<![CDATA[Comments on: Chinese names, Avatar and Meet-ups]]> featured discussion for everyone to check out. One of the teammates also makes a surprise appearance to discuss some changes we've made on the website this week... Can you guess who it will be?]]> 2010-01-30 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: piyan]]>

it would be cool if you guys make the Avatar lesson an Advanced or Upper Intermediate rather than Media because Media lessons don't seem to have alll the sections that the other lessons have ( vocabulary, dialogue), so they are less usefull

]]>

it would be cool if you guys make the Avatar lesson an Advanced or Upper Intermediate rather than Media because Media lessons don't seem to have alll the sections that the other lessons have ( vocabulary, dialogue), so they are less usefull

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> This is just my take, but probably an elementary or intermediate lesson on Avatar would have the most accessibility to the most people.

]]> This is just my take, but probably an elementary or intermediate lesson on Avatar would have the most accessibility to the most people.

]]> <![CDATA[By: piyan]]> yeah, any level would be better than Media. Intermediate would be probably be ideal

]]> yeah, any level would be better than Media. Intermediate would be probably be ideal

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Cool,Avatar.Just the other day doodlemonster was suggesting this would be a good idea,so she must have esp.I agree Media will be less accessible,but I suppose on the other hand it will have some pretty specific vocab and it will allow them to really do the topic justice.It's definitely way above my head but if there's one thing I do this week it will be to reach up and give that lesson a really good crack.It's nice to have these motivators sometimes to really stretch ourselves.I hope to see if I can transcribe some of it and see if anyone else will throw their hat in the ring to help.I wouldn't even mind trying the whole lesson except that it would take me way too long on my own.Anyhow,can't wait to have a listen and see what's feasible.Jiayou CPod and thankyou. :)

]]> Cool,Avatar.Just the other day doodlemonster was suggesting this would be a good idea,so she must have esp.I agree Media will be less accessible,but I suppose on the other hand it will have some pretty specific vocab and it will allow them to really do the topic justice.It's definitely way above my head but if there's one thing I do this week it will be to reach up and give that lesson a really good crack.It's nice to have these motivators sometimes to really stretch ourselves.I hope to see if I can transcribe some of it and see if anyone else will throw their hat in the ring to help.I wouldn't even mind trying the whole lesson except that it would take me way too long on my own.Anyhow,can't wait to have a listen and see what's feasible.Jiayou CPod and thankyou. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> Baba I would be happy to chip in, only I'm working on a transcript of the Obama Visits China lesson now myself (also I haven't seen Avatar). Hope others join you; should be fun. If you can produce a transcript it would help make the Media lesson a bit more accessible for more people who may really have wanted a lesson on the topic. 加油啊！

]]> Baba I would be happy to chip in, only I'm working on a transcript of the Obama Visits China lesson now myself (also I haven't seen Avatar). Hope others join you; should be fun. If you can produce a transcript it would help make the Media lesson a bit more accessible for more people who may really have wanted a lesson on the topic. 加油啊！

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> If cpod is going to do an Avatar lesson, wouldn't it be helpful to just bring back Movie Madness, and have it center on topical films like Avatar, Transformers, Up, and so on?

]]> If cpod is going to do an Avatar lesson, wouldn't it be helpful to just bring back Movie Madness, and have it center on topical films like Avatar, Transformers, Up, and so on?

]]> <![CDATA[By: vonb]]> Is anyone else having problems with the new fonts?  I get some really strange characters in the popup translations, like question marks inside of a box, instead of what is supposed to appear. 

Is it just me?

By the way, the larger text for the exercises:  awesome!!

]]> Is anyone else having problems with the new fonts?  I get some really strange characters in the popup translations, like question marks inside of a box, instead of what is supposed to appear. 

Is it just me?

By the way, the larger text for the exercises:  awesome!!

