Navigation on ChinesePod

Hi John, ??? | Lessons | Conversations | Help Maybe I'm traditional, but the current page when you go to chinesepod.com (before you say login or anything) is the HOME. Once you log in, that page you're taken to should be called something else. MY STUDIES or STUDIES would work fine, particularly since it's tailored to YOU -- I mean ME. BTW, before I forget, I think it's valuable to have pages that say "You can't see this unless you're premium, so login or upgrade" or some such blurb. Shows basic users what they're missing, doesn't slow down those with an upgraded account. STUDIES / MY STUDIES I love that is says welcome, tells me my level and when my subscription expires.. below that is two boxes. You need an area to tell people updates/news - keep that. In another box on the left, it's probably a good idea to keep things that help you manage your account. Your feed, your account.. that's fine. It may be that some of this can be accessed in HELP at the moment, but anything where you can set a preference should definitely be duplicated or found in the (MY) STUDIES area someplace. The rest of the page is conflicting/repetitive. Here's what I would do (if you keep the current layout). 1. Keep the tabs at the top. They are a consistent element. 2. In the main area OR in your "toolbox", focus on the things that are tied to that area rather than repeating your main tabs. For now this would be: Scheduled lessons, study schedule, bookmarked lessons, review your vocabulary, grammar, Qing Wen, Pinyin Chart, test your level (which could also go near where you list the user's level), review practice plan.. 3. In the main area OR in a nav box on the left: put your most recent lessons posted. You could a) bring back the this-week's-lessons from the last version in the main area or b) put them in a box listed sort of how they are now or in netvibes. LESSONS Take the user's language level tag and drop them under their tab as default. That's usually where I want to go anyway, and I can always switch around once I'm there. The way these sections are labeled, organized, and what info is there for each lesson is all very good, quite clear. The "Extra" doesn't help.. I know it's meant to be a tab with Qing Wen, News, etc.. in it, but it doesn't read that way at the moment. I think that's just a graphic design issue though -- your current design doesn't read clearly as three tabbed levels deep on the LESSONS page. ONCE IN A LESSON.. I'd like to NOT be taken away from the lesson when I add vocab to my list. Can you just add a button for folks who want to jump to their personal vocabulary section from inside an individual lesson? I love the FIX, but not sure new users will get understand it's additional verbal practice. Not sure if it's where it's located (with other downloadable versions of the main lesson) or the name. I know you all will figure something out. CONVERSATIONS I like this section -- one thing that could be clearer: "Add Post" makes sense once I've done it, but confused me at first. "New Conversation" ? HTH.

Sorry, but I still don't get the calendar scheduling thing. I'm using it, but I really don't like it.

Yeah Kitty has disrespected both Ken and Jenny now as well, I've gone off her quite rapidly.

I'm afraid it's simply inevitable growing pains. It will get worse. On the bright side, I've seen highly successful web sites who have successfully overcome the occasional crank and have kept a civil tone throughout their existence with peer pressure (Metafilter leaps to mind). The key is developing a sense of community -- and I think Ken has that well in hand. Once again, for the record ... I NEVER would have explored CPOD if Ken hadn't been here as a concrete example that Mandarin was "do-able". He put me at ease with his keen awareness of what Westerners go through when approaching an Asian language. As much as I dearly love the Mandarin staff -- they aren't as attuned to this, since they never went through it from that perspective.

Where am I ?

nita: According to your profile in China. Bazza, FDW: In this case I suspect it is just a matter of age, nothing to be taken all too serious. We had worse here. Does anybody remember Crazy Ed? Regarding Ken: He is undoubtedly one of the USPs of this site.

USPs? Unidentified Selling Points? Certainly very resilient, kudos for being true to his word and letting the blog being free for all and uncensored

The fact that CP is re-working the system based on feedback is great and I trust you will continue to make the interface more intuitive. The only thing I would do to make this site better is to remove Kitty's speaking privileges. I don't usually like to bash people for their opinions--but damn, that little girl is annoying!

unique selling proposition :)

Utterly Super Papa!

Universal spotlight (of the show) ?

Dave, your zombie face is creeping me out. You're feeling that badly about your chinese lessons? That they're making you look undead? ;-)

I'm trying to emphasize my inner beauty.

...joking of course, certainly is Unique