April Zhang

It appears that a historic deal is within reach, and it will hold if President Trump is willing to enforce the restrictions he’s placed on Israel. This post indicates a good start—but it must be followed by actually limiting U.S. military aide to Israel.

We are told that security in the Middle East requires defeating Iran, security in East Asia requires defeating China, and security in Europe requires defeating Russia. We never discuss security in terms of how to learn to live together by harmonising interests and managing competition. This is by design. This is hegemonic peace, in which security depends on defeating rivals rather than managing a balance of power. Subsequently, security relies solely on deterrence rather than reassurance; diplomacy is dismissed as appeasement; peace agreements are temporary and deceptive; and war is peace. Our rivals do not have legitimate security concerns, as their policies are allegedly always motivated by aggressive, irrational, or expansionist behaviour. We have convinced ourselves that our liberal hegemony is a force for good, and that our opponents oppose our dominance because they reject our benign values of freedom. Discussing the security concerns of adversaries is believed to “legitimise” their policies, which is treasonous. The world is divided into good guys (liberal democracies) and bad guys (autocracies). We should not ask how defeating Russia, as the world's largest nuclear power, is a rational security strategy, or why our governments refuse to even speak with Moscow to discuss the European security architecture and end the war. Our governments have relabelled nuclear deterrence as nuclear blackmail to signal that there can be no more constraints. All empires can become irrational during decline. Leaders take greater risks to avoid decline, legitimacy crises at home must be distracted with enemies abroad, outdated strategies from a bygone era of strength are still embraced, and there is a tendency to double down on narratives of being indispensable, representing universal values, and dismissing all opposition as illegitimate and dangerous. Are we the fanatics?

Among the diverse family of Chinese languages, Hokkien (also known as Fujianhua) stands out as one of the most ancient and resilient dialects. Often described as preserving features of Old or Middle Chinese more faithfully than Mandarin, it traces its roots to migrations of Han people from northern China to Fujian province over two millennia ago, particularly during the Qin and Jin dynasties. Isolated by rugged mountains and limited contact with the north, early settlers maintained archaic pronunciations, vocabulary, and tones that have since faded in many other varieties. Spoken today in Fujian, Taiwan, and across Southeast Asian Chinese communities—from Penang to Singapore—Hokkien reflects centuries of cultural adaptation. My article explores Hokkien’s fascinating history, unique characteristics, and enduring global presence. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

« La France ne peut se déployer que dans une relation privilégiée avec les Chinois », écrivais-je en 2010. Cela m'a valu de nombreuses moqueries et calomnies. Où en sommes-nous maintenant ? Chaque jour de retard dans une relation à construire avec la Chine, c'est autant de secteurs qu'on perd et d'accords qu'on ne pourra pas négocier. La Chine constitue autant un pôle de stabilité que la première puissance technique mondiale. Il faudra passer un pacte avec elle. L'Espagne et le Canada l’ont déjà fait.

The explosive rise of generative AI, sparked by ChatGPT, has transformed how students learn Chinese, shifting the debate from “if” AI can help to “how” it revolutionizes the process. What once seemed like simple dictionary-like tools or basic robot demonstrations now pales against sophisticated AI systems capable of handling complex queries, generating personalized content, and enabling endless practice. Students can now ask nuanced questions about grammar and vocabulary, request AI to simplify or create level-appropriate reading materials, stories, and dialogues, and engage in immersive conversations that build fluency and confidence. While AI offers infinite patience and deep pattern recognition—often surpassing traditional resources or even many teachers—it still lacks human empathy, imagination, and real-life experience. Yet, students’s agency becomes increasingly critical. I wrote this article a few years ago, and it feels still relevant. mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

President Trump is sending more military power to the Middle East as Iran rejects our initial peace offers—setting the escalation trap. We can avoid that trap if we are wise enough not to believe our own hype. Bombing Iranian equipment and killing leaders may produce great hype reels, but if the GWOT taught us anything, it is that tactical success does not equal strategic victory. To avoid a major disaster, we must first define what is truly vital to our national interests and act accordingly—regardless of optics of the daily news cycle. We need the Strait of Hormuz open so oil can flow and stability can return to the energy markets and the Gulf region. These are realistic, achievable goals. They can be reached by significantly reducing our military footprint in the region and lifting sanctions on Iran. We can then tout Iran’s agreement not to build a nuclear weapon as a clear win for the media. The key to avoiding the escalation trap and a disastrous quagmire is restraining Israel by drastically limiting the military aid we provide. Israel cannot sustain this fight without us, and will do everything they can to keep us engaged. We must pursue our own objectives, not theirs. If we try to impose a maximalist outcome on Iran (zero enrichment, etc.) this war will undoubtedly escalate—costing American lives, billions more dollars, and ultimately eroding our global standing. We must learn from our past and recognize when it is time to cut our losses and walk away. In the end, working to restore order will strengthen America far more than any military action ever could.