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> pretzell,

I would absolutely love to see a return of Movie Madness.I don't think there was as much Chinese language learning in it is there is an any lesson from Intermediate and above [and thus the planned lesson I think will be very different from what it would be if it was done as a Movie Madness episode] but I loved the format which was a lot of fun and added variety to the channels.I particularly liked the way they took part of a scene and had it in Chinese and you had to guess which movie and they even made a little competition out of it.Unfortunately that Channel was finished before I ever got to participate in that fun comp aspect.But there must have been heaps of new material come out since the channel finished so may well be time to bring it back for another season at least.Here's hoping. :)

]]> pretzell,

I would absolutely love to see a return of Movie Madness.I don't think there was as much Chinese language learning in it is there is an any lesson from Intermediate and above [and thus the planned lesson I think will be very different from what it would be if it was done as a Movie Madness episode] but I loved the format which was a lot of fun and added variety to the channels.I particularly liked the way they took part of a scene and had it in Chinese and you had to guess which movie and they even made a little competition out of it.Unfortunately that Channel was finished before I ever got to participate in that fun comp aspect.But there must have been heaps of new material come out since the channel finished so may well be time to bring it back for another season at least.Here's hoping. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> nothing says that cpod couldn't have both an intermediate lesson on Avatar, as well as a media lesson on Avatar. But I suppose in practice, that would mean that other lesson topics would be pushed further down the queue for that particular level.

]]> nothing says that cpod couldn't have both an intermediate lesson on Avatar, as well as a media lesson on Avatar. But I suppose in practice, that would mean that other lesson topics would be pushed further down the queue for that particular level.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Sure,I'd be very happy with that though I don't think it's overly likely that it'll happen anytime soon.I'm just very happy we're getting an Avatar lesson regardless of level...Ellie to Media is fine with me [even though Intermediate to UI would personally suit me best].

]]> Sure,I'd be very happy with that though I don't think it's overly likely that it'll happen anytime soon.I'm just very happy we're getting an Avatar lesson regardless of level...Ellie to Media is fine with me [even though Intermediate to UI would personally suit me best].

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> yeah, call it Cinema Corner or something, and revising the format so that we can have a pdf of cpod actors talking about key scenes in the movie that they though worked for them, or didn't work for them. Like Siskel and Ebert in Chinese or something, but only talking about 1 scene. Maybe about the entire movie, but I don't know how Cpod would have a critic lesson reduced to be simple enough to be at the intermediate level.

]]> yeah, call it Cinema Corner or something, and revising the format so that we can have a pdf of cpod actors talking about key scenes in the movie that they though worked for them, or didn't work for them. Like Siskel and Ebert in Chinese or something, but only talking about 1 scene. Maybe about the entire movie, but I don't know how Cpod would have a critic lesson reduced to be simple enough to be at the intermediate level.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Thanks zhen and I know you would if you could though of course there is never any obligation for you to do so.It was a general suggestion open to anyone.I'm not even sure I'll do any of it myself until I have a listen myself and see how I go finding time to do some of it.But it is my intention at least to listen and to then see what I can manage. :)

]]> Thanks zhen and I know you would if you could though of course there is never any obligation for you to do so.It was a general suggestion open to anyone.I'm not even sure I'll do any of it myself until I have a listen myself and see how I go finding time to do some of it.But it is my intention at least to listen and to then see what I can manage. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> ... there is never any obligation for you to do so. It was a general suggestion open to anyone.
yeah I know Baba; didn't mean to be pushy here
（＾ｖ＾）

]]> ... there is never any obligation for you to do so. It was a general suggestion open to anyone.
yeah I know Baba; didn't mean to be pushy here
（＾ｖ＾）

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> not pushy at all.You're always so helpful and supportive and it is very much appreciated.I think I came across wrong above but hopefully you know where I'm coming from.Cheers :)

]]> not pushy at all.You're always so helpful and supportive and it is very much appreciated.I think I came across wrong above but hopefully you know where I'm coming from.Cheers :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> So I guess "flakey" is American? Jenny how much of your English is American?

