What we’re about
Language learning is a life long endeavour.
Never give up. Never stop moving.
语言学习，一生之计。永不放弃，永不停步。
The BMCL Meetup Group was founded on May 5, 2003. We are a Mandarin Chinese conversation practice group, for all levels. The group is open and self-led. When we run out of vocabulary, we chat about China in English :) Welcome native speakers who would like to meet conversation partners, or lead activities.
Joining the meetup group
To be a member of this group you need to have a profile photo recognizable as yourself. This helps people recognize each other at meetups. This is required for all new members joining after May 2022. Also, please join the group with your actual name and in your personal capacity, not as a company or organization. Please have a look at recent event descriptions. Join if you feel that these are the types of events you would like to take part in.
Member information
As from June 2024, regular Meetup members (without an organizer subscription)
- Can view the information on the home page and event pages of public meetup groups.
- Can view names but not profile pictures on attendee lists for events.
- Cannot view the full members list.
- Can view the list of organizers.
December 2025 Reading Text
The Three Body Problem - Ch. 13 - Red Coast III
三体 - 13 - 红岸之三（节录）
作者：刘慈欣
Links to all reading text files
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
December 2025 Topics
Dec 3 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
童年里哪一件小事，让你觉得自己"突然长大了"？
What little thing happened in your childhood that made you feel like you "suddenly grew up"?
(suggested by Isabel)
Dec 3 - Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
The biggest fraud
最大的骗局
(suggested by Cameron)
Dec 10 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
你有没有一个经常在空闲时会冒出来的、关于生命或世界的"大问题"？
Do you have a "big question" about life or the world that often pops into your head in your free time?
(suggested by Isabel)
Dec 10 - Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
One pointless rule you think society should remove (If you could say it out loud).
你认为社会应该废除的一条无意义的规则（如果可以宣之于口）
(suggested by Sumit)
Dec 13 - Online Mandarin Learners Practice - Saturday Morning
TBD
Dec 17 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
TBD
Dec 17 - Online Language Learning through Song Sharing
Favorite holiday songs
最喜欢的假日歌曲
(from Audrey)
Attending our meetups
We organize meetups to help people practice Mandarin Chinese and English language. A crucial part of the language learning process is interacting with other people. Books and computers and apps cannot take the place of real, live human interaction.
Please come prepared to practice and receive feedback on your target language: either Mandarin or English. Native speakers of each will be in attendance to help us learn. Each attendee is invited to bring an icebreaker question to help spark conversation.
Member Profiles
Returning members please log in to your member profile on a computer by going to our Group page. Look for the "Manage membership" drop down menu on the right - "Membership details, Group notifications..." Please update your information and tell us where you are currently based, which time periods on which days of the week you are likely to be able to attend events, and what kind of meetups you would like us to organize.
Members
Many of our members live in Massachusetts. Some live in other parts of the US. Some are in the Boston area for brief periods. In the age of Online Meetups, you do not need to physically be in Boston to take part in our events. Once you have joined our meetup group and taken part in our events, you're always welcome to pop in and catch up with your friends, be it online, or at in-person meetups. Please remember to visit the group meetup page occasionally and update your profile details. Members will not be deleted just because they are not residing in MA.
Zoom meetings
Please note that in our Zoom meetings, participants are encouraged to use the Zoom chat window to write down words and expressions to help each other learn. No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall responsibility for how the meetup is conducted. Where there is anti-social behaviour, such should be reported to the host.
Event Cancellation
Some groups cancel events at the last minute because there are too few signups. We will not do this. If an event is announced, it will be held. Unless there is inclement weather, a natural disaster or a serious transport strike, there will not be a cancellation.
If an event can only be held if a certain number of members sign up, this will be stated on the event page when the event is announced.
No-Flake, Zero No-show group
Group events often involve reservations at restaurants and hiring of venues. Organizers have to put in a lot of effort to set up the event. Members might change work schedules and travel far to meet other members. It is inconsiderate to the group and its members to sign up for in-person events and then send in a last-minute cancellation or do a no-show.
No-shows and flake outs undermine the relationship between organizers and members, and destroy the community spirit of meetups. The attendance record has a large role to play in deciding how we host future events, and in the extreme case, if we can even have events.
