[marie]

HI!
I would like to learn more Cantonese.

I can understand basic conversations in Cantonese. I have been in Hong Kong for almost 2 years but I feel my Cantonese is still not good.

I would like to learn more and really be able to converse in Cantonese like a local person.

Any advice?

Thanks!

[gctam65]

Hi Marie,
Well, for starter, perhaps I can help you or anyone else who is interested with some Cantonese lessons. I was born in Hong Kong but immigrated to Canada at the age of 10 so I am fluent in Cantonese and English. I have a business degree from the University of Calgary. I am staying in Hong Kong for 3 months starting June 1st, 2005. Also, if any one is interested in learning English in exchange for teaching me Mandarin or written Chinese then please let me know.
I would like to make some new friends here in Hong Kong.
Cheers,

Garry

[maddogmerrick]

Do not bother learning Cantonese. It is too difficult and most people in HK could not be bothered to speak to you in Cantonese. People in HK are not like the French, they could not care less if you can speak Cantonese and most speak English anyway.

Try learning Mandarin instead. It is used all over China and much easier to learn.

Good Luck!

[harry]

Maria..

U could join a class ..

[Baron]

Originally Posted by maddogmerrick

Do not bother learning Cantonese. It is too difficult and most people in HK could not be bothered to speak to you in Cantonese.

Hahahahahaha...now i've seen it all! You get out much maddog?

[Vrindavan]

maddogmerrick

why you think Cantonese is more difficult than Mandarin ?

i believe in the opposite

[kostas]

"..i believe in the opposite"

It must be the first time I hear this

So I guess is easier for you to distinguish 7 tones instead of 4

[maddogmerrick]

Kostas has got it spot on. Mandarin has only got 4 tones. Mandarin also has an easy to use pronounciation system called pinyin which you could pick up very quickly. For example, in pinyin, ni hao means hello and xie xie means thank you. Even if you have not studied Mandarin and say it next time you go to China, people will understand you.

Cantonese is much more difficult than Mandarin not just because of the tones but also the pronounciation of the words. There are many sounds in Cantonese which foreigners and even people from Mainland China struggle to pronounce.

I studied Mandarin in Shanghai for 1 year and worked there for 1 year, my Mandarin is now pretty good.

I was born in HK and can speak Cantonese almost as well as a local. I know Brits who have been in Hong Kong for over 30 years and their Cantonese is terrible, no matter how hard they try.

I think Mandarin is much more useful than Cantonese because 1.3 billion people speak Mandarin. I travel to China all the time and if I could not speak Mandarin I would be screwed. If you can not speak a word of Cantonese in HK it really is not a problem and you are not expected to be able to either.

[Vrindavan]

i think marie want to talk to local in local language

Thus cantonese is the way to go

kostas
you are correct

[maggieC]

Cantonese is fun to learn but you should never get too serious about it. Try a few funny and common use phrases will help to draw local people closer to you.

I have an Austrialian friend who worked at a local English newspaper. he begged me to teach him cantonese and he even studied at a local univerisity for it. He is good at it now after several years. However, he met a Korean girl and he is now ...in Korea ^.^

In general, HK is an exciting place to stay even for non-Chinese. it's a 24 hours city. all of my friends from Canada, Australia and USA love it. Although most of the time, they love to hang out at the bars streets (lankwaifong) and pull guys.

good luck to everyone who's starting a new life here.