John and everyone at CPod working on improving the site, thank you.
I think we currently have a bug in the "in reply to" link within the threaded comments. The comment the link is supposed to take us to doesn't appear, just a big blank space, and the original comment above that.

]]> So I guess "flakey" is American? Jenny how much of your English is American?

John and everyone at CPod working on improving the site, thank you.
I think we currently have a bug in the "in reply to" link within the threaded comments. The comment the link is supposed to take us to doesn't appear, just a big blank space, and the original comment above that.

]]> <![CDATA[By: doodlemonster]]> Eeeeeeek! We're getting an Avatar lesson! XD But like bababardwan, I'm slightly disappointed that it's going to be a Media lesson :( An Elementary lesson would be perfect for me but an intermediate I could perhaps just follow with the transcript but I think making it a Media lesson would perhaps rule out most of the 'listening audience' as the majority of listeners are probably Intermediate/Upper Intermediate. Just a suggestion.

]]> Eeeeeeek! We're getting an Avatar lesson! XD But like bababardwan, I'm slightly disappointed that it's going to be a Media lesson :( An Elementary lesson would be perfect for me but an intermediate I could perhaps just follow with the transcript but I think making it a Media lesson would perhaps rule out most of the 'listening audience' as the majority of listeners are probably Intermediate/Upper Intermediate. Just a suggestion.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> hehe,doodlemonster,is "Eeeeeeek!" a positive sound? The second exclamation mark and the But..disappointed bit make it sound like you meant that in an excited positive way.I tend to associate that sound more with a girl spying a cockroach or something,hehe. Anyway,I completely understand your disappointment re Media level,though I wouldn't say I was personally disappointed..on the contrary I'm happy regardless of level even though it's above me too.I don't think you need be shy about coming on to the boards of a Media lesson and ask any questions you want there.I'm sure there can still be plenty of vocab that could be picked out for you.Though not as good or clear as CPod did you know you can also hear how words sound in online dictionaries such as mdbg? Why don't you just think of a list of Avatar related vocab you'd like to hear and lets see if we can either glean them from the lesson [and if possible even put them into the sentences used in the lesson] or look up any that don't turn up in the lesson.I reckon you might be surprised at what you can get out of it.It's not necessary to follow everything to still get something worthwhile out of it.Cheers :)

]]> hehe,doodlemonster,is "Eeeeeeek!" a positive sound? The second exclamation mark and the But..disappointed bit make it sound like you meant that in an excited positive way.I tend to associate that sound more with a girl spying a cockroach or something,hehe. Anyway,I completely understand your disappointment re Media level,though I wouldn't say I was personally disappointed..on the contrary I'm happy regardless of level even though it's above me too.I don't think you need be shy about coming on to the boards of a Media lesson and ask any questions you want there.I'm sure there can still be plenty of vocab that could be picked out for you.Though not as good or clear as CPod did you know you can also hear how words sound in online dictionaries such as mdbg? Why don't you just think of a list of Avatar related vocab you'd like to hear and lets see if we can either glean them from the lesson [and if possible even put them into the sentences used in the lesson] or look up any that don't turn up in the lesson.I reckon you might be surprised at what you can get out of it.It's not necessary to follow everything to still get something worthwhile out of it.Cheers :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> I think that this 'flakey' is colloquial usage - and, oh dear, I suspect that it is used differently in different forms of English. Maybe it is Shanghai English? :-) Thinking about it, I would associate 'flakey' with someone being crazy or eccentric rather than unreliable, but unreliable is probably okay. I would also accept that it could be a word with multiple readings. It is a word that hasn't settled yet, in a lexical sense.

]]> I think that this 'flakey' is colloquial usage - and, oh dear, I suspect that it is used differently in different forms of English. Maybe it is Shanghai English? :-) Thinking about it, I would associate 'flakey' with someone being crazy or eccentric rather than unreliable, but unreliable is probably okay. I would also accept that it could be a word with multiple readings. It is a word that hasn't settled yet, in a lexical sense.

