Have you been feeling overly worried lately? Thinking too much? Well… 平常心. Keep a calm heart, and let things go the way they’re meant to. Things will work out. My dad taught me this life wisdom, and I hope it helps you find some peace—just as it has helped me.

In this episode, you’ll also practice advanced Taiwanese Mandarin through a real, meaningful conversation. Many of you have shared that you want to engage in deeper conversations with your Taiwanese family. The truth is, they often use specific expressions and vocabulary that aren’t usually taught in textbooks.

Two materials I recommend for further learning (progress from intermediate to advanced level):

• Study the vocabulary using the transcripts (zhuyin, pinyin, and English)
• Level Up & Connect to Taiwan Complete Program

I’ve added a Premier Coaching (6 months) option to all of my courses. Now with this Coaching option, you can practice Taiwanese Mandarin directly with me.

Contact me here if you have questions.

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🍂 Watch HERE and learn real conversation at a Taiwan night market. As I mentioned in this episode, a vendor complimented my husband’s beard and that’s how conversations often start in Taiwan!)
Thank you again for all of your encouraging messages and helping me share the video. It means a world!

🍂 Transcript (Zhuyin, Pinyin, Eng) on Patreon here. This podcast exists because of you all!

🍂 Summary of this episode

- Locals don’t really go to night markets anymore, and solo dining feels normal.

- Taipei feels fast-paced compared to the southern Taiwan. I feel like I can finally breathe there.

- Healthy and comforting Taiwanese food: 鐵板燒 teppanyaki, 水餃 dumplings, 炒青菜 sautéed veggies...etc.

- How I feel connected to Taiwan through food, people, and memories.

Note

I know many of your goal is to be able to converse with Taiwanese friends annd family with confidence and feel connected to Taiwan. That's why I'd made these 4 online training programs-

I’ve structured them in the ideal learning order, progressing from beginner-friendly foundations to more advanced levels.

1. Boost TOCFL score in 4 steps: the ultimate guide to 1000 TOCFL Band A vocabulary

2. Master Spoken Chinese: Taiwanese Mandarin conversation training

3. Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting

4. Level up & Connect to Taiwan Program (progress from Intermediate to advanced level)

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In this episode, I share insights from a small survey I did with my close Taiwanese friends over three months. Honestly, I have mixed feelings talking about Taiwanese family culture because it’s 一言難盡 It’s hard to put into words.… It’s delicate and complicated to balance love and the concept of 孝順 (filial piety). It’s an art. But love is an art, right? :) Full episode and transcript on my patreon.

• The important concept of 孝順 (filial piety) and how it can sometimes feel like pressure
• Taiwanese parents tend to be overly worried and protective
• What 孝親費 (filial allowance) means in Taiwanese culture
• The rise of 情緒勒索 (emotional blackmail) as a popular modern term in Taiwan

Note

If your goal is to progress from intermediate to advanced Chinese and discuss deeper topics with your Taiwanese friends and family, feel free to check out my Level Up & Connect to Taiwan program !

Actually, this year, starting this week, I’ve added a Premier Coaching (6 months)option to all of my courses. Now with this Coaching option, you can practice Taiwanese Mandarin directly with me.

🌱
You can check all the details on each course page.

[Master Spoken Chinese:Conversation Training]

[Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting]

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Sign up here if you're interested in taking lessons with me

Transcripts of my Podcat (PDFs with Zhuyin, Pinyin, and English translation) - you can improve your Taiwanese Mandarin faster with my thoughtfully designed transcripts 👉 join elephant mountains class .

📣 My NEW course is now LIVE!🇹🇼 Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting is online! This program will help you navigate Taiwan with ease, keep up with fast-paced conversations, and converse confidently with Taiwanese friends and family.
I know Taiwanese people can speak very fast and sometimes unclearly—it’s normal to feel anxious! If you struggle to understand real-life situations in Taiwan and don’t know how to reply, this course is for you!

