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Mark Rowswell
Mark Henry Rowswell, CM (born May 23, 1965), known by his Chinese stage name Dashan (), is a Canadian performer and television personality who gained prominence in China. He became known in the late 1980s through regular appearances on China Central Television (CCTV), particularly in the traditional comedic art form ''xiangsheng''. Although less publicly visible in Canada, he developed a significant presence in Chinese media as a non-Chinese national working in domestic programming. Since 2012, he has shifted his focus toward solo performances in live venues and has contributed to the development of the stand-up comedy scene in China. Biography Education Rowswell was born in 1965 in Ottawa, Ontario, and attended Nepean High School. He started learning Chinese in 1979 from a refugee that he worked alongside in a camera store on Bank Street. After learning a few words, Rowswell bought books and cassettes teaching the language. Rowswell enrolled at the University of Toron ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Central Mountain Range
The Central Mountain Range is the principal mountain range on the island of Taiwan. It runs from the north of the island to the south. It acts as a barrier between the east and west coasts, hindering travel. The tallest peak of the range is Xiuguluan Mountain, . Names "Central Range" or "Central Mountain Range" is a calque of the range's Chinese name, the ''Zhōngyāng Shānmài'' or ''Shānmò''. It is also sometimes simply called the Zhongyang or in English. During the Qing Dynasty, the range was known as the , from the Wade-Giles romanization of the Chinese name ''Dàshān'', meaning "Big Mountains". Geography In a broad sense, Central Mountain Range includes its conjoint ranges such as Xueshan Range and Yushan Range; thus the tallest peak of Central Mountain Range in this sense is Yushan (Jade Mountain/Mount Morrison), , and the second tallest peak is Xueshan (Snow Mountain), . Ecology The Central Range lies within the Taiwan subtropical evergreen forests ecore ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nepean High School (Ottawa)
Nepean High School (often abbreviated to NHS) is a high school in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the Westboro neighbourhood, at 574 Broadview Avenue. There were 1160 students enrolled for 2011–2012. Tracy Shapiro is the current principal replacing Alan Johnson, the principal from 2019 to 2021. The two current vice principals are Janice Isaac and Balazs Fazakas. History The school began as a continuation program at Broadview Public School. Students who wanted some years of secondary education, but were unable to travel to Ottawa Collegiate Institute could take a few courses on the top floor of Broadview. In 1919, the provincial government made school attendance mandatory until age 16, creating a rapid increase in enrollment. Carleton County thus decided to build a new high school, and Nepean High School, in Nepean Township, was founded in 1922. Nepean High School originally served a large territory west of Ottawa. In 1950, Westboro was annexed by the city of Ottawa, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese As A Foreign Language
Chinese as a foreign or second language is when non-native speakers study varieties of Chinese, Chinese varieties. The increased interest in China from those outside has led to a corresponding interest in the study of Standard Chinese (a type of Mandarin Chinese) as a foreign language, the official language of People's Republic of China, mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. However, the teaching of Chinese language, Chinese both within and outside China is not a recent phenomenon. Western world, Westerners began learning different Chinese varieties in the 16th century. Within China, Mandarin became the official language in the early 20th century. Mandarin also became the official language of Taiwan when the Kuomintang took over control from Japan after World War II. In 2010, 750,000 people (670,000 from overseas) took the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, Chinese Proficiency Test. For comparison, in 2005, 117,660 non-native speakers took the test, an increase of 26.52% from 2004. From 2000 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
English As A Second Or Foreign Language
English as a second or foreign language refers to the use of English by individuals whose native language is different, commonly among students learning to speak and write English. Variably known as English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a second language (ESL), English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), English as an additional language (EAL), or English as a new language (ENL), these terms denote the study of English in environments where it is not the dominant language. Programs such as ESL are designed as academic courses to instruct non-native speakers in English proficiency, encompassing both learning in English-speaking nations and abroad. Teaching methodologies include teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) in non-English-speaking countries, teaching English as a second language (TESL) in English-speaking nations, and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) worldwide. These terms, while distinct in scope, are often used intercha ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Confucius Institute
Confucius Institutes (CI; ) are public educational and cultural promotion programs of the state of China. The stated aim of the program is to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate cultural exchanges. The programme is funded and arranged by the (CIEF), a government-organized non-governmental organization (GONGO) under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. The Confucius Institute program was formerly under Hanban, another organization under the Ministry of Education. The Confucius Institute program began in 2004 overseen by individual universities. In 2020, the Chinese International Education Foundation was registered and granted exclusive use of Confucius Institute's trademark, and began to operate Confucius Institutes under a brand licensing model. The institutes operate in co-operation with local affiliate colleges and universities around the world, and financing is shared between Han ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
China Daily
