2006-10-18 18:00:00 Connie
Some difficult words in the podcast: 先锋 (xiānfēng) vanguard 周星驰 (Zhōu Xīngchí) Stephen Chow, a famous actor and director 文艺作品 (wényì zuòpǐn) literature/art works 思维 (sīwéi) thought, thinking 并列 (bìngliè) be juxtaposed 顿号 (dùnhào) special comma used to set off items in a series 朦胧 (ménglóng) dim, obscure 立场 (lìchǎng) standpoint 一窝蜂 (yī wō fēng) swarming 跟风 (gēnfēng) me-tooism 风格 (fēnggé) style 王菲 (Wáng Fēi) Faye Wong, a famous singer 氛围 (fēnwéi) atmosphere]]> Connie
Some difficult words in the podcast: 先锋 (xiānfēng) vanguard 周星驰 (Zhōu Xīngchí) Stephen Chow, a famous actor and director 文艺作品 (wényì zuòpǐn) literature/art works 思维 (sīwéi) thought, thinking 并列 (bìngliè) be juxtaposed 顿号 (dùnhào) special comma used to set off items in a series 朦胧 (ménglóng) dim, obscure 立场 (lìchǎng) standpoint 一窝蜂 (yī wō fēng) swarming 跟风 (gēnfēng) me-tooism 风格 (fēnggé) style 王菲 (Wáng Fēi) Faye Wong, a famous singer 氛围 (fēnwéi) atmosphere]]> John B
When I first came to China in 2001, it was all VCDs, and DVDs (and DVD players) were really hard to find and expensive. Thankfully that has changed, though I don't think that VCDs can be relegated to "history" quite yet (my in-laws, at least, still buy them). Is there a word for movies (like "Snakes on a Plane") that are hilarious, but not intentionally so?]]> John B
When I first came to China in 2001, it was all VCDs, and DVDs (and DVD players) were really hard to find and expensive. Thankfully that has changed, though I don't think that VCDs can be relegated to "history" quite yet (my in-laws, at least, still buy them). Is there a word for movies (like "Snakes on a Plane") that are hilarious, but not intentionally so?]]> Will
me-too-ism? I thought Snakes on a plane was meant to be funny. How could it not be!?]]> Will
me-too-ism? I thought Snakes on a plane was meant to be funny. How could it not be!?]]> John B
Another question: how do you say "cult classic"? Also, in the dialog 动脑子 was used. Can you say something like 请别让我动脑子 to mean "Please don't make me think (too much)"?]]> John B
Another question: how do you say "cult classic"? Also, in the dialog 动脑子 was used. Can you say something like 请别让我动脑子 to mean "Please don't make me think (too much)"?]]> Bazza
Did you know there's also a 'Snakes on a Train'?]]> Bazza
Did you know there's also a 'Snakes on a Train'?]]> Sam
I just counted the number of Discussion feed-back responses in the past 10 “old” Advanced lessons and in the “new” All Chinese lessons. In the past 10 “old” Advanced Lessons, there were 239 highly interesting and instructive feedback discussion responses. In the past 10 “new” All Chinese lessons, there were only 39 feedback responses. I find this very interesting and believe that it has some significance. The Chinesepod staff and readers can draw their own conclusions as to the significance of this great disparity in the number of feedbacks from the "old" vs the "new" all Chinese Advance lessons. At least, it should reflect the number of readers of the lessons, and the degree of interest the readers show in the lessons. Perhaps, the Chinesepod staff should look into this statistic closer? Sam]]> Sam
I just counted the number of Discussion feed-back responses in the past 10 “old” Advanced lessons and in the “new” All Chinese lessons. In the past 10 “old” Advanced Lessons, there were 239 highly interesting and instructive feedback discussion responses. In the past 10 “new” All Chinese lessons, there were only 39 feedback responses. I find this very interesting and believe that it has some significance. The Chinesepod staff and readers can draw their own conclusions as to the significance of this great disparity in the number of feedbacks from the "old" vs the "new" all Chinese Advance lessons. At least, it should reflect the number of readers of the lessons, and the degree of interest the readers show in the lessons. Perhaps, the Chinesepod staff should look into this statistic closer? Sam]]> Bazza
Is there any possibility of having a lesson dialog phrase search facility in the learning center? For example, if I want to find the phrase 'I don't have time." I could search all the lesson dialogs to see if it has featured in a lesson.]]> Bazza
Is there any possibility of having a lesson dialog phrase search facility in the learning center? For example, if I want to find the phrase 'I don't have time." I could search all the lesson dialogs to see if it has featured in a lesson.]]> Diz
Sam, the fewer posts on the new advanced site might have something to do with the "all-Chinese" format that is encouraged over there. Obviously, it takes more time for most of us to post in Chinese than English, even if it's just a sentence or two. Count me as one CPOD user who likes it this way--I get more out of reading (and especially writing) one Chinese post than five English ones.]]> Diz
Sam, the fewer posts on the new advanced site might have something to do with the "all-Chinese" format that is encouraged over there. Obviously, it takes more time for most of us to post in Chinese than English, even if it's just a sentence or two. Count me as one CPOD user who likes it this way--I get more out of reading (and especially writing) one Chinese post than five English ones.]]> ChinesePod
Sam, Thanks for bringing those interesating statistics to our attention, but let me assure you that we have many more site statistics at our disposal and we will take all information into consideration when making major site decisions. I'm afraid you'll just have to trust us. -John]]> ChinesePod
Sam, Thanks for bringing those interesating statistics to our attention, but let me assure you that we have many more site statistics at our disposal and we will take all information into consideration when making major site decisions. I'm afraid you'll just have to trust us. -John]]> Bob Mrotek
John, I trust you and the rest of the ChinesePod staff 100 percent!!! I count on you all to keep me on the straight and narrow path to fluency in Mandarin. I am only an Elementary level student and an Intermediate "wannabe" but I listen to the Upper Intermediate also because I found that there is some really rich content in the dialogs and if I listen to the dialog carefully and follow the dialog in the transcript three or four times and then break out the phrases and study them one by one my comprehension level seems to grow much more rapidly. I am almost completely lost in the banter, however, and if it wasn't for your "Duì, duì, duì...duì, duì...duì!" I wouldn't understand much at all :)]]> Bob Mrotek
John, I trust you and the rest of the ChinesePod staff 100 percent!!! I count on you all to keep me on the straight and narrow path to fluency in Mandarin. I am only an Elementary level student and an Intermediate "wannabe" but I listen to the Upper Intermediate also because I found that there is some really rich content in the dialogs and if I listen to the dialog carefully and follow the dialog in the transcript three or four times and then break out the phrases and study them one by one my comprehension level seems to grow much more rapidly. I am almost completely lost in the banter, however, and if it wasn't for your "Duì, duì, duì...duì, duì...duì!" I wouldn't understand much at all :)]]>