SK Store
Become a Fan
Follow Me
SubscribeSunday, May 10, 2009
Want to learn a new language? You need this giveaway!
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!
Print Recipe
Share
Email
Facebook
TwitterYou Might Also Like...
634 Responses to “Want to learn a new language? You need this giveaway!”
-
Cookbook
101 Asian Recipes Simple Enough for Tonight's Dinner
by Jaden Hair -
Favorite Stuff
Pitt Mitt - Use all 5 fingers instead of trying to wrestle hot items with puppet hands.
Hurom Slow Juicer - The very best juicer in the world - Bon Appetit names it best new appliance.
Gravity Pepper Mill - Spice it up one-handed, just turn it upside down.
SK Store
Spanish…Spanish…absolutely!
I’d love to learn French. Have always wanted to visit Paris but really would appreciate the boost of knowing something of the local language.
I have a great desire to learn Italian for when we get to travel to Italy next year. As an interpreter for my boyfriend who is deaf, it would be helpful for me to be able to speak the language when we travel.
Wow, I would love to learn Spanish. Barcelona is my all-time favorite city, and every opportunity I have ( I currently live in Frankfurt) I hop on one of the many cheap flights to Barcelona and soak up its vibe. Being able to speak the language would triple the fun!
I would like to learn chinese, specifically mandarin. My son is taking mandarin in HS, and this would let me help him.
would love to learn chinese
and i love ribs! . would have to try to make it someday
actually .. either chinese or french will be cool
Ooops, forgot to let you know that I am an email subscriber. Spanish por favor!
i am so glad i found your website. i love love love your recipes!
(would love to win the chinese language program too!)
thanks for sharing your great eats online!
I am an email subscriber and would love to learn Spanish since I took French in school. Thank you for your colorful site.
Hi, I am an email subscriber and I would like to learn spanish.
Spanish! And I’m an email subscriber
I’m an e-mail subscriber, but I’d love the second entry, too. Would be thrilled to get the ChinesePod program! Really need to progress quicker with Mandarin so I can speak more effectively with my husband’s family. I had signed up for the trial period, but around the time it expired, I was laid off, so money flow has been a greater issue these days and I’m only buying basic needs now.
Saw this in the newsletter, and I had to comment! While I’d like to learn Mandarin in honor of my Chinese ancestors, I think Spanish would be handier in my area/at work.
I can’t wait to make TangCu Pai Gu and eat them while talking Chinese with friends thanks to winning a year of Chinesepod here.
I will send you a handmade ceramic bowl if you pick me,
that’s how delighted I would be.
gorgeous work, esp the ceramic bowl! ~j
spanish!
I took French all through junior high school and high school but it’s quickly slipping away. I’d love to relearn what I’ve forgotten and improve what I haven’t!
Hi, I’d love to learn Chinese (more specifically… Mandarin)! And I’m an email subscriber.
I would love to learn Spanish. I am an e-mail subscriber to Steamy Kitchen and have given up learning Chinese….sorry!! After 25+ years of trying….I am the only one who can understand what I say….sigh!!
You have some great recipes and I really enjoying reading about your blog. Thanks for the chance to win a language program.
um. ahem. I guess I should really learn some Chinese…I’d actually prefer to learn Cantonese even though Mandarin is the dialect of the moment. Cantonese is closest to the bumpkin dialect I grew up with since my parents were originally from Toi Saan. I haven’t ever been able to say much beyond what a preschooler can say in Cantonese though I took Cantonese classes 3 times a week for 7 years when I was a kid. I was born in Canada and since I teach English, I have a ready excuse not to speak Chinese. Like you I grew up in the ’70′s; but in Canada…an era where being ethnic got your butt kicked in the playground. I managed to bring sandwiches to school and fit in by not mentioning I liked “jook” or chicken feet.
I would love to learn Chinese, Mandarin.
I am actually going to China next year
Cheers,
Jack
Chinese because I’m an American-born Chinese and I didn’t learn growing up (I’m actually happy I didn’t but that’s a different story) and I’d like to learn now. Would prefer Cantonese because that’s what my family speaks, but whatever.
A subscription to Chinese Pod would be most helpful. I’m studying at uni, and hoping to go to China soon. I definitely need more practice listening! 中国人说很快了！
Thanks,
Jesse
I would love to learn chinese!!
Italian, because I already know the other four
Cantonese- if not, Spanish.
I’d like to learn all of them! (which you can do, for a mere 60 bucks more…. not that I wish to give Praxis any more free press…)
I think it would be fun to learn Spanish.
Just happened upon your blog and I love it. Since my 5 year old knows more Spanish than me, I would love to learn it so I understand him. All I know is no habla espanol!
My native language is Spanish and My husband’s is English. We talk to my son in both languages and he is learning both at the same time. It is great!
Your blog is really nice.
Erica.
Spanglish for sure – I’m an e-mail subby too…
Will be very happy if I can be one of the winners. Oh yes, French will be my choice.
I was in Hong Kong for the first time last summer and look forward to the next time I can visit. I would love to learn Cantonese, especially food words! I also have friends living in Madagascar and intend to visit before they leave and would like to learn some basic travel French before going there.
I would totally grab the Spanish lessons. I live in Chicago and am constantly looking at signs and billboard trying to translate them as a language lesson. Doesn’t work. At all.
Chinese is suppose to be the language of the future. The question is Mandarin or Cantonese. I know just enough of both to cram it together into one language so that only my mother understands me. I could use some refinement.
P.S Ribs that I don’t have to mess up the kitchen with fry oil!?! Awesome.
Like you I forgot how to speak Cantonese properly, but can understand what is being said to me. I definitely cannot speak Mandarin. I would want to learn Mandarin though.
I would pick Chinese.
spanish! I am an email subscriber
Great website! I would never have heard of it if not for Chinesepod.com. Chinese is my language of choice.
I would definitelywant to continue learning Chinese!
What an awesome giveaway. I would LOVE to learn Chinese.
Gotta brush up my Chinese! Good luck to everyone!
PS – I’m having a giveaway too, with 5 prizes! Visit my new Cute Scottish Fold Cat blog to enter and win!
I can definitely relate to Jaden’s experience. I grew up as the only Chinese person in my whole school (except for my brother). My Mom talked to me in Chinese but I wanted nothing to do with it. And, now I regret it also. I’d like to learn more Chinese.
hi! this is my 2nd comment as an email subscriber.
still interested in learning more chinese. aside from that, french would be good.
Well, Chinese would be great!
What a great giveaway! I would love to learn French. I took 2 years of Spanish in highschool and 2 more semesters in college and absolutely loved it.
Love your site … what a terrific idea for a give away.
I would love to learn Spanish. My husband is from Peru, we just visited Lima and I wish I could have communicated better. I can share Peruvian dishes with you if you like!
I want to learn Mandarin so I could travel to Shanghai and order all the yummy food!!
I would like to learn Spanish. Love your site and the recipes.