About us
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 in which you are recognizable as yourself. This helps people recognize each other at meetups. This is required for all new members joining after May 2022. For all members of the group, please do not use AI generated photos and photos of other people. 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.
March 2026 Reading Text
Stories of the Sahara - Ch. 16 - Hitchhikers
撒哈拉的故事 - 16 - 搭车客（节录）
作者：三毛
The Three Body Problem - Ch. 17 - Three Body: Newton, Von Neumann, the First Emperor, and Tri-Solar Syzygy
三体 - 17 - 三体、牛顿、冯·诺依曼、秦始皇、三日连珠（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.
March 2026 Topics
Mar 4 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
你有什么特别的才能？你最欣赏的才能是什么？
What special talents do you have? What talent do you admire most?
(suggested by Angela)
Mar 4 - Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
Memorable hospital visits
难忘的去医院的经历
(suggested by Annie)
Mar 7 - Online Mandarin Learners Practice - Saturday Morning
你有什么特别的才能？你最欣赏的才能是什么？
What special talents do you have? What talent do you admire most?
(suggested by Angela)
Mar 8 - Mandarin & English Conversation - Prudential Center
Attendees are free to suggest topics
Mar 11 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
你们日常会不会想自我提升还是会顺其自然？
Do you generally think about self-improvement or just let things take their natural course?
(suggested by Blanche)
Mar 11 - Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
最喜欢的电影
Our favorite movie(s)
(suggested by Edwin)
Mar 18 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
引诱
Temptation(s)
e.g. chocolate - 巧克力
(suggested by Jan)
Mar 18 - Online Language Learning through Song Sharing
Songs about being a certain age.
有关具体年龄的歌曲
(from Audrey)
Mar 21 - Online Mandarin Learners Practice - Saturday Morning
不爱汽车爱什么？
If you don't love cars, what do you love?
(suggested by Angela)
Mar 21 - Saturday Afternoon in-person at the Prudential Center
Favorite Places in Boston
在波士顿最喜欢的地方
(suggested by Grace)
Mar 25 - All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
TBD
Mar 25 - Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
The strangest names (English/Chinese) of celebrities/singers/bands
名人/歌手/乐队最奇怪的名字（英文/中文）
(suggested by Sumit)
e.g. 霉霉 - Taylor Swift, 瘪瘪 - Lady Gaga, 局长 - Beyonce
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.
Icebreaker topics
It's always difficult to start a conversation with a stranger, even more so in a foreign language. Here are a few topics we've recently used in our various online conversation events. This page is configured for easy viewing on a smartphone. Many thanks to Ashley for suggesting this.
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
- April 30th, 2025
- May 21st, 2025
- July 2nd, 2025
- July 30th, 2025
- August 20th, 2025
- September 24th, 2025
- October 29th, 2025
- November 26th, 2025
- December 17th, 2025
- January 21st, 2026
- February 18th, 2026
- March 18th, 2016
- 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, Ashley... 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
Saturday Afternoon in-person at the Prudential Center
A few of us will be getting together for a hangout at the Prudential Center, with the goal of practicing and improving our Mandarin in an informal group setting. We're offering this on a Saturday as a trial to give people a bit more schedule flexibility.
Feel free to join in and leave when you need, there is no requirement to stay the whole time. We'll meet in the spot we've met in before, past the Shake Shack and the US post office, along the south garden windows.
We are happy to welcome all learners, from those who are just starting to people who have been speaking for a decade or more and just want to keep their skills up or mentor other learners.
When:
Start time: 2:00 PM EDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)
End time: 3:30 PM EDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)
Location:
Tables opposite the USPS Post Office, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199.
If using a the Prudential center map, this area is more easily identifiable as the tables by the windows overlooking the western side of the South Garden.
If you prefer lat/long: 42.346495889825995, -71.08260311010177
Optional Starter Topic:
Favorite Places in Boston
在波士顿最喜欢的地方
Languages:
English, Mandarin, Cantonese* (this host does not speak Cantonese, but we sometimes have a few Cantonese speakers come)
Our table will be marked with a 大的毛绒牛油果 (a large stuffed avocado). His name is Bernie and he would love to meet you!
