Blog Roundup - November 29, 2009

• Ben Ross' Blog - Ben talks about the benefits of learning Chinese from TV shows.
• Bruce Humes - Bruce lists some of the best-selling books in China in October 2009.
  
• Kyoto Foodie - The Foodie samples some delicious imo mochi (芋餅), a traditional Japanese candy made from sweet potatoes and pounded sticky rice.
  
• On the Fringe - Globalgal talks about her recent visit to Kashgar (喀什) in China's Xinjiang Province (新疆).
• Send Me to Korea - Hyunwoo shares a recipe for bibim mandu (비빔만두).
• Shizuoka Gourmet -Dragonlife shares a recipe for vegan agedashi tofu (揚げ出し豆腐).
  
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn shares some tips for ideal gifts for Chinese relatives or friends.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen explore the magical world of Taiwanese hand puppetry (布袋戲).

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on December 6, 2009.

Blog Roundup - November 29, 2009

Blog Roundup - November 22, 2009

• Ben Ross' Blog - Ben examines the reasons why proficiency in Mandarin does not necessarily lead to better career opportunities.
  
• Fili's World - Fili talks about the fishing town of Tai O (大澳), Hong Kong.
  
• Fukuoka Dreaming - Learn how to cook sukiyaki (すきやき).
• How to Japonese - Daniel highlights the differences between American and Japanese resumés (履歴書).
• Hungry for Words - Maki talks about himono onna (干物女).
  
• Japan Blog - Maki explains why President Obama's bow to the Japanese Emperor has sparked such controversy.
• Korean As It Is - James explains why he believes listening skills are vital for developing one's proficiency in the Korean language.
  
• Pinyin News - The author reviews Google Translate's new pinyin function.
• Rainbowhill Language Lab - Some helpful tips for JLPT examinees.
• Shizuoka Gourmet - The author talks about tempura (天ぷら) and the various ways it can be served.
  
• Sinosplice - John explains the concept of aspect in Chinese grammar.
• The China Beat - Maura reflects on President Obama's recent visit to the PRC.
• Tsukublog - Avi talks about the origins and traditions associated with Japan's Shichi-Go-San (七五三) festival.
• Wandering Taiwan - Micki and Kristen take a stroll through Tamsui (淡水).
  
• Wichmann Stories - Tina and Mark visit the northeastern city of Harbin (哈尔滨).
• Xinjiang : Far West China - Josh's thoughts on the spread of H1N1 in Xinjiang Province (新疆).

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on November 29, 2009.

Blog Roundup - November 22, 2009

Blog Roundup - October 17, 2009

• Aeri's Kitchen - Learn how to make the Korean radish side-dish munamul (무나물).
  
• Alive and Kicking! - Celebrating the Thao New Year festival at Sun Moon Lake (日月潭) in Taiwan.
  
• Brian in Jeollanam-do - Brian lists some of the best places to enjoy the autumn foliage (단풍) in Jeollanam-do.
• How to Be Heian Japanese - A quirky article on why you should never make strange bets with your boss.
  
• Kimono Box - Ten medical benefits of nattō (納豆).
• Muza-chan's Gate to Japan - Ema (絵馬) in traditional and modern-day Japanese culture.
• Shizuoka Gourmet - A great recipe for kabayaki-style sea breem.
  
• Sinosplice - John talks about "maternity tourism" in Hong Kong.
• Soy Sauce Queen - The Queen shares her recipe for ankake udon.
  
• Speaking of China - Jocelyn explores the impact of the "Little Emperor" phenomenon in rural China.
• The Japanese Food Report - Improve your knife skills by learning from professional Japanese chefs.
  
• Tokyo Lifer - A short article on sushi etiquette.
• Wandering Taiwan - Exploring the Minnan buildings of Kinmen (金門).

That's all for this week. The next blog roundup will be on October 24, 2009.

Blog Roundup - October 17, 2009

Taiwan Panorama

One of my favourite bilingual resources is the online edition of the Taiwan Panorama magazine. The online magazine is jam-packed with interesting articles on Taiwanese culture, geography and history and most, if not all, articles are available in English, Chinese (simplified and traditional) and Japanese, making it a perfect resource for anyone searching for parallel texts for their language studies.

Another handy feature for language learners is the Vocab Notebook. The notebook contains a long list of vocabulary that may be unfamiliar to those who are learning Chinese. Each item is linked to audio files of the Chinese and English pronunciations as well as a link to the article that the word originally appeared in.

The website is updated on a monthly basis so feel free to take a look and add it to your bookmarks.

Taiwan Panorama