[lazarus]

how about finding some local native friends and learning from them? saves you money and one can learn about the culture too, well your at it??

I don't know, depends on your learning method. 1on1 works for some people, but life is more fun IMO if you just learn from experience.

[lazarus]

Originally Posted by biothermus

P.S. "Actually, in speech "Lei man man, bay sing gay hok!" is also right. means: You slowly learn with commitment", just wondering, would it be closer to the Cantonese if it was "Maan maan lei, bei sum gei hok", meaning, "take it slow, put your heart into it"?

Isn't being 'committed' and 'put your heart into it' one of the same??

[gulab]

Home Affairs Bureau supports free Cantonese classes for ethnic minorities which have just started. The organisations conducting these classes for beginners and advanced learners charge $120 administation fee for the entire course (40 Hours) and CD/tape.

One such organisation's home page is http://www.christian-action.org.hk/DMW_engcourse.htm. Phone: 2739 6193.

The bureau also publishes every year an excellent handbook for new arrivals in and it is available at district offices and the immigration office. It is also available at the Christain Action centres where the classes are conducted.

[jayinhongkong]

thank you rose I think I'll give them a shout, being an ethnic minority and all....the price doesn't hurt, either


One such organisation's home page is http://www.christian-action.org.hk/DMW_engcourse.htm. Phone: 2739 6193.

The bureau also publishes every year an excellent handbook for new arrivals in and it is available at district offices and the immigration office. It is also available at the Christain Action centres where the classes are conducted.[/quote]

[Gillig Phantom]

Some useful daily Cantonese expressions:

早晨(Jo San) Good Morning
唔該(Ng Koi) Thanks for the help
多謝(Dor Tse) Thanks for "something"
我(Ngo) I or me
你(Nei) You
佢(Kui) He or She

你好嗎?(Nei Ho Ma) How are you?
我好好(Ngo Ho Ho) I'm fine.
朋友, 幾錢呀? (Pang Yau, Ki Chin Ah) My friend, how much is it?

These are what I can think of right now...let me know if you have some expressions you would like to know and I'll be happy to write them in Chinese with Cantonese pronunciation....

[doogle]

Your BEST bet at taking GOOD courses are at the YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui.

I've paid $3200 at this terrible place called the "Hong Kong Institute of Languages" and boy did it suck. (for 10 weeks of 1.5 hours x2 / week = 30 hours of nothing) "At the HKIL, you pay for the name!" is their motto.

Although I didn't learn much Cantonese, I learned instead how to get to cry my hard-earned money away.

It is best to go to the YMCA; they have 10 sessions of 2 hours each (weekly). There are also intensive courses (twice a week). For $900 you won't cry, but smile with pride with learning to speak. (Ask about the teacher named "Andrew")

They also have Mandarin classes, if anyone was wondering...

YMCA is about a block from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR exit (E)
Info:
http://www.ymcahkcollege.edu.hk/PTpage%2037-41.pdf
http://www.ymcahkcollege.edu.hk/
(The pages are hard to navigate, you may want to contact them directly

Address: 6/F, 41, Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon
Tel no.: 2268 7733
Fax no.: 2268 7797
E-mail: info@ymcahkcollege.edu.hk