<![CDATA[Comments on: Learning about Levels]]> Click here to see a full list of our levels and to browse lessons by level.

]]> 2010-08-21 18:00:00 <![CDATA[By: xugande]]> I would have thought this material would be better in a suite of podcasts for new and prospective users to help them make the decision to join Chinesepod and to plan their study from the outset.

]]> I would have thought this material would be better in a suite of podcasts for new and prospective users to help them make the decision to join Chinesepod and to plan their study from the outset.

]]> <![CDATA[By: marygrace]]> Wow! That was awesome. Thank you! I wish I knew this three years ago, when I first started using Chinesepod. I've been wondering for ages how to get to the next level.

Can you next talk about how often and for how long one should listen to Chinesepod for optimal results. For example, once a day for 1 hour? Also, about the use of exercises and other features.

]]> Wow! That was awesome. Thank you! I wish I knew this three years ago, when I first started using Chinesepod. I've been wondering for ages how to get to the next level.

Can you next talk about how often and for how long one should listen to Chinesepod for optimal results. For example, once a day for 1 hour? Also, about the use of exercises and other features.

]]> <![CDATA[By: quasifrog]]> Total pros!  John and Jenny, you two have taught me a lot over the past 2 1/2 years.  Everything you mentoned about the process in this podcast is something that I was relating to in my personal learning situation. 

The jump from Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate is a tough one ( I was thinking), and Jenny just confirmed that for me.  My goal is to be doing advanced lessons by next summer.  I am speaking better and better here in the Beijing streets and my life here improves because of it.  With a busy work schedule, chinesepod is my best real option for learning and I am convinced that I will arrive because of this website and the hard work of my podcast teachers. 

Dinner in Shanghai is certainly on me when I come for my CP pilgrimage.

]]> Total pros!  John and Jenny, you two have taught me a lot over the past 2 1/2 years.  Everything you mentoned about the process in this podcast is something that I was relating to in my personal learning situation. 

The jump from Intermediate to Advanced Intermediate is a tough one ( I was thinking), and Jenny just confirmed that for me.  My goal is to be doing advanced lessons by next summer.  I am speaking better and better here in the Beijing streets and my life here improves because of it.  With a busy work schedule, chinesepod is my best real option for learning and I am convinced that I will arrive because of this website and the hard work of my podcast teachers. 

Dinner in Shanghai is certainly on me when I come for my CP pilgrimage.

]]> <![CDATA[By: gaojian]]> Thanks for the podcast. If anything I was reaffirmed of my placement in the Chinesepod system. Although I have studied Chinese for around 4 years I used a very systematic aproach (text book learning) and still find a lot of new content (perhaps not the grammar) in the intermediate lessons. I have been a member for a long time, but only recently an active one.I hope to keep up with my new pace of two or three lessons a day for as long as I can. Upper Intermediate here I come!

谢谢你们！

]]> Thanks for the podcast. If anything I was reaffirmed of my placement in the Chinesepod system. Although I have studied Chinese for around 4 years I used a very systematic aproach (text book learning) and still find a lot of new content (perhaps not the grammar) in the intermediate lessons. I have been a member for a long time, but only recently an active one.I hope to keep up with my new pace of two or three lessons a day for as long as I can. Upper Intermediate here I come!

谢谢你们！

]]> <![CDATA[By: rods]]> Thanks guys! Ken used to talk about C-pod's teaching method, quoting his favourite linguist, Otto Jespersen, on occasion.

I have found that knowing why I'm studying a particularly difficult (or boring) something-or-other has really helped me to keep going.

]]> Thanks guys! Ken used to talk about C-pod's teaching method, quoting his favourite linguist, Otto Jespersen, on occasion.

I have found that knowing why I'm studying a particularly difficult (or boring) something-or-other has really helped me to keep going.

]]> <![CDATA[By: bi3er3]]> Good greif, spend more time making lessons and less time explaining them.

bi3er3

]]> Good greif, spend more time making lessons and less time explaining them.

bi3er3

]]> <![CDATA[By: gaojian]]> Because a lesson a day isn't enough? Or because you have studied every lesson on ChinesePod?

]]> Because a lesson a day isn't enough? Or because you have studied every lesson on ChinesePod?

]]> <![CDATA[By: quasifrog]]> Well it only took 8 minutes and 41 seconds of their time, and it was done on a Sunday so I wouldn't accuse them of being lazy or lax in their mission to teach us Madarin.

John and Jenny (and Ken) have done the bulk of work in helpng me to learn this language for the past couple of years. I can't wait to get into the higher level classes, but I am just not there yet. It's nice to hear these estimates and timeframes when it comes to measuring progress and level advancement.

Again, this is a very appreciated 8 minutes and 41 seconds that we got as a bonus from them on a Sunday!

]]> Well it only took 8 minutes and 41 seconds of their time, and it was done on a Sunday so I wouldn't accuse them of being lazy or lax in their mission to teach us Madarin.

John and Jenny (and Ken) have done the bulk of work in helpng me to learn this language for the past couple of years. I can't wait to get into the higher level classes, but I am just not there yet. It's nice to hear these estimates and timeframes when it comes to measuring progress and level advancement.

Again, this is a very appreciated 8 minutes and 41 seconds that we got as a bonus from them on a Sunday!