Many Chinese learners once relied almost entirely on human teachers for explanations, pronunciation drills, vocabulary building, and character writing practice. Today, however, AI-powered Chinese learning apps are rapidly taking over many of these traditional roles. With instant dictionary lookups, accurate translations, animated stroke-order guidance, spaced-repetition systems, speech recognition for tone feedback, and even AI conversation partners available 24/7, apps now deliver precise, patient, and personalized practice that no single teacher can match in volume or consistency. Recent advances in generative AI have further enhanced this trend, enabling real-time speaking practice, adaptive feedback, and custom learning paths far beyond what was possible just a few years ago. Yet while apps excel at rote tasks and mechanical drills, they still struggle with meaningful communication, cultural nuance, and genuine inspiration. This article of mine, although written a few years ago, turns out to be still relevant. It explores in which ways Chinese learning apps are replacing teachers — and where human guidance remains irreplaceable for deeper progress. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

For nearly two millennia, Chinese characters have carried the weight of history, philosophy, and artistic mastery. On the covers of the Chinese Reading and Writing series stands a timeless masterpiece: Wang Xizhi’s Preface to the Poems Collected from the Orchid Pavilion, penned in 353 CE during a spring gathering that blended ritual, poetry, and revelry. This legendary work by the “Sage of Calligraphy” captures the beauty of nature, the joy of friendship, and reflections on life’s fleeting nature—echoing themes that still resonate today. It’s time to remind us that mastering Chinese means connecting with a living tradition where every character tells a story spanning dynasties. Read more here: mslmaster.com/index.php/msl-…