----
Banner graphic and other images courtesy of the Prudential Center, Google Maps and Grace
Upcoming events
7
Online Mandarin Learners Practice - Saturday Morning
·OnlineOnlineTopic:
不爱汽车爱什么？
If you don't love cars, what do you love?----
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: 17
Start time: 11:00 AM Eastern Time - (Saturday, March 21st, 2026 - 3PM London time) - 3 PM London UK time
- (will revert to 10 AM EDT after time change in UK on last Sunday of March)
Zoom meeting room will open at 10:50 AM Eastern Time
RSVPs close at 10:00 AM Eastern Time11:00 AM - Introductions in Mandarin and English, Housekeeping announcements
11:30 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.
1:00 PM - End. Anyone who wants to chat in English can stay on for another half an hour.
Topic:
不爱汽车爱什么？
If you don't love cars, what do you love?Para. 10 - "我一心一意地爱着这个新来的“沙漠之舟”。"
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:
Stories of the Sahara - Ch. 16 - Hitchhikers
by Sanmao
撒哈拉的故事 - 16 - 搭车客（节录）
作者：三毛Reading text
Chinese text with pinyin and selected vocabulary and explanations provided in Google Sheets. Best viewed on Chrome or Firefox browsers.
034-A|Hitchhikers - reading page with pinyin (beginners)
t-034-B - the original article (advanced)
t-034-C - vocabulary with pinyin and definitions (from Google, with corrections)
t-034-D - Chinese text with pinyin and definitions (beginners)Further Reading
三毛 - 维基百科
撒哈拉的故事 - 百度百科
Sanmao - Wikipedia
Stories of the Sahara - Wikipedia
Sahara Stories
"Stories of the Sahara" by SanmaoLeaving 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.
----
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.
----
Banner artwork:
Boogie 不羈
Rex Phoo
- from BMCL photo album6 attendeesSaturday Afternoon in-person at the Prudential Center
Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St, Boston, MA, USA few of us will be getting together for a hangout at the Prudential Center, with the goal of practicing and improving our Mandarin in an informal group setting. We're offering this on a Saturday as a trial to give people a bit more schedule flexibility.
Feel free to join in and leave when you need, there is no requirement to stay the whole time. We'll meet in the spot we've met in before, past the Shake Shack and the US post office, along the south garden windows.
We are happy to welcome all learners, from those who are just starting to people who have been speaking for a decade or more and just want to keep their skills up or mentor other learners.
When:
Start time: 2:00 PM EDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)
End time: 3:30 PM EDT (Saturday, March 21, 2026)Location:
Tables opposite the USPS Post Office, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02199.
If using a the Prudential center map, this area is more easily identifiable as the tables by the windows overlooking the western side of the South Garden.
If you prefer lat/long: 42.346495889825995, -71.08260311010177Optional Starter Topic:
Favorite Places in Boston
在波士顿最喜欢的地方Languages:
English, Mandarin, Cantonese* (this host does not speak Cantonese, but we sometimes have a few Cantonese speakers come)Our table will be marked with a 大的毛绒牛油果 (a large stuffed avocado). His name is Bernie and he would love to meet you!
