<p>Are the Chinese courses at BU taught with pinyin or zhiyin/bopomofo? I want a traditional method of teaching rather than the new Communist version of Chinese… not that Commies are bad or anything, but there is a world of difference between how a person who is taught traditional Chinese speaks and a person who is taught simplified Chinese with English characters speaks. Also, are students taught traditional characters or simplified characters? Any info on the teaching methods would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>All the students in China are taught simplified Chinese so learning traditional Chinese is a waste of time. (Only Cantonese speaking people still learn traditional). Simplified and traditional Chinese are spoken the exact same way. The only difference is the way the characters are written. Traditional characters are more complicated and involve more strokes. Simplified characters are easier to write and involve less strokes.</p>
<p>Traditional characters have more character! Besides, the fact that the traditional Chinese characters are being wiped out shows how there is a loss of culture within China. Things are getting fast paced there and traditional values are slowly being lost. Although, that's just my opinion. Everyone I know who is Mandarin speaking detests this new method, and they're from Taiwan anyway. I guess I'll just learn it myself, since my schedule doesn't work out anyway.</p>
<p>nobody uses traditional Chinese characters in China,it's not a new exactly a NEW method,since Im Chinese and nobody I know writes in with traditional characters,well,except for the Taiwaneses.</p>
<p>Chinese has been in our school district for years. No way anyone learns traditional outside of Taiwan and Hong Kong. Remember, almost everyone in China was illiterate and that was a main reason they simplified the characters: so more people could learn to read and write. Sure, times are changing at lightning pace in China but if you're poor, illiterate and have no opportunity, I'd think you'd prefer the changes over maintaining tradition.</p>
<p>I learned Chinese at a Chinese school in San Jose, California. I learned it through the bopomofo way with traditional characters. But I saw something recently with the new simplified characters and it saddened me to know I still couldn't read it.</p>
<p>In China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, are things written all in the new simplified version? Or does it really depend on where you're going?</p>
<p>China uses simplified though you can find traditional. My understanding is they use traditional in Taiwan and a mix in Hong Kong, but I've never been to either.</p>