''China Daily'' ( zh, s=中国日报, p=Zhōngguó Rìbào) is an English-language daily newspaper owned by the Central Propaganda Department of the Chinese Communist Party. Overview ''China Daily'' has the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper in China. The headquarters and principal editorial office is in the Chaoyang District of Beijing. The newspaper has branch offices in most major cities of China as well as several major foreign cities including New York City, Washington, D.C., London, and Kathmandu. ''China Daily'' also produces an insert of sponsored content called ''China Watch'' that has been distributed inside other newspapers including ''The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal'', ''The Washington Post'', and ''Le Figaro''. ''China Daily'' operates a social media brand called "Media Unlocked". Within mainland China, the newspaper targets primarily diplomats, foreign expatriates, tourists, and locals wishing to improve their English. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ma Ji
Ma Ji (; 2 August 1934 – 20 December 2006), born Ma Shuhuai (), was a Chinese xiangsheng comedian. He was one of his generation's most popular and influential xiangsheng performers and was mentor to many younger performers, including Jiang Kun, Zhao Yan, Liu Wei, Feng Gong, Xiaolin, Wang Qianxiang, Li Zengrui, Han Lancheng, Liu Xiyao, Peng Ziyi, Yin Zhuolin, Yao Xinguang, Zhao Longjun, Xing Yingying, Liu Lixin, and Hou Guannan. Biography Ma was born in Tianjin on 2 August 1934. After the Communists took over mainland China, Ma started to work in Xinhua bookstore. He joined the Central Broadcasting Recitation and Ballad Troupe as a professional xiangsheng performer in 1956. He studied under Hou Baolin and became a seventh-generation xiangsheng performer. He got his stage name Ma from the film ''Mattie the Goose-boy (1950 film)'', which is based on the poem of the same name by Mihály Fazekas. As a notable xiangsheng master and performer, Ma created his own art style and mad ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ma Dong
Ma Dong (; born December 25, 1968) is a Chinese producer, director, host, and son of ''xiangsheng'' comedian Ma Ji. Biography Born in Heilongjiang and raised in Beijing, Ma went to Australia at the age of 18 to study computer science. He worked in the IT industry and lived in Australia for eight years, during which he obtained permanent residency. In 1994, he returned to China, and in 1995, he enrolled in the Management Department of the Beijing Film Academy, earning his second degree. Ma gained recognition for hosting Hunan TV's talk show ''You Hua Hao Shuo'' (有话好说) (1999–2000), which featured China's first TV interview with gay people and was shut down for it. He then worked for China Central Television from 2001 to 2013, where he hosted programs such as ''Tiaozhan Zhuchiren'' (挑战主持人) and ''Wenhua Fangtanlu'' (文化访谈录) and directed the language programs for the 2011 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. After leaving the CCTV, Ma has gained popularity amon ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival (see also #Names, § Names), is a festival that celebrates the beginning of a New Year, new year on the traditional lunisolar calendar, lunisolar Chinese calendar. It is one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, and has been added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists#Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Humanity list by the UNESCO, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2024. Marking the end of winter and the beginning of Spring (season), spring, this festival takes place from Chinese New Year's Eve (the evening preceding the first day of the year) to the Lantern Festival, held on the 15th day of the year. The first day of the Chinese New Year falls on the new moon that appears between 21 January and 20 February. The Chinese New Year is associated with several myths and customs. The festival was traditionally a time to ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Jiang Kun (comedian)
Jiang Kun (; born October 19, 1950) is a Chinese comedian, specializing in the xiangsheng trade. A native of Beijing, he was a of another renowned comedian, Ma Ji. Jiang Kun currently acts as deputy chairman of the Association of Chinese Folk Art. Biography Jiang was born in Beijing, on 19 October 1950. His grandfather Jiang Zongli () was born in Yantai, Shandong. In order to escape famine, he came to Beijing and set up a steamed bread shop. Later he opened a restaurant called "Tong Fu Zhai" (). Jiang's father Jiang Zuyu (; 1924–1989) was a calligrapher, he studied calligraphy Calligraphy () is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instruments. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "the art of giving form to signs in an e ... under Zhang Boying () and Hua Shikui (). Jiang Kun has two uncles and one sister, Jiang Zuming (), Jiang Zuyuan () and Jiang Shuzhen (). In 1976, he wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Original Sin
Original sin () in Christian theology refers to the condition of sinfulness that all humans share, which is inherited from Adam and Eve due to the Fall of man, Fall, involving the loss of original righteousness and the distortion of the Image of God. The biblical basis for the belief is generally found in Fall of man#Genesis 3, Genesis 3 (the story of the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden), and in texts such as ("I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me") and ("Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned"). The specific doctrine of original sin was developed in the 2nd century struggle against Gnosticism by Irenaeus of Lyons, and was shaped significantly by Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD), who was the first author to use the phrase "original sin". Influenced by Augustine, the Councils of Carthage (411–418 AD) and Council of Orange ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
1989 Tiananmen Square Protests And Massacre
The Tiananmen Square protests, known within China as the June Fourth Incident, were student-led demonstrations held in Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, lasting from 15 April to 4 June 1989. After weeks of unsuccessful attempts between the demonstrators and the Chinese government to find a peaceful resolution, the Chinese government deployed troops to occupy the square on the night of 3 June in what is referred to as the Tiananmen Square massacre. The events are sometimes called the '89 Democracy Movement, the Tiananmen Square Incident, or the Tiananmen uprising. The protests were precipitated by the death of pro-reform Chinese Communist Party (CCP) general secretary Hu Yaobang in April 1989 amid the backdrop of rapid economic development and social change in post-Mao China, reflecting anxieties among the people and political elite about the country's future. The reforms of the 1980s had led to a nascent market economy that benefited some people but seriously disadv ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
