<![CDATA[Comments on: Endless Summer]]> Today Catherine, John B. and Sarah are in the studio with lots of things to discuss. First and foremost, a preview of this week's lessons. Next up, a few questions for you, our users. After that an overview of our exciting Endless Summer Promotion, and finally some news regarding our iPhone and Android app's.

In regards to our upcoming Study Tips show, we would love to know (1) what things you struggle with when studying Chinese, (2) what features and or tools on the website you feel you could benefit from learning more about and (3) if you aren't new to Chinese or CPod, what tips would you offer regarding either of the two questions mentioned above? Email us at support@chinesepod.com or leave us a comment below. Thanks!

]]> 2010-08-07 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: chanelle77]]> 1 HSK prep

2 HSK prep material

3 Continue with the positive changes that seemed to be going on :-) (this is a compliment)

Sarah, I did the same thing with my card in Nanjing and the 交通银行 (where I forgot my card because I was checking the money for fakes, but that is a different story) was very helpful. The whole thing to retrieve my card was not as complicated as I thought! In case you left it at the same bank as I did you have to go to 珍江路 1 号 :-). This might be a nice topic for a lesson? 

]]> 1 HSK prep

2 HSK prep material

3 Continue with the positive changes that seemed to be going on :-) (this is a compliment)

Sarah, I did the same thing with my card in Nanjing and the 交通银行 (where I forgot my card because I was checking the money for fakes, but that is a different story) was very helpful. The whole thing to retrieve my card was not as complicated as I thought! In case you left it at the same bank as I did you have to go to 珍江路 1 号 :-). This might be a nice topic for a lesson? 

]]> <![CDATA[By: conetolor]]> Is there no Executive discount for the Endless Summer promotion?

]]> Is there no Executive discount for the Endless Summer promotion?

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> the atm lesson should be particularly useful...especially learning the relevant characters,and any tips that may come in the discussion.

]]> the atm lesson should be particularly useful...especially learning the relevant characters,and any tips that may come in the discussion.

]]> <![CDATA[By: eupnea63355]]> I also emailed this suggestion as per your request in this N&F: Please provide a one-click way to download the individual mp3 files for the Dialogue, Vocab, and Expansion sections. It looks like there is not going to be a version of WLCP to use with CPod so at least this provision would save a lot of time and trouble.

]]> I also emailed this suggestion as per your request in this N&F: Please provide a one-click way to download the individual mp3 files for the Dialogue, Vocab, and Expansion sections. It looks like there is not going to be a version of WLCP to use with CPod so at least this provision would save a lot of time and trouble.

]]> <![CDATA[By: matthiask]]> *cough* android app 2.0.1 still does not work it should *cough*

]]> *cough* android app 2.0.1 still does not work it should *cough*

]]> <![CDATA[By: barto]]> HSK material!

]]> HSK material!

]]> <![CDATA[By: walidshaari]]> I second the HSK, we need an HSK section with exercise and how to prepare for the different levels.

Second i would like to have all of the expansion statements as well as the new words in the audio review. to hear more Chinese than English while reviewing.

discount on teacher related packages ;-)

]]> I second the HSK, we need an HSK section with exercise and how to prepare for the different levels.

Second i would like to have all of the expansion statements as well as the new words in the audio review. to hear more Chinese than English while reviewing.

discount on teacher related packages ;-)

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> I'd really like to see study tips on how to cross the gap from elementary to intermediate, intermediate to upper-intermediate etc. That's been the hardest part of using the site for me - the list of "easier" intermediates that ZLJ posted really helped, but any more tips would be much appreciated.

]]> I'd really like to see study tips on how to cross the gap from elementary to intermediate, intermediate to upper-intermediate etc. That's been the hardest part of using the site for me - the list of "easier" intermediates that ZLJ posted really helped, but any more tips would be much appreciated.

]]> <![CDATA[By: abelle]]> Hello, where can I find this list of "easier" intermediates? I am still at the elem level, but want to load up my MP3 player with intermediate dialogues which I can listen to while I go on vacation for the next two weeks. I have to travel light so I'm only bringing one small book and a notebook to practice writing characters. But I figure if I can listen as much as possible to CPod dialogues, I can still keep on learning. Thanks.

]]> Hello, where can I find this list of "easier" intermediates? I am still at the elem level, but want to load up my MP3 player with intermediate dialogues which I can listen to while I go on vacation for the next two weeks. I have to travel light so I'm only bringing one small book and a notebook to practice writing characters. But I figure if I can listen as much as possible to CPod dialogues, I can still keep on learning. Thanks.

]]> <![CDATA[By: barto]]> Here's a study tip: just man up and do the harder lessons. You got the vocab and text all written out for you and spoke in unnaturally slow Mandarin? Check. Got an exhaustive explanation of any hard stuff? Check. Missing? Action.