]]> <![CDATA[By: catherinem]]> This is a short (4 episode) series created to answer questions we have received regarding ChinesePod and how to use it. Do you have any questions about how to use the site? If you're looking specifically for lessons, I'd recommend browsing our large archive here.

]]> This is a short (4 episode) series created to answer questions we have received regarding ChinesePod and how to use it. Do you have any questions about how to use the site? If you're looking specifically for lessons, I'd recommend browsing our large archive here.

]]> <![CDATA[By: jheitz]]> Here's how I pick my level:

Listen to the easy level. Learn it. When I think I've learnt it and there is still time in the week before the next lesson comes out, listen to a lesson of the next level. Now, I frequently find that an ele is just a revision with one or two new words. I still get value from it, so I listen. I'm done with it in one day, so I try an intermediate. Often, I don't completely learn the intermediate before the week is out, but that's ok, I learnt something, even if not all of it.

]]> Here's how I pick my level:

Listen to the easy level. Learn it. When I think I've learnt it and there is still time in the week before the next lesson comes out, listen to a lesson of the next level. Now, I frequently find that an ele is just a revision with one or two new words. I still get value from it, so I listen. I'm done with it in one day, so I try an intermediate. Often, I don't completely learn the intermediate before the week is out, but that's ok, I learnt something, even if not all of it.

]]> <![CDATA[By: xiao_liang]]> Really useful, thanks folks! 

*looks at his 57 elementary lessons rather sadly* ;-)

]]> Really useful, thanks folks! 

*looks at his 57 elementary lessons rather sadly* ;-)

]]> <![CDATA[By: walidshaari]]> Thankyou chinesepod for teaching us Mandarin the right way. from a complete ignorant of China, and Mandarin to the new world of Chinese movies, programs, and podcast. I am grateful to Jenny,Ken, and John for their devotion and unique way of making Chinese accessible and easy to learn and listen to.

]]> Thankyou chinesepod for teaching us Mandarin the right way. from a complete ignorant of China, and Mandarin to the new world of Chinese movies, programs, and podcast. I am grateful to Jenny,Ken, and John for their devotion and unique way of making Chinese accessible and easy to learn and listen to.

]]> <![CDATA[By: martijn819]]> I think the new progress bar thingy is a great motivator.

I am enjoying ticking off lessons and seeing that bar move ever so slowly (forever) towards the next level.

]]> I think the new progress bar thingy is a great motivator.

I am enjoying ticking off lessons and seeing that bar move ever so slowly (forever) towards the next level.

]]> <![CDATA[By: Amesburygeorge]]> I am studying Intermediate lessons, but after listening to this, I think I am also going to start listening to Elementary lessons as well. The Intermediate lessons are quite difficult.

]]> I am studying Intermediate lessons, but after listening to this, I think I am also going to start listening to Elementary lessons as well. The Intermediate lessons are quite difficult.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> That's definitely a good idea. More input is better. Listen to the "dialogue-only" files so that you're not depending on the translations, and then check the translations only if you need them.

]]> That's definitely a good idea. More input is better. Listen to the "dialogue-only" files so that you're not depending on the translations, and then check the translations only if you need them.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> That's great! I think your own learning experiences have shown how one textbook (even well-designed, systematic series) is really inadequate. You need more input, and ChinesePod is there to provide that extra input which helps connect you to modern China.

]]> That's great! I think your own learning experiences have shown how one textbook (even well-designed, systematic series) is really inadequate. You need more input, and ChinesePod is there to provide that extra input which helps connect you to modern China.

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> Thanks, quasifrog, that's really good to hear. I am looking forward to a dinner in Shanghai at some point. :)

]]> Thanks, quasifrog, that's really good to hear. I am looking forward to a dinner in Shanghai at some point. :)

]]> <![CDATA[By: John]]> You're welcome!

Your question is a bit difficult to answer, because what is required for "optimal results" will vary from learner to learner. The simple answer, of course, is: "the more you listen, the better."

I recommend listening to an entire podcast once, then listening to the dialogue-only version times many times after to review and internalize the language, almost to the point of total internalization, if you can stand it. You can listen to maybe one new podcast a day (depending on your schedule), but then review a bunch of previously-studied ones by listening to the dialogue-only files.

We're going to be talking about using different parts of the site in future episodes of this series, so stay tuned...

]]> You're welcome!

Your question is a bit difficult to answer, because what is required for "optimal results" will vary from learner to learner. The simple answer, of course, is: "the more you listen, the better."

I recommend listening to an entire podcast once, then listening to the dialogue-only version times many times after to review and internalize the language, almost to the point of total internalization, if you can stand it. You can listen to maybe one new podcast a day (depending on your schedule), but then review a bunch of previously-studied ones by listening to the dialogue-only files.

We're going to be talking about using different parts of the site in future episodes of this series, so stay tuned...

]]> <![CDATA[By: jerigracia]]> Haha! :) good luck 加油

]]> Haha! :) good luck 加油

]]> <![CDATA[By: wenb3721]]> 汉字Your question is a bit difficult to answer, because what is required for"optimal results" will vary from learner to learner. The simple answer, of course, is: "the more you listen, the better."

]]> 汉字Your question is a bit difficult to answer, because what is required for"optimal results" will vary from learner to learner. The simple answer, of course, is: "the more you listen, the better."

]]>