----
Banner graphic and other images courtesy of the Prudential Center, Google Maps and Grace
5 attendees
All Mandarin Online Conversation Meetup - Advanced Learners
·OnlineOnline一日之计在于晨，今个早上我们一起参加伦敦中文学士聚会的高阶中文网上聚会。请注意，这是国际聚会，Zoom 链接跟周三晚上聚会的不一样。
----
各位高阶的中文学习者，在这个网上聚会里，让我们挑战自己，只用中文（普通话）来交流。大家不要说英语！遇到难题可以在聊天窗里用英语做笔记，我们一起去探究中文该如何说。大家互相帮忙，一起学习。
若人数太少，很难进行交流。如聚会前一天参加人数仍不足四人（主持人以外），此聚会将可能延后一周在同一时间段举行。届时将通过 Meetup 通讯公告参加者。
上次聚会参加者总数：3
建议话题：
如果你有机会穿越到另一个时代，你会选哪一个？
If you had the chance to travel to another era, which one would you choose?自选话题
时事新闻 娱乐八卦 体育运动 音乐艺术
生活旅游 政治宗教 吃喝玩乐 烹饪家政
科技科学 诗词文学 历史哲学 地理文明聚会时间
二零二六年三月二十五日，美东时间周三早上八点开始（伦敦时间周三中午十二点 - 美国在本月第二个星期天开始实施夏令时间）
美东时间周三早上六点终止报名聚会方式
人多分组，人少不分。一边谈话，一边研讨。只说中文，不说外语。遇到疑难，互相帮助。话题
能说流利的中文，当能天南地北，风花雪月，无需事先准备，随便点个话题，即可举一反三，出口成章。大家即兴想说什么就说什么，话到穷时可以聊最近忙些什么。注："风花雪月" 原指旧时诗文里经常描写的自然景物。（见百度百科解释）
提前下线
参加者什么时候都可以下线，聚会期间请尽量说中文，积极参与交流。缺席
报了名参加聚会的会员请尽量出席。如若不能，请把 RSVP 改为 "Not going"，或通过 Meetup 通讯告知主持人，或在本页留言。缺席（no-show）是对自己不尊重，也对聚会不尊重，为认真求学者所不取。摄像头
参加者需要打开摄像头，让大家可以看见对方，如同面对面的聚会，这样有利于交流。谁该参加这个聚会？
非中文母语的高阶中文学习者。请打开我们最近的阅读文章档案，若可以不看拼音而能够轻易朗读出其中文字，加上能与别人用纯中文交谈，不用加插外语，阁下便是高阶学习者。欢迎来参加聚会。
阅读文章：霉霉的纽约大学毕业演讲已经能说流利中文，为何还要参加聚会？
登高博见，见贤思齐。熟能生巧，业精于勤。（荀子，论语，韩愈）
只要求学心诚，天地虽大，却到处都是同道和朋友。中文母语的会员可否参加？
中文母语的朋友最好参加美东时间周三晚上的聚会，这个活动就留给非中文母语的朋友自己奋斗吧。Zoom 的使用守则
- 请注意，聚会中任何参加者不得干预其他参加者如何使用 Zoom 的聊天窗。若有特殊事情发生，主持人会处理。
- Zoom 的录像功能将全程关闭，若出现特殊情况需要录像，将由主持人进行，并会预先通知参加者。
- 参加者不得在未经其他参加者同意的情况下拍照、录像，并上载到网上。
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页顶横幅:
二十个推荐
伦敦中文学士会员敏华上载 - 二零一四年二月二十三日
阅读活动：伦敦中文学士组照片库1 attendee
Online Mandarin English Conversation Practice
·OnlineOnlineThis week's topic:
The strangest names (English/Chinese) of celebrities/singers/bands
名人/歌手/乐队最奇怪的名字（英文/中文）
e.g. 霉霉 - Taylor Swift, 瘪瘪 - Lady Gaga, 局长 - Beyonce----
Members of the Boston Mandarin Chinese Language Meetup Group, let's get together online for an evening 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. To see how this happens in practice, please have a look at the Event Notes page.
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。
Attendance at previous Wednesday Evening Online conversation event: TBA
Start time: 7:00 PM Eastern Time (Wednesday, March 25th, 2025)
Zoom meeting room will open at 6:50 PM.
RSVPs close at 6:00 PM7:00 PM - Introductions in Mandarin and English, Housekeeping announcements
7:15 PM - Topic of the day in breakout rooms- This week's topic:
The strangest names (English/Chinese) of celebrities/singers/bands
名人/歌手/乐队最奇怪的名字（英文/中文）
e.g. 霉霉 - Taylor Swift, 瘪瘪 - Lady Gaga, 局长 - Beyonce - 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.
9:00 PM - End. Anyone who wants to chat in English can stay on for another half an hour.
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.
----
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 photo:
4th Mondays @ 6:30p: Mandarin Meetup- chat & then dinner - Hosted By Chih-wei - Monday, September 22, 2014
- from BMCL photo album2 attendees- This week's topic:
Past events
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