Air is expelled from your 'lumps'...

I went for my first Mandarin lesson yesterday at the Bukit Batok East Community Centre. Arriving about 10 minutes late because of the pouring rain and because the stupid suction of the GPS holder kept dropping thus making me lose my way (Ya, blame it on the GPS...), I was given a set of notes before siting down beside an Ang Moh dude.

I was supposed to go with my BH but she had gone to meet Man Padi instead...well, ok, I did tell her to carry on with Man Padi since she was there since late afternoon...

In any case, it wasn't my first stab at attending formal Mandarin classes. I had attended one at the SCCCI (Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in Hill Street many moons ago. The teacher then was this native mainland Chinese guy.

My teacher yesterday was a Mr Tee. A Singaporean obviously. He spoke softly and cracked the occasional joke here and there. His English was ok but his pronunciation of some words had me controlling my laughter! It reminds me of my JC and secondary school days when some of my teachers did the same thing...

Mr Tee: How do we make sounds?
Me: Thru our vocal cords...
Mr Tee: Good...that is one place air will pass thru...
Me: Mouth?
Mr Tee: Actually, the air starts from your 'lumps'...
Me: (blank look)
Mr Tee: When you breathe in...the air fills up your 'lumps' and then expells it out...

That nearly had me in stitches...Another occasion...

Mr Tee: Vowels, unlike consonants are easier to make...How do you pronounce 'ah'?
Me: Ah?
Mr Tee: Yes, when you say it your mouth will open up. That is why the dauter will ask you to say 'ah' to check your mouth...

Ok, ok, let's get on with it. I've always wanted to understand AND speak Mandarin. I mean, we are surrounded by Mandarin-speaking people. And for me especially, it's good to converse in Mandarin with my men (some of whom don't speak-e-de-English too well). Oh, of course I know all the Hokkien swear words...you don't get to be in the Army for 15 years and not know ANY Hokkien swear words! But Mandarin is different. In any case, Mr Tee went through the basics of pronouncing the Hanyu Pinyin - the 6 vowels, the consonants and the tonal language. Ah, the tonal language...that always trips people up. Then we went through some conversational lessons.

Well, I hope by the end of 3 months, I would have improved my Mandarin and can 'spar' verbally with my peers in my current course. Then onto French and Arabic we will go!