Effectively Combining CPod and Tutor?

dsstao
 June 08, 2009, 08:13 PM posted in General Discussion

Hi All,

I have engaged the services of a native mandarin-speaking teacher here in the US who, while eager to help me learn, is struggling to deliver structured lessons that are both effective and build on one another for long-term success.  To help, I've been using CPod lessons as a base point, studying them and using my teacher to recite them to, but that isn't enough.

Has anyone else had this experience, and even if not, may I ask your kind advice on how a clueless student and teacher can best find productive direction?

Thanks,

David

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lechuan
 June 08, 2009, 11:15 PM

David, what do you mean by "using my teacher to recite them to"?

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RJ
 June 08, 2009, 11:40 PM

David

I did pretty much the same thing but I used the expansion sentences. I would recite and the tutor would correct my pronunciation until I got it right. You could choose a text such as integrated Chinese or the schaums chinese grammar and go through it chapter by chapter. That will add some structure but pronunciation is the one thing only a tutor can help you with. Take advantage of that.

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lechuan
 June 08, 2009, 11:44 PM

One idea would be to study chinesePod on your own, then use the teacher to fill in the gaps:

1) Correcting your pronunciation, reading of dialogues.

2) Explaining grammar structures used in the dialogues. Showing how these constructions can be used in other situations

3) Answering any other questions you have about the lesson

4) Practicing similar patterns/constructions to the dialogues in other contexts. Assigning and correcting written homework for these.

You may want to challenge yourself by listening to a more difficult podcast level, that way you may have more questions prepared in advance for your tutor! :)

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13426337525
 June 09, 2009, 05:25 PM

hi :i am new ,i do not verl well what is ChinesePod,please tell me ?

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lechuan
 June 09, 2009, 06:13 PM

@13426337525

chinesePod is a place to learn to speak Mandarin.

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mikeinewshot
 June 09, 2009, 07:11 PM

Is that a trained teacher, or just someone who speaks Mandarin?  If the former, he/she should be able to suggest ideas.