We should try to make our group a no-flake, zero no-show group. Let's make a commitment to respect each other, and support group events by showing up when we RSVP.
- ‘People feel they don’t owe anyone anything’: the rise in ‘flaking’ out of social plans - The Guardian
No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". All no-shows in all online meetups from since April 20th, 2022 have been marked as such, so the attendee lists all reflect actual attendance. For in-person meetups, no-shows will be recorded when and where it is practical to do so.
Links:
- Original About the Group piece by Reece
- Boston Mandarin Chinese Language Meetup Group Pages previously uploaded by our Organizers and Members. Best viewed with a web browser on a PC or Mac.
- Text format - Google Sheets workbook.
- Screenshots of all the pages - Google Docs file.
- Rich Keane's list of Chinese Language Learning Sites
- 9 Essential Chinese Words without Direct English Translations - by Audrey
- 泰文和中文相似之处 - by Sumit
- Never Stop Moving: Luigi's Legacy - YouTube
- Luigi - The Man - Within a deep coma, an inner voice told Luigi, "Never stop moving kid, if you stop you're dead."
Event Notes - Google sheets format (view on Chrome or Firefox)
Song Sharing Lyrics, Vocabulary and Notes - Google sheets format
- January 22nd, 2025
- February 19th, 2025
- March 19th, 2025
- April 30th, 2025
- May 21st, 2025
- July 2nd, 2025
- July 30th, 2025
- August 20th, 2025
- September 24th, 2025
- October 29th, 2025
- Song sharing playlists from previous meetups.
Classical Music Sharing - info, vocabulary and notes - Google sheets format
Archives
- Group Message Board - Archive - feature removed by Meetup in July 2024
- Group Mailing List - Archive - feature removed by Meetup in July 2024
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page contributors: Reece, Ken, Rich, Audrey, Ingrid... and Luigi.
Banner photo:
4th Mondays @ 6:30p: Mandarin Meetup- chat & then dinner - Hosted By Chih-wei - Monday, September 22, 2014
- from BMCL photo album
Featured event
Mandarin & English Conversation - Prudential Center
Event Overview
Members of the Boston Mandarin Chinese Language Meetup Group, let's get together in person at the Prudential Center Mall on the 1st Sunday of January (4th) for an afternoon of Mandarin and English conversation practice for all levels. Please come prepared to practice and receive feedback on your target language: either Mandarin or English.
2026一月第一个星期天（4日）我们在波士顿市中心的保德信大厦商场聚会，一起练习中文和英语。语言是工具，用于人与人之间的交流。交流是表达，也需要反馈，请大家热烈参与，互相帮助，一起学习。
If anyone would like to stay on for dinner afterwards, please post a message in the comments section below.
Start time: 3:00 PM EDT (Sunday, January 4，2026)
End time: 6:00 PM EDT (Sunday, January 4, 2026)
Location: Tables opposite USPS Post Office
Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA 02199
Languages: Mandarin, English, some Cantonese
Location Details
Meet us inside the Prudential Center mall at the tables near the USPS Post Office. One of our event hosts will be wearing a light brown cork cap.
If you are coming from the E line, take the escalator up, then take the first left and walk past M&T bank.
Map kiosks showing the below are available throughout the mall. After you enter the building, check the map for directions to the Post Office from your location. If you need help finding us, please message the event chat on Meetup, and a facilitator will assist you.
Leaving before the end:
Participants can leave any time they like. The main thing is for everyone to try and take part in the bilingual conversation, and make an effort to express themselves and communicate with others in their target language, Mandarin or English.
No-shows:
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going".
Who should take part in this event?
- Mandarin Beginners
- Intermediate Mandarin learners
- Advanced Mandarin learners who would like to help other learners
- Native speakers of Mandarin who would like to help, and also practice English
Please note that this is a free event
Members need to purchase their own food and drinks.
