Should ChinesePod recommend schools?

Sounds like it'd be an interesting resource provided you are able to link to it in some noticeable way... I don't see how this relates to practicing what we learn on CPod though.

I would find such a list very helpful. It's overwhelming how many different private language schools exist in Beijing and Shanghai alone, with very few credible reviews on the web to fairly compare them.

Actually, we already have quite a few schools, universities and Confucius Institutes already using ChinesePod as a 'next-generation' textbook. The bigger problem we are trying to solve is how to provide more opportunities for practicing what you learn on ChinesePod. Right now, we provide our own counselors with the Practice Plan and many people have private tutors, but why not offline language schools that integrate with ChinesePod as well? A student could listen to the audio podcast lesson in the car on the way to work, take 10-15 minutes to review the lesson on the website during the work day, meetup with a teacher or class in the evening to practice what the lesson was about, and then review the key vocabulary of the lesson on an iPhone or other mobile device during other free time.

No ;-) ChinesePod should never "recommend" other courses unless they will assuredly use the same style and standards of pedagogy as CPod. So basically that means no. But... What you're suggesting, though, is not really a recommendation of a particular course, and it sounds like a very good idea. It would also provide greater incentive for more places to base their courses on CPod materials. Just be clear what it is that you're promising on someone else's behalf. For example, there's sure to be some big-stick heads-down read-write-shutup drill school that adds a podcast each week as an end of week non-learning(sic) play activity. If that course had been a cpod "recommendation" it would not be a good look!

I see. So you are not talking about creating a directory for Chinese language schools in general. I think the idea of having schools with a "CPod syllabus" should be very attractive for beginners. I share AuntySue's concerns regarding quality control though.

I would like to see lists of schools, even to what Chinese masters and PhD programs are out there. Doesn't have to be saying those schools are the best, work with ChinesePod, are as good as using ChinesePod.... just to know they are out there is helpful to us language learners. Plus, if you make some connection to them, they may make some connection to Cpod.

We already have recommendations for all things Chinese-language related here, from movies to browser tools to news sources. I think the school list would be a natural addition. Curious, any reason for restricting the content to China-based schools?

Personally, I wouldn't place much store on an endorsement from Cpod alone. Nothing against the organization but, in my own cynical view, people giving recommendations usually receive compensation as well. That presumed fee and the related conflict of interest makes most endorsements suspect. However, a user-driven list of schools is different. Also, it would be interesting to know which schools use Cpod as a resource. Something strictly informational along the lines of what Rich suggested. I am also curious to hear the answer to sushan's last question is. Did you mean only China-based schools?

I also don't quite see how off-line schools are related to practicing what people learn on CPod, because many private schools and especially universities don't have such a strong focus on colloquial Chinese.

Sounds like a great idea, whether the school uses CPOD material or not. The more learning resources, the better. We all are capable of making intelligent consumer choices. And student feedback on individual schools would be welcome.

If people are that hooked into technology with an mp3 player, iphone, and internet access, are they still going to be motivated enough to travel at night to a school to practice what they've studied during the day.. I think they'd be technically savvy enough to use a Skype tutor. But yeah I think it'd be a great resource to have a mandarin school directory, with reviews, etc, as long as the list of schools was not restricted to CPod sponsored schools.

To be clear, the thinking behind this is an open directory of Chinese schools, currently using ChinesePod or not, inside China or in other countries. Biased directories never work and if ChinesePod has any formal relationship with the school it will be clearly marked. The community can review & rank as they see fit.

I think it would be a great resource. I was about to ask my Practice Plan teacher to recommend a school for a short immersion. It would be great if I had other students' feedback. I didn't even know that there were schools out there using C-Pod curriculum. I would be extremely interested in that. Whenever I bring a C-Pod dialog into my tutor in HK she gets very excited about it and asks to make a copy. Interestingly enough, one of the reasons she likes it is for the English translations of Chinese slang. Their Mandarin may be excellent but they only know the English that they have learned from their archaic curriculum. In my opinion not enough has been done to educate the educators about Chinesepod.

hankfdh, thanks for clearing up my point on whether CPod originates the list. If it's user driven, I'm all for it.

Some useful features: being able to filter by geographic location, school/home tutor/buxiban, language level, cost, children/adult classes. Search by: type of class (business chinese, tourism, hanzi, literature, HSK prep) Would also like to be able to read concise, dated reviews of the school/tutor. and know how many other students are using them.

So bascially this is "CPod Teacher Network reloaded"?