When I started out 4-5 years ago, I used Chinesepod that way. You just have to put yourself out there and not "look for the right level oh god this is so hard :(" I went from nada to about graduate from a Taiwanese university/writing my master's thesis in Chinese in 5 years. But I was fairly fluent after 1-2 years-mostly because whenever someone told me "oh that's above your level" I quite intentionally went and challenged that supposedly "harder" level. So that's MY study advice to you (and everyone). There isn't any dialogue on Chinesepod that is truly beyond you or that is truly too difficult for you to get any use out of. Do or do not amigo.

]]> Here's a study tip: just man up and do the harder lessons. You got the vocab and text all written out for you and spoke in unnaturally slow Mandarin? Check. Got an exhaustive explanation of any hard stuff? Check. Missing? Action.

When I started out 4-5 years ago, I used Chinesepod that way. You just have to put yourself out there and not "look for the right level oh god this is so hard :(" I went from nada to about graduate from a Taiwanese university/writing my master's thesis in Chinese in 5 years. But I was fairly fluent after 1-2 years-mostly because whenever someone told me "oh that's above your level" I quite intentionally went and challenged that supposedly "harder" level. So that's MY study advice to you (and everyone). There isn't any dialogue on Chinesepod that is truly beyond you or that is truly too difficult for you to get any use out of. Do or do not amigo.

]]> <![CDATA[By: barto]]> 要像曹劌論戰──　一鼓作氣

]]> 要像曹劌論戰──　一鼓作氣

]]> <![CDATA[By: suxiaoya]]> Hi conetolor, the promotion covers both Basic and Premium subscriptions, but not Teacher Services (Executive and Guided etc.).

]]> Hi conetolor, the promotion covers both Basic and Premium subscriptions, but not Teacher Services (Executive and Guided etc.).

]]> <![CDATA[By: johnb]]> +1 Barto. At some point, the only thing you can do is get a good running start and ram that wall as hard as you can, over and over again, until it comes down.

]]> +1 Barto. At some point, the only thing you can do is get a good running start and ram that wall as hard as you can, over and over again, until it comes down.

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

Mandarin Study Tips

(1) Language Exchange

* Italki -www.italki.com

* Livemocha- www.livemocha.com

* QQ (English version website)-http://www.imqq.com/

(2) Free Resources

* Confucius Institute Online -http://www.chinese.cn/

(3) Movies and MP3s

*Baidu Movies -http://video.baidu.com/

*Baidu MP3-http://mp3.baidu.com/

*Baidu News-http://news.baidu.com/

]]>

Mandarin Study Tips

(1) Language Exchange

* Italki -www.italki.com

* Livemocha- www.livemocha.com

* QQ (English version website)-http://www.imqq.com/

(2) Free Resources

* Confucius Institute Online -http://www.chinese.cn/

(3) Movies and MP3s

*Baidu Movies -http://video.baidu.com/

*Baidu MP3-http://mp3.baidu.com/

*Baidu News-http://news.baidu.com/

]]> <![CDATA[By: bababardwan]]> 意思是： must debate like Cao [ I take it this is the famous Cao Cao from Chi bi ] ...1 beat of the drum makes him enraged

..对吧？

...I guess this follows on from a recent discussion where Simon et al were discussing the benefits of drinking and arguing to improving your Chinese.

Is this also a famous saying?

]]> 意思是： must debate like Cao [ I take it this is the famous Cao Cao from Chi bi ] ...1 beat of the drum makes him enraged

..对吧？

...I guess this follows on from a recent discussion where Simon et al were discussing the benefits of drinking and arguing to improving your Chinese.

Is this also a famous saying?

]]> <![CDATA[By: barto]]> http://zh.wikisource.org/zh/%E6%9B%B9%E5%8A%8C%E8%AB%96%E6%88%B0

No, it's someone from much earlier. It means "Cao Gui theorizes war, to take it in a drumbeat," which just means buckle down and do it ASAP. A good policy in any situation. The above link is the story from which this comes. Almost all Taiwanese students will have read it, (But their education system is much better than China, so no bets about Chinese people knowing this story).

]]> http://zh.wikisource.org/zh/%E6%9B%B9%E5%8A%8C%E8%AB%96%E6%88%B0

No, it's someone from much earlier. It means "Cao Gui theorizes war, to take it in a drumbeat," which just means buckle down and do it ASAP. A good policy in any situation. The above link is the story from which this comes. Almost all Taiwanese students will have read it, (But their education system is much better than China, so no bets about Chinese people knowing this story).