🇹🇼 You can handle everyday simple conversations, but find yourself struggling when topics get more in-depth or complex? Be sure to enroll in this program! Engage deeper Conversation with Taiwanese through Podcast Transcripts. I've compiled my previous podcast episodes for you, complete with well-designed transcripts in pinyin, zhuyin, and English translation. Many students listen and learn while cooking or driving :)

My Other Online courses

❤ No more freeze up in conversation & Converse with Taiwanese people without fear➡ Master Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation Training Course

❤ Level up Complete Program (pre-intermediate above): Understand Taiwanese News & Express yourself like a Taiwanese

❤ Boost TOCFL Band A Score in 4 Steps: Prepare 1,000 Vocabulary (the ultimate Vocabulary Guide)

Don't worry – my course is designed to help learn with joy and succeed at your own pace. Contact me by clicking here if you have questions.

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

🇹🇼I've made a bonus video for Patreon members! By signing up for my Patreon, you're supporting this podcast and my work. I’m able to create Taiwanese Mandarin learning resources because of you. I'm so grateful:) 非常非常感謝 :) 謝謝你們

You can Improve your Taiwanese Mandarin faster with my thoughtfully designed transcripts (PDFs with Zhuyin, Pinyin, and English translation) 👉 join elephant mountains class .

📣 My NEW course is now LIVE!🇹🇼 Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting is online! This program will help you navigate Taiwan with ease, keep up with fast-paced conversations, and converse confidently with Taiwanese friends and family.
I know Taiwanese people can speak very fast and sometimes unclearly—it’s normal to feel anxious! If you struggle to understand real-life situations in Taiwan and don’t know how to reply, this course is for you!

🇹🇼 You can handle everyday simple conversations, but find yourself struggling when topics get more in-depth or complex? Be sure to enroll in this program! Engage deeper Conversation with Taiwanese through Podcast Transcripts. I've compiled my previous podcast episodes for you, complete with well-designed transcripts in pinyin, zhuyin, and English translation. Many students listen and learn while cooking or driving :)

My Other Online courses

❤ No more freeze up in conversation & Converse with Taiwanese people without fear➡ Master Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation Training Course

❤ Level up Complete Program (pre-intermediate above): Understand Taiwanese News & Express yourself like a Taiwanese

❤ Boost TOCFL Band A Score in 4 Steps: Prepare 1,000 Vocabulary (the ultimate Vocabulary Guide)

Don't worry – my course is designed to help learn with joy and succeed at your own pace. Contact me by clicking here if you have questions.

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

🇹🇼 Join Newsletter community HERE - receive free mini lessons & my future events.

By signing up for my Patreon, you're supporting this podcast and my work. I’m able to create Taiwanese Mandarin learning resources because of you. I'm so grateful:) 非常非常感謝 :) 謝謝你們

🇹🇼 Podcast Transripts available: Improve your Taiwanese Mandarin faster with my thoughtfully designed transcripts (PDFs with Zhuyin, Pinyin, and English translation) 👉 join elephant mountains class .

📣 My NEW course is now LIVE!🇹🇼 Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting is online! This program will help you navigate Taiwan with ease, keep up with fast-paced conversations, and converse confidently with Taiwanese friends and family.
I know Taiwanese people can speak very fast and sometimes unclearly—it’s normal to feel anxious! If you struggle to understand real-life situations in Taiwan and don’t know how to reply, this course is for you!

🇹🇼 You can handle everyday simple conversations, but find yourself struggling when topics get more in-depth or complex? Be sure to enroll in this program! Engage deeper Conversation with Taiwanese through Podcast Transcripts. I've compiled my previous podcast episodes for you, complete with well-designed transcripts in pinyin, zhuyin, and English translation. Many students listen and learn while cooking or driving :)

My Other Online courses

❤ No more freeze up in conversation & Converse with Taiwanese people without fear➡ Master Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation Training Course

❤ Level up Complete Program (pre-intermediate above): Understand Taiwanese News & Express yourself like a Taiwanese

❤ Boost TOCFL Band A Score in 4 Steps: Prepare 1,000 Vocabulary (the ultimate Vocabulary Guide)

Don't worry – my course is designed to help learn with joy and succeed at your own pace. Contact me by clicking here if you have questions.