]]> <![CDATA[By: doodlemonster]]> hehe yes, the "Eeeeeek!" was positive thing! Picture me sitting at my laptop excitedly waving my hands from side to side like when Wallace and Gromit see cheese, making excited squeals! :P hehe (I'm hoping you've seen Wallace and Gromit? If not, must be a very British thing and I've just totally confused you! :P)

Thanks for the advice ^^ That's a really good idea. If I can read a page in a book (will a dictionary close by and a few weeks to spare :P) than I'm sure I'll find a way to tackle a Media lesson ^^ I'll think of it as my challenge for the week ^^

]]> hehe yes, the "Eeeeeek!" was positive thing! Picture me sitting at my laptop excitedly waving my hands from side to side like when Wallace and Gromit see cheese, making excited squeals! :P hehe (I'm hoping you've seen Wallace and Gromit? If not, must be a very British thing and I've just totally confused you! :P)

Thanks for the advice ^^ That's a really good idea. If I can read a page in a book (will a dictionary close by and a few weeks to spare :P) than I'm sure I'll find a way to tackle a Media lesson ^^ I'll think of it as my challenge for the week ^^

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> Jiayou.That's the spirit.:) Just see what you can get out of it without feeling the need to understand it all or much at all.Be happily confused. :)

ps.lol ..excitedly waving your hands from side to side.I like your enthusiasm and it sounds just as depicted in your avatar.I am aware of Wallace and Grommit and have seen a snippet or two but that's about it.

]]> Jiayou.That's the spirit.:) Just see what you can get out of it without feeling the need to understand it all or much at all.Be happily confused. :)

ps.lol ..excitedly waving your hands from side to side.I like your enthusiasm and it sounds just as depicted in your avatar.I am aware of Wallace and Grommit and have seen a snippet or two but that's about it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: doodlemonster]]> hehe, I never noticed that, but yeah, the same excited hand waving seems to be what my avatar is doing! haha and I like the idea of being happily confused; (sounds like me on a normal day anyway :P ) as I think I spend too much time worrying about not understanding things 100%. That's probably why I haven't progressed in Chinese as fast as I would have done :( perhaps a late new-years resolution is in order? To stop being a perfectionist and to expose myself to lots of new language material! ^^

PS Glad you haven't missed out on Wallace and Grommit then! :P Also, the excitement of the lesson might have something to do with me being an Avatar fanatic! XD

]]> hehe, I never noticed that, but yeah, the same excited hand waving seems to be what my avatar is doing! haha and I like the idea of being happily confused; (sounds like me on a normal day anyway :P ) as I think I spend too much time worrying about not understanding things 100%. That's probably why I haven't progressed in Chinese as fast as I would have done :( perhaps a late new-years resolution is in order? To stop being a perfectionist and to expose myself to lots of new language material! ^^

PS Glad you haven't missed out on Wallace and Grommit then! :P Also, the excitement of the lesson might have something to do with me being an Avatar fanatic! XD

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> I see. Well, in American anyway it is just as Jenny says, and the British girls seemed to need that explained.

]]> I see. Well, in American anyway it is just as Jenny says, and the British girls seemed to need that explained.

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> The bug I mentioned seems to be fixed now.

]]> The bug I mentioned seems to be fixed now.

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> Thanks, CPOD, for the larger fonts in the exercises. although I would prefer 1.6em (16px) for the chinese characters and 1.2em for the english - I have the feeling that at these sizes, the english still looks normal and the chinese looks perfectly readable, recognizable and beautiful.

]]> Thanks, CPOD, for the larger fonts in the exercises. although I would prefer 1.6em (16px) for the chinese characters and 1.2em for the english - I have the feeling that at these sizes, the english still looks normal and the chinese looks perfectly readable, recognizable and beautiful.

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> are you using internet explorer 7? Here's a fix.

]]> are you using internet explorer 7? Here's a fix.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> The trick for an Elementary or Intermediate level Avatar lesson would be keeping the language practical and high-frequency. Every ChinesePod lesson has to meet this standard.