]]> <![CDATA[By: barto]]> 「夫戰，勇氣也。一鼓作氣，再而衰，三而竭。彼竭我盈，故克之。夫大國，難測也。懼有伏焉。吾視其轍亂，望其旗靡，故逐之。」

]]> 「夫戰，勇氣也。一鼓作氣，再而衰，三而竭。彼竭我盈，故克之。夫大國，難測也。懼有伏焉。吾視其轍亂，望其旗靡，故逐之。」

]]> <![CDATA[By: josankapo]]> Last week someone mentioned writing practice sheets. Here is a site that will generate them with your vocabulary: http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/chinese-grid/

]]> Last week someone mentioned writing practice sheets. Here is a site that will generate them with your vocabulary: http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/chinese-grid/

]]> <![CDATA[By: chris3]]> yeah totaly, a HSK section would be great. I have been learning chinese for a hoby for two years now, i would realy like a goal to work to.

]]> yeah totaly, a HSK section would be great. I have been learning chinese for a hoby for two years now, i would realy like a goal to work to.

]]> <![CDATA[By: chris3]]> thanks

]]> thanks

]]> <![CDATA[By: melbourne]]> i think that this could be a useful series, though i am glad to hear that it is not going to (partially) replace QW.  things that would be really useful:

1 i use Cpod on my computer, with a complex system of revision and repeating things that are forgotten.  so i need an easily obtainable editable version of the transcripts.  i can get the pdf off the site with a bit of complication (going through the html version), but this does not include the expansion exercises.  so please:

(i) make it easier to download the text versions of these and

(ii) publish information about how to do it, so everyone else can know how to do it.

2 more material that explains how and why similar characters differ.  QW spends a lot of time doing this for words - what is the difference between all the words that in english mean 'some', to quote a recent example.  but writing (and therefore reading) is also important, and i found it hard to remember how to distinguish 像 and 象; or 义，议，忆。 tips about putting radicals together for differences of meaning; silly symbolisms; and ll those tricks that aid memory and reduce the rote part of learnign chinese.

things i don;t worry about so much: HSK, mobile

]]> i think that this could be a useful series, though i am glad to hear that it is not going to (partially) replace QW.  things that would be really useful:

1 i use Cpod on my computer, with a complex system of revision and repeating things that are forgotten.  so i need an easily obtainable editable version of the transcripts.  i can get the pdf off the site with a bit of complication (going through the html version), but this does not include the expansion exercises.  so please:

(i) make it easier to download the text versions of these and

(ii) publish information about how to do it, so everyone else can know how to do it.

2 more material that explains how and why similar characters differ.  QW spends a lot of time doing this for words - what is the difference between all the words that in english mean 'some', to quote a recent example.  but writing (and therefore reading) is also important, and i found it hard to remember how to distinguish 像 and 象; or 义，议，忆。 tips about putting radicals together for differences of meaning; silly symbolisms; and ll those tricks that aid memory and reduce the rote part of learnign chinese.

things i don;t worry about so much: HSK, mobile

]]> <![CDATA[By: lamps5jam3]]> How to learn/memorize vocabulary!  It's hard to commit vocabulary to long-term memory, especially when you're not immersed in the language.

]]> How to learn/memorize vocabulary!  It's hard to commit vocabulary to long-term memory, especially when you're not immersed in the language.

]]> <![CDATA[By: hpp23]]> More focus (vocab, tests, ...) on the new HSK!

]]> More focus (vocab, tests, ...) on the new HSK!

]]> <![CDATA[By: hpp23]]> Use Anki: http://ichi2.net/anki/

]]> Use Anki: http://ichi2.net/anki/

]]> <![CDATA[By: jianwang]]> we speak simple chinese.

]]> we speak simple chinese.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Yea. No.

I do understand where you're coming from. But you have to appreciate that not everyone is you. Sometimes, bashing your head against a brick wall ends up with smushed brains, not knocking down the wall.

]]> Yea. No.

I do understand where you're coming from. But you have to appreciate that not everyone is you. Sometimes, bashing your head against a brick wall ends up with smushed brains, not knocking down the wall.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Hi abelle, sorry for taking so long to reply. I've been away from computers for a couple of weeks.

Here is the lesson list that zhenlijiang created:

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/sets/view?id=121413

I hope it is useful.

]]> Hi abelle, sorry for taking so long to reply. I've been away from computers for a couple of weeks.

Here is the lesson list that zhenlijiang created:

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/sets/view?id=121413

I hope it is useful.

]]> <![CDATA[By: wilson.melinda17]]> You are so kind.

]]> You are so kind.

]]> <![CDATA[By: wilson.melinda17]]> It will be very funny

]]> It will be very funny

]]> <![CDATA[By: abelle]]> Xie xie, xiao_liang. I've just returned from vacation and have to get back into studying again. I will take a look at this list. I did listen to Elementary and Intermediate dialogues on my MP3 while I was traveling and did notice a large gap between the two levels.

]]> Xie xie, xiao_liang. I've just returned from vacation and have to get back into studying again. I will take a look at this list. I did listen to Elementary and Intermediate dialogues on my MP3 while I was traveling and did notice a large gap between the two levels.

]]>