Youtube
✩ This new Talking Vlog style playlist could also help you pass TOCFL band A exam while discovering Taiwan 👉 https://youtu.be/CnfvikoAW3U?si=qsG5YYB2mUNm7XgG

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

🇹🇼 Full version of this episode is available for elephant and Jade mountains members on Patreon. I also wrote a Blog post about Renting Apartment in Taiwan with important links.

📣 My NEW course is now LIVE!🇹🇼 Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting is online! This program will help you navigate Taiwan with ease, keep up with fast-paced conversations, and converse confidently with Taiwanese friends and family.
I know Taiwanese people can speak very fast and sometimes unclearly—it’s normal to feel anxious! If you struggle to understand real-life situations in Taiwan and don’t know how to reply, this course is for you!

My little sister is also in this program :)

🇹🇼 Transripts available: Improve your Taiwanese Mandarin faster with my thoughtfully designed transcripts (PDFs with Zhuyin, Pinyin, and English translation) 👉 join elephant mountains class .

🇹🇼 You can handle everyday simple conversations, but find yourself struggling when topics get more in-depth or complex? Be sure to enroll in this program! Engage deeper Conversation with Taiwanese through Podcast Transcripts. I've compiled my previous podcast episodes for you, complete with well-designed transcripts in pinyin, zhuyin, and English translation. Many students listen and learn while cooking or driving :)

My Other Online courses

❤ No more freeze up in conversation & Converse with Taiwanese people without fear➡ Master Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation Training Course

❤ Level up Complete Program (pre-intermediate above): Understand Taiwanese News & Express yourself like a Taiwanese

❤ Boost TOCFL Band A Score in 4 Steps: Prepare 1,000 Vocabulary (the ultimate Vocabulary Guide)

Don't worry – my course is designed to help learn with joy and succeed at your own pace. Contact me by clicking here if you have questions.

Youtube
✩ This new Talking Vlog style playlist could also help you pass TOCFL band A exam while discovering Taiwan 👉 https://youtu.be/CnfvikoAW3U?si=qsG5YYB2mUNm7XgG

By signing up my Patreon, you're also supporting this Podcast.

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show

📣 Announcement! 📣

My NEW course 🇹🇼 Master Conversational Taiwanese Mandarin: Eating, Drinking, and Chatting is official online! This program will help you navigate Taiwan with ease, keep up with fast-paced conversations, and converse confidently with Taiwanese friends and family.
I know Taiwanese people can speak very fast and sometimes unclearly—it’s normal to feel anxious! If you struggle to understand real-life situations in Taiwan and don’t know how to reply, this course is for you!

Thank you for all your positive feedback so far.

Other resources:

🇹🇼 Podcast Transcripts available! Want to pass TOCFL Band A2/B and learn native-like expressions? Improve your Taiwanese Mandarin faster with my thoughtfully designed transcripts (PDFs with Zhuyin, Pinyin, and English translation) 👉 join elephant mountains class . By signing up my Patreon, you're also supporting this Podcast.

🇹🇼 You can handle everyday simple conversations, but find yourself struggling when topics get more in-depth or complex? Be sure to enroll in this program! Engage deeper Conversation with Taiwanese through Podcast Transcripts. I've compiled my previous podcast episodes for you, complete with well-designed transcripts in pinyin, zhuyin, and English translation. Many students listen and learn while cooking or driving :)

My Other Online courses

❤ No more freeze up in conversation & Converse with Taiwanese people without fear➡ Master Taiwanese Mandarin Conversation Training Course

❤ Level up Complete Program (pre-intermediate above): Understand Taiwanese News & Express yourself like a Taiwanese

❤ Boost TOCFL Band A Score in 4 Steps: Prepare 1,000 Vocabulary (the ultimate Vocabulary Guide)

Don't worry – my course is designed to help learn with joy and succeed at your own pace. Contact me by clicking here if you have questions.

Youtube
✩ This new Talking Vlog style playlist could also help you pass TOCFL band A exam while discovering Taiwan 👉 https://youtu.be/CnfvikoAW3U?si=qsG5YYB2mUNm7XgG

Share with me what you think:) 跟我分享一下

Support the show