Many parents and teachers assume that teaching Chinese to children is simply a matter of using the same methods as for adults, but with brighter illustrations and cartoon characters. As a result, many popular children’s materials feel surprisingly similar to adult textbooks — just repackaged with cute pictures. Topics like “save water and electricity,” warnings against too many video games, or flashcards showing pinyin + character + English translation often produce bored or mechanical responses rather than genuine interest. Role-plays that work well for adults (such as “doctor and patient”) frequently fall flat because young children lack the real-life experience to participate meaningfully. In reality, the differences run much deeper. Kids have distinct cognitive abilities, limited world knowledge, and very different ways of engaging with language compared to adult learners. This article of mine explains why Chinese learning for kids must be approached differently. It highlights common mistakes in current materials and offers practical insights on how to make lessons more relevant, engaging, and effective by connecting them to children’s actual experiences and natural ways of learning. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese learners diligently work through popular grammar books, carefully studying explanations, example sentences, and doing the exercises. They often feel they have finally “got it” — only to discover weeks later that most of the points have vanished from memory when they try to speak or write naturally. This frustrating experience is surprisingly common. Grammar books present dozens of points in isolation, followed by repetitive written drills that provide strong hints: students already know which structure is being tested, and the sentences are carefully designed to fit the target pattern. There is little listening or speaking practice, and the brain quickly disengages from the mechanical format. As a result, the knowledge fails to transfer into real communication. This article of mine explains why Chinese grammar books come with a kind of built-in “amnesia.” True mastery of grammar is not achieved by memorising rules in a book, but emerges as a natural result of speaking more, writing more, and learning from mistakes in meaningful contexts. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese learners admire how native speakers seem to master writing thousands of characters without relying on pinyin. In China, schoolchildren begin learning characters directly through repeated writing, teacher modeling, and massive amounts of reading and copying. They associate sounds with characters through spoken language and context long before pinyin is introduced as a tool for pronunciation or typing. This “no-pinyin” method works well for native children because they already speak fluent Mandarin. Their brains link familiar sounds and meanings to new visual forms naturally. However, for non-Chinese speaking students, attempting to imitate this approach often leads to frustration, slow progress, and poor retention. Without strong oral foundations, learners struggle to remember both pronunciation and meaning while fighting with unfamiliar strokes and components. Pinyin serves as an essential bridge that allows foreign students to focus on listening, speaking, and communication first—before tackling the complex task of character writing. This article of mine explains how Chinese people actually learn to write without pinyin, and why foreign learners should not copy this method if they want faster, more effective progress. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese learners are told that mastering radicals is the key to unlocking character meanings. Textbooks and apps proudly present radicals as helpful “hints,” suggesting that the fire radical (火) will reliably point to something related to heat, light, or burning. Flashcards often reinforce this with cute illustrations, creating the impression that radicals offer a clever shortcut to learning hanzi. In reality, the connection is far more unreliable than advertised. While some characters like 灯 (lamp), 烟 (smoke), and 炉 (stove) show a clear link to fire, many others with the same radical have drifted far from any fire-related meaning. The exceptions greatly outnumber the reliable cases, especially with abstract or modern vocabulary. This article of mine takes a look at when radicals do and do not give useful clues to meaning. It explains why over-relying on them can waste valuable study time and offers more practical advice for building real reading and writing skills. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese learners feel confident in everyday conversations, only to become confused when they start reading authentic materials like news articles, essays, or novels. Suddenly, sentences grow longer, vocabulary turns more formal, and familiar words are replaced by abbreviations or classical expressions that rarely appear in speech. This shift often frustrates students. A simple spoken question like “你觉得怎么样？” may appear in writing as “将军意下如何？” or be shortened dramatically in print. Written Chinese frequently uses concise abbreviations (“中印” for China and India, “沪” for Shanghai) and special structures that pack multiple ideas into one dense sentence, making texts feel alien compared to natural dialogue. Yet the boundary between spoken and written Chinese is not absolute—both styles mix in real life, from movies to casual WeChat stories. This article of mine explores the key differences in vocabulary, abbreviations, and sentence structures, and offers practical insights to help learners bridge the gap and enjoy reading Chinese with greater ease and confidence. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese learners feel overwhelmed by the thick grammar sections in traditional textbooks. Each lesson often lists ten or more grammar points, followed by repetitive drills, resulting in 200–300 points per book. These exhaustive lists, often modeled on Latin grammatical concepts that don’t suit Chinese, turn studying into a time-consuming and discouraging task. Worse still, the heavy focus on rules leaves little room for genuine communication. Learners spend hours chasing “perfect” answers in exercises, yet struggle to express themselves naturally in real conversations, where mistakes and ambiguity are tolerated. This article of my suggests that when learning Chinese grammar, less can be more. By deliberately ignoring most points and focusing only on the few that truly help build coherent sentences or practical word usage, learners free up time and energy for meaningful practice—the key to real progress. Full article here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Hong Kong presents a complex and multifaceted language environment where Cantonese and Mandarin (Putonghua) coexist alongside English and other languages. Cantonese remains the dominant mother tongue and everyday spoken language among local Chinese residents, used in daily conversations, tabloid newspapers, and as the primary medium of instruction in most local schools. Traditional Chinese characters are standard in Hong Kong, while Mandarin is taught as a subject, often focusing on pronunciation using traditional characters. Historically and politically, Mandarin and simplified characters are sometimes viewed negatively by locals, associated with mainland influence. The article of mine highlights stark contrasts in language education: local students face an abrupt shift to English-medium instruction at university level; non-Chinese minority students struggle with Cantonese and traditional characters, often with limited success; while children from wealthy or expatriate families in international schools learn Mandarin (frequently with simplified characters) to gain global advantages. These imbalances reveal deeper issues in Hong Kong’s language policies, creating unequal opportunities across socioeconomic groups. Meaningful reforms are needed to address these disparities and better serve the diverse population. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese language learners treat tests such as HSK, IB Chinese, GCSE, or SAT Chinese as the ultimate goal of their studies. Conversations often revolve around whether something will appear in the test, and school programs are shaped heavily by exam requirements. This article of mine challenges that mindset, arguing that while learners should take tests, they should not study specifically for them. It traces the long history of testing in China, the famous Keju imperial examination system, which once enabled social mobility but became rigid and was abolished in 1905 when high scores no longer reflected useful skills. Today, with rapid AI advancements that can outperform humans on standardized tests, we need to question the value of traditional test-driven education. Instead of making test scores the end goal, learners are encouraged to adopt “soft goals” focused on personal growth, curiosity, lifelong learning, and integrating Chinese into daily life. Tests can serve as useful checkpoints, but genuine progress comes from genuine interest rather than exam preparation. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

