Mandarin Monkey Podcast

Mandarin Monkey
  • 4.3 (23)
  • Language Learning
  • Updated weekly

Chinese and English Language podcast. A mixed couple (Tom & Ula) living in Taiwan, teach Chinese through the use of Chinglish (Chinese and English) on a variety of topics. Learn Chinese, study methods, Entertainment, news, life, business, hints and tricks to learning Mandarin. Hear a native speaking naturally and at natural pace but with the English translation so you can follow the context of the conversation. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 467 - What? A Taiwanese Doesn't Like Stinky Tofu?! | What? We're Shy Leos?!

    1 day ago

    467 - What? A Taiwanese Doesn't Like Stinky Tofu?! | What? We're Shy Leos?!

    In this episode of Meeting Yating, Ula and Yating continue getting to know each other through a series of fun, unexpected, and surprisingly personal questions. How can two Leos be so shy? Why do both teachers give off a "don't talk to me" first impression? And perhaps most shocking of all... how can a Taiwanese person not love stinky tofu? The conversation jumps from personality types and school memories to food culture, including the great fried vs. steamed stinky tofu debate, sweet vs. savoury rice dumplings, and what it really means to be a foodie in Taiwan. Yating also shares the story of how she ended up living in Sweden after meeting her partner, including long-distance challenges, visa interviews, Swedish relationship laws, and the unique concept of sambo. Along the way, they discuss how they cope with bad moods, the benefits of exercise, chocolate therapy, whether they're cat people or dog people, and the different ways people show their true personalities depending on the situation. A relaxed and natural Mandarin conversation filled with cultural insights, personal stories, and plenty of unexpected tangents. In this episode: Why two Leos can still be shyFirst impressions vs. realityFried or steamed stinky tofu?Sweet or savoury rice dumplings?Life in Sweden as a Taiwanese expatLong-distance relationships and visa challengesHow exercise can improve your moodCat people vs. dog peopleFood culture in TaiwanPerfect for Mandarin learners who enjoy authentic conversations, real-life stories, and getting to know the people behind Mandarin Monkey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  2. AI Judged Tom's Mandarin in 10 Seconds?! | Headbands Fun & Big Mandarin Monkey Updates

    22 May

    AI Judged Tom's Mandarin in 10 Seconds?! | Headbands Fun & Big Mandarin Monkey Updates

    In Episode 466 of the Mandarin Monkey Podcast, Ula and Tom dive into the strange world of AI language learning apps, including one that judged Tom’s Mandarin level almost instantly after saying “你好”! We chat about why language confidence matters, how AI should assess learners, and what actually helps people improve their Chinese naturally. We also share exciting updates about the brand-new Mandarin Monkey learning platform currently in development, including progress tracking, flashcards, homework tools, vocabulary lists, teacher feedback, and more community features coming soon. Then we play Headbands in Mandarin and English. Expect confusion, ridiculous clues, paintbrush disasters, clothing misunderstandings, and one of the hardest guessing games we’ve ever played. We also talk about: Learning Mandarin through conversation and contextWhy vocabulary alone doesn’t define your levelAI chat partners for language practiceWalking podcasts and GoPro ideasMonkey Plays and bilingual gaming contentFuture plans for Mandarin Monkey learners and teachers Thanks for listening and supporting Mandarin Monkey! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    50 min
  3. 465 - Meeting Ya Ting

    15 May

    465 - Meeting Ya Ting

    In this episode, Ula sits down with new Mandarin Monkey teacher Yating for a fun first conversation together. They discuss the kinds of questions Taiwanese people always ask when meeting someone new, including where you’re from, your star sign, and whether you’re an I person or a J person. The conversation also explores life abroad, cultural differences between Taiwan, the UK, and Sweden, and the small daily habits that become surprisingly emotional when living overseas. Topics include: Taiwanese social cultureAstrology and personality types in TaiwanIntrovert vs extrovert (I vs E)Planning personalities (J vs P)Shoes inside the houseFood hygiene differencesPublic changing rooms in SwedenA relaxed and natural Mandarin conversation for learners who enjoy culture, personality discussions, and everyday life topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
  4. Episode 464 - Pizza Walk, School Systems and Finding Your Child’s Passion

