Wei li’an is Brazilian studying in US. He came to Shanghai to learn Chinese not only for knowing more about the connection between Kungfu and mandarin but also to seek challenge for himself in mastering a brand-new language. Let’s see the fun side beneath the shyness of this young kungfu man.
卫力安是在美国就读的巴西人，他来上海不仅想了解更多汉语和功夫之间的联系，也想挑战自己掌握一门全新的语言。让我们来看看他腼腆的外表下那有趣的一面吧！
Q: Can you introduce yourself in Chinese?
你能用中文简单地做个自我介绍吗？
A: Dà jiā hǎo，wǒ jiào Guilherme。Wǒ de zhōng wén míng zì shì wèi lì ān。Wǒ shì bā xī rén，zài měi guó xué xí jiàn zhùshī。Wǒ lái shàng hǎi liǎng gè yuè，wǒ lái shàng hǎi xué xí zhōng wén。
大家好，我叫Guilherme。我的中文名字是卫力安。我是巴西人，在美国学习建筑师。我来上海两个月，我来上海学习中文。
Q: You did a better job this time! You come to China just for studying Chinese? I know you have learnt Chinese culture like Kungfu, why are you interested in Chinese language and culture?
你说得比上次好！你来上海就是为了学习语言吗，我了解到你还学过中国功夫，为什么对这些中国文化和语言感兴趣呢？
A: Yes correct! I started to learn Kungfu 6 years ago in US. My master’s master is Yip Man’s son, yè wèn de ér zǐ shì wǒ shī fù de shī fù. I do not practice much here as Shanghai tài rè. I think it is important to know self-defense; and I learn Chinese it matches with the culture as Kungfu is from China. They connect each other.
是的！我6年前在美国学习功夫，叶问的儿子是我师傅的师傅。不过在上海没怎么练了，上海太热！学习这些一是由于我觉得自卫很重要，还有就是功夫是来自中国的，和汉语的学习有一定的联系。
Q: Is there any problem that you met in Shanghai caused by language?
有没有在上海遇到过由于语言造成的困难？
A: First one month in the beginning, I took a taxi. I asked the driver: do you know how to get there with the address. He said yes but then later he was driving on the wrong direction so I told him to go the other way, but he did not believe me so after many times that I tried to convince him have to turn around…finally we did and arrived. It was the first time I took taxt alone in Shanghai and now I believe they will understand me better.
来的第一个月我搭了一辆出租车，我问司机你知道这里怎么去吗，并给他看了地址。他说是的，但是后来我觉得他开错方向了，就跟他说走另一条路。他一开始不信，但在我再三劝说下他还是掉头了，最后到达目的地。这是第一次独自在上海搭出租，相信现在司机能明白我多一点。
Q: Do you think it’s useful for foreigners to learn mandarin, and why?
你觉得学中文对于外国人来说有用吗，为什么？
A: I think it is very important for foreigners if they want to come to China. It is definitely they should. Also, business is going on more in China, it is very important. The reason I want to learn Chinese is because I can speak three languages: Portuguese, Spanish and English. I know Chinese is a little harder than these and I like challenge.
我觉得，如果外国人想来中国的话，学中文是必须的。另外，中国的商业发展越来越繁荣，这很重要。我学中文的原因是，我能说葡萄牙语、西班牙语和英语。我知道中文比这几个都难一些，而我喜欢挑战。
Q: As a good student, how do you learn Mandarin, would you like to share any tips?
作为一个好学生，你是怎么学汉语的，能分享下诀窍吗？
A: Um…the first tip I would like to give is to have a book to write notes, new words I can always review that; second one is to have friends, friends to help you learn more and different vocabulary from what usually learnt in the class; number three is to have fun in class.
嗯…首先要常备一本小本子，记下生词笔记，这样可以时不时拿出来看；其次多交朋友，他们能帮助你学到课堂上不同的词汇；再者，就是享受课堂啦。
Q: Now you have intensive class like group class from morning to afternoon, and private class in the evening, which do you prefer?
你在我们学校参加了强化密集课程，白天上班课，晚上上私课，你比较喜欢哪种形式呢？
A: I like both, I think. The group class your classmates can ask questions that you would never think. Also, I like the private class which you can have more time with your teacher, a better time learning. I have three times a week, which is Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I have Tuesday, Thursday and weekend to relax, not that intensive.
两种都喜欢。在班课上，你的同学会问些你想不到的问题。在私课上，你能和老师有更多学习的时间。我每周一三五上课，二四加周末休息，也不会太累。
Q: Do you have some suggestions for our school to improve?
对我们学校有什么建议吗？
A: I think it could be interesting to have a sofa or soft seats so when the students finish class they could hang out in school and talk to each other. When I was looking at website, I saw a sofa classroom. I like the sofa in the picture and they are really interesting. If we could have a place to hang out together students could have a better sense of community in the school.
如果学校能有个沙发或者软座会更有意思，学生上完课可以在学校沟通交流。我看到网站上照片有一个带沙发的大教室，如果我们教室也有那样的大沙发就好了~学校能有一个社交的地方，有助于学生拥有一种社区归属感。
Q: Last question, please tell me your favorite sentence in Chinese and why?
能告诉我你最喜欢的一句中文吗，为什么呢？
A: My favorite Chinese sentence is: “Yī shì yī，èr shì èr。” (One is one, two is two.) Because I am a very strict person, straightforward, and direct, of that kind of personality. I also like “Lèi sǐ le” or “è sǐ le”, I learnt from my teacher, very funny, makes my friends laugh. (End)
我最爱的一句是“一是一，二是二。”因为我是个严格，直接的人。还有，我的老师教我：“累死了”，“饿死了”，很滑稽，总是让我的朋友发笑。(完)
