How are you? Have you had a good weekend? Are you enjoying your new week?

Since I came back from Australia, 2 weeks have past. Now I have been at Chinese National Academy of Arts in Beijing for 1 week. Mainly I have done 4 kinds of things.

In my English study

-- I have signed an agreement with an English training school and I have bought a series courses online for helping me to pass the Qualified Test for Candidates Applying for a Master Degrees of Fine Arts. According to the contract, they should guarantee me to pass the English examination in May, 2015; otherwise, they would offer me the same courses free.

Anyway, I know, I myself will be the examinee. Therefore, before their course will be started formally Sept 23, 2014. I have watched 16 of the 44 videos by a professor from Beijing University already.

Quickly, I was attracted by the wonderful courses deeply, sometimes, I watched 4 videos once for more than 3 hours. The originally bored English grammar in their lessons was suddenly changed alive, helpful and interesting. Right now, I am yearning for studying it, to correct the mistakes I have made for more than 10 years, but I do not know about it until now. I do hope to improve my English not only for getting the master degree, but also for my daily work. So, now, when I write and speak in English, I am carefully to use what I have learned from the course.

-- On the same day I bought the course, I took part in an English examination by a computer system and an American expert from one of the biggest English teaching organizations in the world. The grade they gave me was Level 7 among their 12 levels.

Here are the scores their computer system gave me:
Grammar: 4
Vocabulary: 9
Pronunciation: 6
Listening: 6
Reading: 5

Here are the scores their American expert gave me:
Listening:9
Speaking: 6
Vocabulary:8

To be honest, if I did not want to take part in the National English Examination for getting the master degree of fine arts and if my schedule worked, I would certainly join them to improve my oral English.

-- Before I signed the agreement with the English School, I had done two things. One: I tested my own vocabulary via an online system, it showed my vocabulary was 8,237 and the system suggested me to work with the vocabulary level relates IELTS or TOFEL. This helped me realize my problem on my English, therefore, I decided to assign the contract with the English Training School. Two: I have taken part in a free lesson on Ozarks Culture and I have watched 6 of 210 videos about Ozarks Cultural and History directed by Dr. James Bake, a Vice President of Missouri State University. I am quite interested in it so that I am thinking maybe I should start my new book My American Stories from the culture of Ozarks?

On my painting studying

I have come back Chinese National Academy of Arts on Sept 14, 2014, to take part in the 9th (I was one of the students of 6th, 7th and 8th) Chinese Painting Creating Postgraduate Course by its Graduate School and Chinese Painting School. Originally, I wished to major in landscape. Mr. Wu Tong, the Associate Head of Teaching Department of the Graduate School and the Chinese Painting School at CNAA suggested me to continue to study Chinese Flower and Bird Painting. He belived, if I continue to work on it, my painting level will have a big breakthrough and be risen on a new step. Therefore, I should not transform my direction at this time. Anyway, if I want to learn landscape, I can attend the lessons and I can also paint it as a minor course. But, I should be major in Chinese flower and bird painting this class-year. Then, he pointed out three things that I should work on mainly in class year of 2014 (until July, 2015): to paint more pictures from the nature; to improve my lines with Chinese brushes continuously; to learn modern and contemporary masters' color usage base on learning ancient masters.

Also, he suggested me to give up getting a new certificate, but focus on getting a master degree of fine arts by taking part in the national English examination and then writing a dissertations. This way, according to the school policy, instead of paying whole of the tuition 4,000 USD for this class year, I can just pay 2,439 USD.

What he said, reminded me the direction of Dr. Liu Bo in our class in 2012: You should think of digging a Well, instead of just digging many Pits. Also made me think of a Chinese idiom: 用心良苦 yòng xíng liáng kǔ -- has given much thought to something. I did feel his advice was quite reasonable. Therefore, instead of having any hesitating, I said Yes.

Following the directions of Mr. Wu tong,I have started to work on my painting with a new attitude with researching and more thinking. Right now, at the same time I am working on traditional Chinese painting, what I am thinking is how to create 2 big size paintings that I have been thinking since last class year. :-)

On my web site

As soon as I arranged my life ok in Beijing, I called the company for about 4 hours and gave them my idea how to improve the development of the new web site. I had paid according to the agreement of us before I left for American in Sept, 2013 and I left for Beijing in March, 2014. For some reasons, it has not been on the Internet yet. Anyway, the outline of my new web site has been there now. If you are interested in my idea, if you would like to work with me together, or if you would like to give me a hand. You are welcome to connect with me.

On my project

I came back China from Australia on Sept 8, reached in Beijing Sept 14, corrected and sent the outline of my project in Chinese to some media, fund and government officers in Beijing Sept 18. I am going to do the final effort and hope to get some actual help here. If thing does not work, I will no any pity.

I know my health is poor. I am not sure how long I can keep staying in the northern city of China since I have been feeling cold in my bones since I was in Australia and often I have a cough while sore throat. Anyway, now, I have recovered the ability to walk without attached anything. I am trying to do my best to improve my health while to improve my art and English level. :-)

Now, I do want to create the two big size paintings in my mind before I leave for the USA, to have a new art exhibition in Brentwood Library in Springfield, MO, Feb, 2015, while to give some courses during the time or around of the time in at least 2 American schools according to our appointments before I left for China March, 2014.

I have not handed in my manuscript of the Volume 2 of my series: Poetry, Painting, Music: Comprehensive and Artistic Chinese yet, for I am not satisfy my paintings. Also for I have been wishing to make the record of English singing part on the land of USA, by organizing the local students to sing the Chinese poems... :-)

How about you? Do you have anything special to share?

Sincerely,


Shirley Yiping Zhang
Sept 22, 2014 (Beijing Time)