Middle School
7 Hilldale Drive
Albertson, NY 11507
516-625-6460

Last updated: 7/4/08

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Here are some of my favorite websites for the study and enjoyment of Chinese language and culture. The sites will be updated frequently so be sure to check back often!

Chinese dictionaries
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mdbg.net
Search for words by Chinese, Pinyin or English definition. An outstanding online dictionary.
Zhongwen.com
Another site featuring an excellent Chinese/English, English/Chinese dictionary. You must have a good knowledge of pinyin in order to look up words.
Mandarintools.com
This site has an excellent English/Chinese and Chinese/English dictionary
Xuezhongwen.net
Another great online dictionary.You can search for words by Chinese, Pinyin or English definition.You can get English to Chinese translations for simple phrases.
 
Pinyin practice
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pinyin practice
You can practice your four tones and pinyin on this site and test yourself on your listening skills. Lots of fun! (requires flash)
 
Chinese character cartoons
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Kanji Cartoons
These short but fascinating cartoons will give you insights into how Chinese characters evolved throughout the ages.
 
Chinese Painting
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Bamboo Painting
Here is my own website which features a gallery of some Chinese paintings that I did. Included is a step-by-step lesson on how to do a bamboo painting, and also a description of the four treasures of Chinese painting. Enjoy!
Moon River Silks
This is another website of mine. These are all paintings that I did using dyes. All were painted on silk which is another one of China's great inventions.
 
Chinese TV
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China Related TV list
Excellent programs on Chinese history, travel, food, entertainment etc. can be found on television. This site lists programs and their airing times. It is updated weekly.
 
Cool Chinese Stuff
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Chinasprout
Want to buy a Beijing Olympics t-shirt, Chinese DVDs,a Monkey King mask, a name chop, Chinese lantern or The Sorcerer's Stone translated into Chinese? This is THE site for buying anything and all things Chinese.
 
Chinese family titles
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Chinese family relationship titles
The system of family titles in China is extremely complex. This chart will tell you exactly how you should be addressing your Chinese paternal great uncle's wife or your maternal younger female cousin's husband...
 
Listening to Chinese
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what kids can do
Listen to Beijing middle school students as they discuss school, school pressures, lunchtime, friendship, arts, sports and studying English. A wonderful site with audio slideshows in both English and Mandarin Chinese. A great way to practice your Chinese listening skills.
Clappertales
Did you know the Chinese were the first to perform raps? Watch and listen to the highly acclaimed Dr. Jan Walls perform his "bamboo clappertales" at this site. They are performed in both Chinese and English.
Talking Dictionary
The multimedia dictionary created by middle students at the Shuren School outside Beijing includes 60 slides. Each slide includes a photograph depicting the word, along with the word written in Chinese and English and then used in a sentence. An audio track accompanies each slide, with Shuren students taking turns saying the words and sentences in both languages.
Chinese radio
A wide variety of both classical and contemporary Chinese music broadcast from Columbia University. This radio broadcast airs every Saturday morning from 10:00 am till 12 noon. You can also listen on your radio on 89.9 FM.
Mandarin Radio
This online radio station features nonstop Mandarin popular music from Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Survival chinese
Audio tutorial of survival Chinese. Click on the phrases and listen to the words. Topics include greetings, shopping, dining, traveling. Many of these are topics we will cover in class so you can practice the phrases we have studied.
Chinesepod
This site was rated by Times Magazine as one of the top ten sites of the year. Learn Chinese through very interesting and humorous dialogs that you can listen to and download to your own ipod.
 
Chinese Poetry
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300 Poems of the Tang Dynasty
These are the most famous, most beautiful and most often recited Chinese poems in the world. Here they are in English translation.
 
Chinese Food
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How to Order Chinese Food
Never be shy again about ordering food at a Chinese restaurant. Tons of vocabulary galore related to Chinese dishes, dumplings, Chinese breakfast, cooking styles, regional cuisines, drinks, spice and seasonings, etc.
 
Flashcards
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semanda.com
Here are some excellent ready made flashcards with characters, pinyin and pictures to supplement the ones you have been making for class. All you have to do is print them out, cut them out and glue them onto index cards. Categories include animals, body parts, clothes, colors, directions, electronics, nature, numbers, restaurant, toys, weather and space, and vehicles.
1000 Simplified Characters
Flashcards for the top 1000 most commonly used simplified characters. A great tool for review.
 
Summer Promotions
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betterchinese.com
Are you looking for a way to brush up or get ahead on your Chinese during the summer? Check out this special summer promotion by "Better Chinese". Fun animated short stories with themes ranging from Chinese myths and fables, classical tales to funny jokes. A wonderful way to learn Chinese language and culture.