]]> The trick for an Elementary or Intermediate level Avatar lesson would be keeping the language practical and high-frequency. Every ChinesePod lesson has to meet this standard.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> I've noticed Jenny likes the word "flakey." I never used it much myself, growing up in the States...

]]> I've noticed Jenny likes the word "flakey." I never used it much myself, growing up in the States...

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> I can only speak for Grand Rapids, Michigan, but flaky sounds quite natural to me.

]]> I can only speak for Grand Rapids, Michigan, but flaky sounds quite natural to me.

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> I'm not sure about Scarlett, but I was just surprised that there is a lesson all about being "flakey"!

It's a useful topic, whichever word is used to describe it. Actually, I think it's quite a modern habit, to let people down last minute and be totally unreliable. Technology makes it so easy; it's become far more acceptable to be "flakey".

]]> I'm not sure about Scarlett, but I was just surprised that there is a lesson all about being "flakey"!

It's a useful topic, whichever word is used to describe it. Actually, I think it's quite a modern habit, to let people down last minute and be totally unreliable. Technology makes it so easy; it's become far more acceptable to be "flakey".

]]> <![CDATA[By: bodawei]]> So in your experience it means 'unreliable'? Does it mean anything else? Metaphorically I mean.

]]> So in your experience it means 'unreliable'? Does it mean anything else? Metaphorically I mean.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> It essentially means unreliable, but I kind of think that a flaky person is usually sincere yet just a bit, shall we say, ditsy.

]]> It essentially means unreliable, but I kind of think that a flaky person is usually sincere yet just a bit, shall we say, ditsy.

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> @Bodawei Yep. For example, if someone agrees to do something and then pulls out - especially last minute - I'd describe them as "flakey". I've never heard it used to mean eccentric...

]]> @Bodawei Yep. For example, if someone agrees to do something and then pulls out - especially last minute - I'd describe them as "flakey". I've never heard it used to mean eccentric...

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]>

I always wondered what Jenny's Chinese name was. I guess I still don't know, since I don't know the character, but since I'm passing on learning characters in this round of Chinese learning, Qi is good enough.

]]>

I always wondered what Jenny's Chinese name was. I guess I still don't know, since I don't know the character, but since I'm passing on learning characters in this round of Chinese learning, Qi is good enough.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ousijia]]> I think it's great that there is a lesson about being flakey! Lately I have come across a lot of flakey people :( People who say they'll be there or do something, but cancel literally (as Sarah says) right at the last minute...grr!

]]> I think it's great that there is a lesson about being flakey! Lately I have come across a lot of flakey people :( People who say they'll be there or do something, but cancel literally (as Sarah says) right at the last minute...grr!

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiaophil]]> Stupid flakes!

]]> Stupid flakes!

]]> <![CDATA[By: kimiik]]> flaky / flakey

1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.

2. (British, informal) Working only on an intermittent basis

3. (US, informal) Unreliable; intermittent or eccentric.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flaky

]]> flaky / flakey

1. Consisting of flakes or of small, loose masses; lying, or cleaving off, in flakes or layers; flakelike.

2. (British, informal) Working only on an intermittent basis

3. (US, informal) Unreliable; intermittent or eccentric.

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/flaky

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> I've always thought the Verb. "flake off" (to beg out of some engagement at the last minute) came first, then from that, the Adj. "flakey". Anyone else have this understanding?

]]> I've always thought the Verb. "flake off" (to beg out of some engagement at the last minute) came first, then from that, the Adj. "flakey". Anyone else have this understanding?

]]> <![CDATA[By: orangina]]> I have not heard "flake off" myself. The verb is also flake. Past tense flaked. Or perhaps flake out and flaked out. Eg: "She totally flaked on me. Again." It can also be a noun: "Oh man! I am such a flake."

]]> I have not heard "flake off" myself. The verb is also flake. Past tense flaked. Or perhaps flake out and flaked out. Eg: "She totally flaked on me. Again." It can also be a noun: "Oh man! I am such a flake."