In early 2026, with 66% of American workers reporting burnout amid relentless digital demands, return-to-office mandates, and economic uncertainty, and over 42% citing rising anxiety, modern life feels like a pressure cooker. (forbes.com/sites/bryanrob… ) My latest e-course, Aligning with the Dao: Laozi’s Wisdom for Modern Anxiety and Achievement, may offer help. Laozi’s first antidote: everything rises, peaks, declines, and returns to the root. Recognizing these natural rhythms frees us from frantic FOMO and the fear of permanent defeat, granting clarity to act wisely instead of reacting desperately. Secondly, Laozi addresses our cluttered minds in an information-saturated age. True power comes from daily accumulation of useful knowledge paired with relentless subtraction of mental “dust”—desires, resentments, and self-doubt—until wu-wei (effortless action) emerges naturally. Thirdly, Laozi delivers a stark caution: fame or body—which is dearer? Extreme clinging to status, wealth, or success invites heavy costs, as seen when leaders or executives sacrifice health and integrity for one more gain, only to lose far more. Finally, Laozi reminds us that many falter when victory is closest. Treat the end with the same care as the beginning, and completion follows without self-inflicted failure. Together, this e-course distills ancient Daoist wisdom into practical tools for navigating today’s overload, attachment, and distraction with greater calm and effectiveness. Get it here: mslmaster.com/index.php?view…

Many Chinese language learners doubt their ability to write well in Chinese, often limiting themselves. This article of mine argues that everyone can develop strong writing skills, and the essential first step is copying good Chinese writings—a method rooted in how children naturally learn languages by imitating others like a sponge. Adults, too, benefit greatly from imitation. It is recommended that they start with character-for-character copying of quality texts. Beginners can copy sentences, conversations, and narratives from exercises to reinforce characters, words, grammar, and contextual usage. Higher-level students can select enjoyable texts or textbooks, gaining exposure to common characters, subtle synonym differences, and varied sentence structures through repetition. The next stage involves creative adaptation: rewriting conversations as narratives, changing settings or names, or combining stories. The better the original models, the stronger the results. By consistently copying and then modifying good writings, learners build a solid foundation and unlock their creative potential in Chinese composition. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

Many Chinese language learners focus heavily on memorizing individual characters, yet struggle to read actual texts. This article of mine reveals that the real key to reading Chinese lies in deconstructing texts—the skill of breaking down continuous character sequences into meaningful words, since Chinese writing has no spaces between words. Unlike English, where spaces clearly mark word boundaries, Chinese requires learners to actively identify word groups (mostly two-character combinations, with some one- or multi-character words). I illustrate this challenge with amusing examples of ambiguity, such as classical poems or sentences that yield entirely different meanings depending on where word boundaries are placed. Deconstructing texts differs from analyzing character components or radicals. The recommended method starts with short sentences using familiar characters, progressing to longer ones through repeated practice. This training bridges the gap between isolated character knowledge and fluent comprehension. Ultimately, mastering text deconstruction, rather than sheer character quantity, enables effective reading. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…

In our ambitious, fast-moving world, many of us excel at starting projects, careers, relationships, or bold initiatives with energy and vision. Yet far too often, we falter near the finish line—losing focus, growing complacent, or rushing the final steps—only to watch success slip away at the very moment it seemed within reach. Laozi captured this timeless human pattern with striking clarity: “When people undertake affairs, they often fail just when success is nearly in reach. Be as cautious at the end as at the start, and failure will not occur.” This simple yet profound teaching reminds us that true mastery lies not only in bold beginnings but in steady, respectful completion. The same vigilance, humility, and clarity that ignite a venture must be preserved through every phase—especially when fatigue, overconfidence, or impatience set in. This is what I wrote recently. By aligning with natural cycles and treating endings with the same care as beginnings, we avoid self-inflicted defeat and allow accomplishments to mature fully. In an era of shiny new starts and quick distractions, Laozi’s wisdom to finish offers a quiet, powerful discipline for lasting results. Read it here: mslmaster.com/index.php/teac…