you hear? Buy me a coffee!

https://buymeacoffee.com/stevenslanguagevlog

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:31 Why Start a Podcast?

01:35 Funding and Support for the Podcast

03:20 The YouTube Channel and Content Evolution

05:59 Beijing Temple Fair Experience

11:32 Teaching ESL Overseas in 2025

14:35 Learning Mandarin Chinese: Challenges and Insights

21:29 AI and Language Learning Innovations

33:50 Conclusion and Contact Information