I was born in Hong Kong but came to the United States when I was 4 years old. We lived in the midwest and in the 1970’s, being the only ethnic kid in school was so not cool. It was a really tough life, constantly being teased for being different and I made myself forget my Cantonese. I just wanted to fit in!
My parents speak Chinese to us and so my brother and I can understand everyday colloquial Cantonese (especially when they’re sayin’ stuff about us) and a teensy tiny bit of Mandarin…but our brains would need a re-wiring to be able to speak the language.
And now, I totally regret not taking the time to re-learn Chinese. I can teach the kids simple words and short phrases and cuss words…but I wish I knew more of the language to be able to speak it at home.
Which is why I think Praxis has a fantastic system. It’s like language school 2.0. They publish a audio and video podcast with Chinese lessons and your journey is fully personalized with lesson plans based on your level, topics that interest you (like flirting, business, shopping, etc.) and a community online that you can practice with. Over 250,000 are already learning Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese and English. Praxis gave me a a 2-week trial to try out (you can sign up for a 1 week free trial at Chinese Pod) and offered a nice giveaway for my readers.
Wanna learn how to read and pronounce Chinese menu items? Check out their Chinese Pod’s Chinese Menu Stealer series. Here’s a sample video:
So, to kick off this contest, on Mother’s Day I made the 
Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs recipe for you.
Praxis Language Program Giveaway
And guess what? I’m giving away a 12-month Praxis Premium Subscription (worth $239) to Steamy Kitchen readers! Have you ever wanted to learn Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese or English? If you win, you get your choice of language program. Now, that’s really cool. You have until May 23rd 12pm EST to enter.
To enter, just COMMENT BELOW and tell me which language you’d like to learn!
For a BONUS ENTRY – subscribe to the free Steamy Kitchen email newsletter. My email subscribers get automatically get an extra entry in every contest that I hold.
CONTEST OVER! The winner is announced!
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I would love to learn Spanish. I learned a little in school, but I would really like to be fluent.
I need to learn spanish! I am moving to costa rica for grad school and I have to learn it very quickly and as cheaply as possible.
Awesome site! thank you : )
Spanish! Would love to be fluent to communicate with patients in my profession!
I’d love to learn chinese. There are so many languages I’d like to learn but mandarin is high up on the list.
Chinese!
I’m familiar with Chinesepod and think they’re great! I even visited their office in Shanghai last week. I want to learn Mandarin Chinese!
Spanish! Outstanding give away…thank you!
French. My kids attend the French Immersion – I don’t speak French….Help!
Chinese 国语 Mandarin is my language of choice. Please pick me.
Chinese would be my language of choice, too. I already hold a university degree in that language, but still, ChinesePod has lots of stuff to learn for me.
Chinese! I will be going there for a year and i only have two years under my belt.
I want to learn Chinese!
Chinese!
Chinese, please.
Definately, Chinese.
Hello there,
Great blog u have here!
I am very much interested in being entered into the Praxis Language Program Giveaway. Language = Chinese.
Thank you very much!
- Maurice
Interestingly, I have a similar background, though I’m fluent in spoken Cantonese. Verbal Mandarin skill is what I’m lacking. Last week when I was traveling in Beijing, a taxi driver was perplexed by the fact that I couldn’t articulate to him where I wanted to get to, when I could say everything else in broken Mandarin but the name of my destination. Clearly, I don’t want to be that lost girl with a Chinese face who can’t speak Mandarin on my next trip! So a 12-month subscription to Chinesepod/Praxis training would be much much appreciated! Thank you!!
I would love to learn Mandarin Chinese!
I’d love to study Chinese. I live in Beijing, where dining options offer an astounding array of both gastronomic delights and disasters. I want the lexical power to maximize the former and minimize the latter on my platter. The new Menu Stealer looks like just the ticket for dining out, and Steamy Kitchen can help me finally give my wok a workout for home dining. Great team-up!
I would love to learn Italian! Hubby and I are planning on going to Rome and the Vatican for our 10th Anniversary, so learning a little Italian would help!
I would like to learn EVERY language, but Mandarin, Arabic and Japanese are tops on my list– along with kicking my college French back into gear. Plus, I’m unemployed! Which means I’ll USE this awesome giveaway and it may just make me more employable! Woo hoo!
Thanks so much for the pho recipe(s)– I used to have a favorite weekly pho indulgence, which I sadly had to give up as I’m watching the pennies (go out).
Wow! I found that Praxis Chinesepod site recently and was blown away, and was bumming about how I don’t have the $ for a subscription. I’m a Spanish teacher who loves languages, and I’ve been trying to get my Chinese study up and running. I’d be so happy to win!
Ooooo! I would love to learn French!
Still sucking on my Mandarian
So pick me!
My Italian is sorely in need of first aid
What a great giveaway! My son is taking Mandarin in school next year so I’d love to learn to learn alongside him.
I would love to learn Chinese.
This is a really cool giveaway – I like the idea of language learning 2.0!
I learnt German at school and I was an exchange student in Germany in year 10 of high school but I don’t use it much in adult life so it’s slowly rusting due to disuse. I can still make basic chat with German speakers though and they kindly tell me I’m not so bad.
But if I won the competition, then I would pick Spanish. I have rudimentary Spanish from volunteering in Costa Rica after university but I never took the time to learn it properly. The reason I would go for Spanish, despite also wishing to learn French and Italian and Chinese, is because I’m about to move to California and hopefully do some travel in Central and South America. It might come in handy in California itself as well, especially with my work as a journalist.
If anyone is interested in Chinese and specifically Chinese language with a food theme, then please check out my giveaway at ww.roamingtales.com/2009/05/20/un-of-food-china-plus-win-books/
French, I would like to be fluent in French. Like your tweets
I would love to learn Italian. It’s been a dream to visit Italy someday, and with retirement coming up in a few years, I may do this, and to be conversant in Italian would be a plus! Thanks for running such a great little contest!
Chinese! I’m a total ABC- American Born Chinese. Barely speak much Cantonese or Taishanese. No Mandarin whatsoever. Would love to spend time in China/Taiwan.
I can speak Spanish better than Chinese… strange, no? I just get more practice with friends.
Mandarin – I’m moving to BJ in September, so am looking to learn some Mandarin before then. This would be perfect!
Chinese, please!
Spanish would be lovely, thank you!
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