Elizabeth Tai

Blog

elizabethtai.com/

Profile

elizabethtai.com/author/firedi

Homepage

firediarist.wordpress.com

  • Comprehensible input and creating my own Mandarin-learning curriculum

    Adventures in learning Mandarin. As a heritage speaker, I have to learn Mandarin differently. It has been a frustrating and fun journey so far. Fortunately, lots of content from language learning experts, and I found one that is the clearest one yet!

  • I think I read a racist thing from Canada this morning

    Rather than demand articles such as these to be stripped off the Internet, perhaps we need to resist the impulse to label groups of people and understand the reason behind the hatred and anger.

  • Sweeping tombs, eating food and waving at the dead

    It’s Cheng Beng and I, forever the family travel operator, is shepherding the family to Penang island. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.

  • Why a lot of my content is now gated

    I’m gating a lot of my content on my website these days. The reasons are numerous, which I detail in this post, but namely – I want AI companies, Google & other corporations to “work for it” if they want my content to boost their profits, and also: I want to keep some stuff more…

  • Have you enjoyed some Chinese propaganda lately? I did.

    I watched a Chinese legal drama called Draw the Line and I’d like to reassure you that I’m still not a member of the Communist Party of China. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.

  • Creating a Mandarin-learning routine for myself

    Not easy when your brain rebels at the thought of routines and quickly forgets them. But I’m going to focus on one tiny thing at the time and adjust as I go along. This post is part 1 of a series of logs of the process.

  • I speak four languages. That’s just being Malaysian.

    And also the result of an accident in geography and school choices. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.

  • Chinese New Year auntie uncle time

    Verily I tell you, 90% of my relatives will not survive cancel culture in the West. 📧Subscribe to read the post.

  • The tools and courses I’m using to learn Mandarin (free and paid)

    We’re blessed to have so many tools to use to learn Mandarin free. It has made learning the language so much faster and easier. Here are the apps and courses I’m using to improve my Mandarin.

  • Weekend Tales #4: My focus in 2024 is ‘beauty’

    The new approach my little newsletter, Tai Tales is taking in 2024. Standing up against outrage culture on the Internet. And some articles about the Substack / Platformer drama. 📧Subscribe to read the post.

  • Why I am learning Mandarin in 2024

    In 2024, I’m determined to improve my Mandarin vocabulary to a point where I can understand Chinese dramas without subtitles. Here’s how I plan to do it.

  • Year-end reflections and how I do them

    In the last week of every year, I reflect on the year that is about to end and prepare for the new one. Here’s what I do, day by day.

  • Now on Substack – elitism, condescension and dogpiles

    Substack’s design and content choices is fostering a social “class” system of elites, followers and outsiders. Can we escape this game? 📧Subscribe to read the post.

  • The Vigil at the Manor (Part 4/7)

    In the world of the Silent, secrets can be found behind doors and words. A Distant Stars mosaic novel story. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.

  • When Sunbirds built a nest in my balcony

    This was one of the most special things that had happened to me when living in this apartment on top of a hill. A pair of sunbirds decided to build a nest in my balcony and I got to watch life happen.

  • The vigil at the manor (Part 3/7)

    Mister Meadows finds out the truth. Miss Brahms skirts it. A Distant Stars mosaic novel story. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.

  • The Vigil at the Manor (Part 2/7)

    Mister Meadows finds a clue that reveals more than it should. Part 2 of a seven-part short story in the Distant Stars mosaic novel. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.

  • Is the Internet really broken?

    My thoughts about The Verge’s article, The people who ruined the Internet and Danny Sullivan’s response, and the conversation swirling around SEO and the suckiness of the Internet.

  • Confessions of a reluctant digital journaler

    Although I prefer journaling by hand, I have to admit that digital journaling is far more practical, safer and more secure, and I’ve been journaling so much more.

  • The vigil at the Manor (Part 1/7)

    The Silent are happy to serve. To be useful is to live well. A seven-part short story in the Distant Stars mosaic novel. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.