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Banner graphic and other images courtesy of the Prudential Center, Google Maps and Annie
Upcoming events
7
•OnlineOnline Mandarin Learners Practice - Saturday Morning
OnlineTopic:
Milestones in our lives
人生里程碑
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骐骥一跃，不能十步；驽马十驾，功在不舍。
- 荀子
Mandarin Learners, let's get together online for an afternoon of Mandarin conversation practice for all levels. When we run out of vocabulary, we continue to chat in English, but we write down the words we want to learn how to say in Chinese, and we ask our Mandarin speaking friends to help.
我们在线上聚会，练习中文会话。当遇到难题，不知道用中文该如何表达，我们用英语记下来，找说中文的朋友来帮忙。欢迎不同水平的中文学习者参与。
This is an international meetup event. Note the different Zoom Link! We'll join members of the London Mandarin Learners group for this online Mandarin Learners conversation practice meetup.
Attendance at previous Saturday morning conversation event: 10
Start time: 10:00 AM EDT - (Saturday, December 27th, 2025)
- 3 PM London UK time
- (follows GMT in the UK)
Zoom meeting room will open at 09:50 AM Eastern Time
RSVPs close at 09:00 AM Eastern Time
10:00 AM - Introductions in Mandarin and English, Housekeeping announcements
10:30 AM - Topic of the day in breakout rooms
- Participants will be asked to suggest a topic. We'll vote to decide.
- Mandarin only rooms for intermediate and advanced Mandarin speakers
- Mandarin English mixed conversation rooms for language exchange
- Chinese text and vocabulary reading practice
- Zoom session will be set up to allow participants to move between rooms and take part in different conversations
- 30-40 minutes per session.
12:00 PM - End. Anyone who wants to chat in English can stay on for another half an hour.
Topic:
Milestones in our lives
人生里程碑
Inspired by "我们的婚礼是两个人走路去法院登记了一下，就算大功告成" - para. 1 - reading text
Please note that topics are icebreaker suggestions, you can talk about anything you like in the breakout rooms, just try to do it in Mandarin.
Reading Room
The Three Body Problem - Ch. 13 - Red Coast III
by Liu Cixin
三体 - 13 - 红岸之三（节录）
作者：刘慈欣
Reading text
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
044-A|Red Coast III - reading page with pinyin (beginners)
t-044-B - the original article (advanced)
t-044-C - vocabulary with pinyin and definitions (from Google, with corrections)
t-044-D - Chinese text with pinyin and definitions (beginners)
Further Reading
The Three Body Problem on Wikipedia
三体 - 维基百科
Leaving before the end
Participants can leave any time they like. The main thing is for everyone to try and take part in the Mandarin conversation, and make an effort to express themselves and communicate with others in Mandarin.
No-shows
If you sign up for an event, please show up. If you have a schedule change and can't make it, please change your RSVP to "Not going". No-shows will be marked so that attendee lists can accurately reflect attendance.
Who should take part in this event?
- Beginners.
- Intermediate learners are also welcome.
- Advanced learners who would like to help other learners.
- Native speakers of Mandarin who would like to help.
Who should not take part in this event?
- People who just decided last week they wanted to start learning Mandarin.
- If you can't read basic Chinese characters in Pinyin, you're not a beginner. You need to spend a few months with a Mandarin teacher or a language learning App.
- Native speakers of Mandarin who only want to practice English.
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Required:
- A computer with Zoom installed and updated.
- A reliable internet connection.
- A working webcam.
- Web browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari.
- Logging in on a computer/laptop is strongly recommended
Zoom link and password:
Please do not post Zoom login information on social media or on public pages of the Meetup website.
Webcams and Zoom usage
Participants will be asked to turn on their webcams so we can interact with each other just like we're in a face to face meetup. Please make sure your webcam and microphone are working before you log on.
Before logging in, please read the following regarding the usage of Zoom and how to have a better online meetup experience.
Usage of Zoom and Tips for a better online meetup
- *** No participant has the right to restrict how and when another participant uses the chat window. The host has overall control over how the meetup is conducted.
- Zoom recording by participants is disabled and is not permitted throughout the course of the meetup session. If for some reason part of the session needs to be recorded, this will be done by the host, and participants will be given forewarning.
- Taking photos and videos of participants and posting them online without permission is not allowed.
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Banner artwork:
Boogie 不羈
Rex Phoo
- from BMCL photo album2 attendees
Past events
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