Comments on: Achieving the impossible by being inspired https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/ A better way of learning Mandarin Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:55:51 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: Learn Chinese efficiently, not quickly - Hacking Chinese https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-105681 Thu, 29 Dec 2022 17:55:51 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-105681 […] On the other hand, I also think that such stories can have the opposite effect. It’s easy to look at a polyglot who moves somewhere, immerses completely in the language, and dismiss the whole project, because you can’t  go abroad and only have a few hours a week to spare. There’s too much distance between us and what they’re doing, which might make us feel daunted rather than inspired. […]

]]> By: Antea https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-774 Sat, 28 Sep 2013 12:46:12 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-774 I’m actually not learning chinese, but I’m doing a lot of other things and I still find your blog very inspiring. I think you are right, and I like your approach “you can do whatever you want” and “learn from everyone” because it makes life so much more exciting and wonderful. So the point is: thank you! Best regards from Croatia.

]]> By: You shouldn’t walk the road to Chinese fluency alone* | Hacking Chinese - 揭密中文 https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-773 Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:48:07 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-773 […] Fellow travellers are other people who also study Chinese. Some of them might have walked farther than you have, some might have walked just a few steps. Adopting a healthy attitude to your fellow students is extremely important. This is an area where I think old Confucius has something to teach us: 三人行，必有我师. It means that in a group of three people, there is bound to be someone who can be your teacher. In other words, Confucius says that everyone has their own set of skills and experiences that should be valued and that others should strive to learn. There is always something you can learn from your fellow travellers. I’ve written much more about this here. […]

]]> By: Olle Linge https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-772 Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:50:08 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-772 In reply to Guus.

A very good point indeed. I think like that when I watch acrobatics and gymnastics (which I practice as an amateur). I feel that yes, I could have become that good (or close to) if I really wanted to, but I have chosen other things to get good at, I have chosen another path. I still admire them for their dedication and mastery of their art, but I don’t envy them.

]]> By: Guus https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-771 Thu, 22 Nov 2012 07:22:27 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-771 Yes, cannot agree more with this post. The one thing I would add is that because becoming great at something requires so much dedication, you have to choose what you want to be great at.

When I marvel at what others can do, I am not admiring their natural talents, but their single-mindedness and dedication. I’m not jealous of what they can do, because I know I’ve picked other things to marvel at myself.

]]> By: Olle Linge https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-770 Sun, 28 Oct 2012 05:02:40 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-770 In reply to Wai Man Chan.

Thank you for commenting! The goal with this article was to help people adopt a more positive attitude, which is beneficial in so many ways that they can’t be counted. If you feel inspired, I have succeeded. Great! 🙂

]]> By: Wai Man Chan https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-769 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 07:13:53 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-769 This is an amazing post! Your ability to view things from the positive side is very inspiring to me. I especially like the “Regard superiors as teachers, not rivals or opponents” section. The message that you are sending is a very healthy and useful one. Thank you very much for sharing!

]]> By: Advancing in spite of praise | Hacking Chinese https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-768 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:33:50 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-768 […] better at Chinese than the average foreigner very quickly if you make a serious effort. Personally, I tend to compare with myself and want to become better all the time, not necessarily as good as or better than some external standard. It doesn’t really matter what […]

]]> By: Use the benefits of teaching to boost your own learning | Hacking Chinese https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-767 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 06:43:18 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-767 […] @Jonathan: Yes, I agree. I’m usually trying to avoid that situation, not because I think you’re wrong, but because I really enjoy the challenge of attacking material which really is too hard. I think what you describe is an excellent approach and way of thinking about other students which should make people more tolerant (I hope). Also, this article might be of interest. […]

]]> By: Benchmarking progress to stay motivated - Hacking Chinese https://www.hackingchinese.com/achieving-the-impossible-and-learning-to-swim/#comment-766 Sun, 09 Oct 2011 00:42:08 +0000 http://www.hackingchinese.com/?p=777#comment-766 […] your own writing might feel a bit anxious in the beginning, but as I’ve stated elsewhere, be brave and remember that genuine mistakes aren’t necessarily […]

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