    8 May

    Episode 464 - Pizza Walk, School Systems and Finding Your Child’s Passion

    We’re back on another Friday walk, this time heading to buy pizza for the kids before their disco. Along the way we talk about rats, squirrels, Dungeons & Dragons, steak names in Mandarin, private and public schools, and the differences between education in Taiwan and the UK. We also discuss how children discover their interests, whether schools should focus more on individual passions, and what parents can do to support their kids’ happiness and future choices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min
  5. A Walk, A Rat, A £2 Coin & Camping Plans | Mandarin Monkey Podcast 463

    1 May

    A Walk, A Rat, A £2 Coin & Camping Plans | Mandarin Monkey Podcast 463

    In episode 463, we take the podcast outside again for a relaxed walk around our local area. We chat in Mandarin and English about spring weather, birds, nettles, dandelions, dog poo bags, new housing developments, finding a £2 coin, and spotting a rat in the bushes. We also talk about our upcoming camping trip to the Cotswolds, bank holiday weather, funny local pub experiences, and some of our recent Mandarin Monkey short videos — including GATAO and Sherlock. A casual bilingual walking episode for Mandarin learners who enjoy real conversation, natural listening practice, and a little bit of chaos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    40 min
  6. An episode out in the wild | Mandarin and English Podcast

    24 Apr

    An episode out in the wild | Mandarin and English Podcast

    So we decided to go out for a walk today while doing the podcast. Makes a change to the usual studio based Mandarin and English conversation. Enjoy. www.mandarinmonkey.com Email: chat@mandarinmonkey.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    57 min
  7. Can we pull this off?

    17 Apr

    Can we pull this off?

    Welcome back to the Mandarin Monkey Podcast episode 461. This week, we dive into a big idea: what if we hosted a Mandarin Monkey live immersion event in the UK? We talk through what that could look like — a full day of Chinese-speaking activities, games, food, and socialising — designed to feel fun, relaxed, and genuinely immersive, not like a traditional classroom. Along the way, we also chat about: how realistic a one-day Mandarin immersion event actually is the challenges of organising venues, logistics, and activities ideas for games, karaoke, VR, food tasting, and interactive learning how AI is becoming part of daily life, work, and creativity what it’s like talking to AI (and when it gets a bit weird…) why different AI voices and personalities feel so different new teachers joining Mandarin Monkey plans to improve our booking system and website This episode is a mix of brainstorming, behind-the-scenes, and everyday life, as we figure things out in real time. If you’d be interested in joining a Mandarin Monkey live event, let us know. Thanks for listening. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    55 min
  8. We Thought About Ending Mandarin Monkey... Then This Happened | Podcast 460

    8 Apr

    We Thought About Ending Mandarin Monkey... Then This Happened | Podcast 460

    Welcome back to the Mandarin Monkey Podcast episode 460. In this episode, we talk about the reaction to our “goodbye” joke and the unexpected wave of love that came from it. It was a warm reminder that even when content feels lonely to make, there are real people out there listening. We also get into: why long-form content still matters to ushow short-form is changing attention spansideas for future Mandarin Monkey episodesboard games, walking podcasts, and trying new formatsbeing ranked as one of the world’s Mandarin learning podcaststhe reality of balancing Mandarin Monkey with work, life, and everything else going on behind the scenes This episode is a bit of a catch-up, a bit reflective, and very much us. Thanks for sticking with us. If you enjoy learning Mandarin through real conversations, hit subscribe and come along for the ride. #MandarinMonkey #LearnMandarin #ChinesePodcast #MandarinPodcast #BilingualPodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min
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4.3
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Chinese and English Language podcast. A mixed couple (Tom & Ula) living in Taiwan, teach Chinese through the use of Chinglish (Chinese and English) on a variety of topics. Learn Chinese, study methods, Entertainment, news, life, business, hints and tricks to learning Mandarin. Hear a native speaking naturally and at natural pace but with the English translation so you can follow the context of the conversation. Enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Mandarin Monkey
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2026
  • Episodes
    519
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Mandarin Monkey
  • Show Website
    Mandarin Monkey Podcast

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