]]> <![CDATA[By: hedainian]]> I am excited to hear about future meet-ups in Shanghai!  Even though I spend all day speaking Chinese at work, it's always invigorating to be around a group of people interested in improving their Chinese!

Keep us informed with further details.

]]> I am excited to hear about future meet-ups in Shanghai!  Even though I spend all day speaking Chinese at work, it's always invigorating to be around a group of people interested in improving their Chinese!

Keep us informed with further details.

]]> <![CDATA[By: pretzellogic]]> Wow, John, that explains a lot. Does Cpod have a specific metric around how often a word/phrase/sentence is used in order for it to be considered "high frequency"?

]]> Wow, John, that explains a lot. Does Cpod have a specific metric around how often a word/phrase/sentence is used in order for it to be considered "high frequency"?

]]> <![CDATA[By: vonb]]> Thanks, Matthiask. It's IE6, though. Not a clarity problem, just the wrong characters.

]]> Thanks, Matthiask. It's IE6, though. Not a clarity problem, just the wrong characters.

]]> <![CDATA[By: zhenlijiang]]> Ah. Might be a generational thing too ...

]]> Ah. Might be a generational thing too ...

]]> <![CDATA[By: ousijia]]> Glad to hear you would be interested in joining us for our next meet up! Will certainly keep you posted! ;)

]]> Glad to hear you would be interested in joining us for our next meet up! Will certainly keep you posted! ;)

]]> <![CDATA[By: user23060]]> Could you please post the characters of John's Chinese name?

]]> Could you please post the characters of John's Chinese name?

]]> <![CDATA[By: connie]]> John's Chinese name is 潘吉Pān Jí.

]]> John's Chinese name is 潘吉Pān Jí.

]]> <![CDATA[By: ernieschatz]]> how would you pronounce the chinese name wang yu ju 王郁JU sorry about the last character, I haven't learned radical look-up in chinese just yet and I'm pretty sure this is a non-standard pronuciation, but this 'JU' is formed by the character for women (女) on the left combined with the character for mouth (口)  on the right.   

I'm mainly looking for the proper intonation.  Thanks

]]> how would you pronounce the chinese name wang yu ju 王郁JU sorry about the last character, I haven't learned radical look-up in chinese just yet and I'm pretty sure this is a non-standard pronuciation, but this 'JU' is formed by the character for women (女) on the left combined with the character for mouth (口)  on the right.   

I'm mainly looking for the proper intonation.  Thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: cinnamonfern]]> Is this the character you mean? 如 (rú)? You can look up characters by drawing them on some Chinese dictionary websites. (I also have no idea how to look up characters via their radicals...) The website I generally use is: www.nciku.com

I've noticed that for this website the result you get is dependent on stroke order, so it is good to have a general idea of how the character should be written in Chinese.

I believe that the entire name would be Wáng Yùrú (王郁如).

]]> Is this the character you mean? 如 (rú)? You can look up characters by drawing them on some Chinese dictionary websites. (I also have no idea how to look up characters via their radicals...) The website I generally use is: www.nciku.com

I've noticed that for this website the result you get is dependent on stroke order, so it is good to have a general idea of how the character should be written in Chinese.

I believe that the entire name would be Wáng Yùrú (王郁如).

]]> <![CDATA[By: light487]]> Also the Pleco dictionary, at least the one I have for iPhone, allows me to search by radical. It makes it much easier than using a hard-copy book to look up radicals.. takes a lot of the guess work out of things because it gives you a list of the radicals in a scrollable list and you can build the character step-by-step and go back if you select the wrong one etc

]]> Also the Pleco dictionary, at least the one I have for iPhone, allows me to search by radical. It makes it much easier than using a hard-copy book to look up radicals.. takes a lot of the guess work out of things because it gives you a list of the radicals in a scrollable list and you can build the character step-by-step and go back if you select the wrong one etc

]]>