Intermediate Level Stories?

bobveale

November 08, 2013, 01:11 AM posted in General Discussion

I was a Chinesepod subscriber for a few years but I currently don't have a subscription. One learning aid I would like to see is extended all-Chinese stories at the intermediate level. That is, 5-10 minute stories but not at Advanced pace and vocabulary. I want more listening practice at a slow pace. I recall some CP videos like this a few years ago. Perhaps there is something on the internet that someone could point me to. If CP would have intermediate level readings/stories I probably sign-up for a premium subscription again.

podster

November 08, 2013, 01:09 PM

They had a series called "What's the Story". I believe that is what you are referring to. I think you would need to renew your subscripton to view them, but here is one example I particularly liked:

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E7%8B%BC%E6%9D%A5%E4%BA%86

Here is something else on the Internet that might fit the bill for what you are looking for:

http://www.slow-chinese.com/

Best wishes.

RJ

Podster,

The links to the WTS episodes are broken in the cpod Library. I mentioned this quite some time ago and it has never been fixed. Even the link you attached does not work for me. Does this actually work for you? All of the WTS links do not work, however the menu stealers do (except for one) as do the vocab tour videos. So, whats the story?

podster

Yes, I actually tried playing it, and it worked (to my pleasant surprise). Last time I tried it did not. Maybe a wormhole has opened in the CPod space-time continuum and some of the old content from the past is leaking into the present.

I dug it up by entering "What's the Story" in the search box, if that helps. Using Firefox 25.0, Windows Vista.

That link is for “ 狼来了”

RJ

I just get "error loading media, file not found"

you can find them all listed by going to Library, channels, and then change the drop down from academic levels to videos. Searching by whats the story doesnt work for me but If I search for 狼来了 it finds it. None of them work however. Its strange because the menu stealers do work. Its as if the content just isnt there. Perhaps a server issue?

btw your link http://www.slow-chinese.com/ looks like a good one. It looks like he stopped adding content but there are 66 articles to get through.

podster

I just now drilled down through the menus as you described, and tried the first "What's the Story?" video there, "Stupid Doctor". It also plays, though a bit jerky. It opens in a window called "JW Player" which is not something I believe I have ever installed on my machine. I am in China today, so that may make a difference too. The only thing I can think of that I have done differently since the last unsuccessful attempt to play the videos (outside China) is clear my Firefox browser cache and update to the newest version.

RJ

I see the JW player also but when I hit the arrow I get the error. Im thinking it only works in China. Thats why they dont think its broken.

podster

That seems plausible. It would also explain the response on the issue of editing ability being broken (although that still is not working properly for me).