Where is everyone
nkchew33
January 18, 2014, 05:45 PM posted in General DiscussionIs it true that John, Jenny, Lilliana and Connie have left Chinesepod? Please be frank with me.
adam_p_lax
yea they seem to be keeping all the poddies in the dark about changes in staff. I would think especially with John leaving that they would do a "news and features" podcast about it. He was such a huge part of Chinesepod. It doesn't seem right for chinesepod not to honor him in some way.
mark
ChinesePod has never been transparent about staff changes, or other changes to their operation. I think we aren't supposed to embarrass them by asking, but my American culture runs too deep. So, I want to know, anyway.
podster
人艰不拆嘛。
pretzellogic
my take is that all companies have employees come and go all the time without major announcements. Chinesepod is the same in that regard. Interestingly, Chinesepod's start as a customer facing organization with support on the boards for language learning meant that staff were clear and present in a way that bred familiarity and friendliness. Cpod appears to be moving away from the importance of language learning on these boards. So there's not likely to be a chance to get more friendly with another of the staff.
Since Jenny's part of senior management, she's likely still around and occupying herself with growing OpenLanguage revenue, as well has her other learning ventures. Posting on the boards in response to subscriber issues is likely not a top 3 concern for her at this point. Connie and Vera are going to be our friendly faces to interact with (and they do a good job!).
Tal
January 19, 2014, 01:34 AMMaybe it's time to just read the writing on the wall. It's been there for a while, written in Chinese (style) of course, which means complete lack of honesty/transparency.
mikeinewshot
Well the Chinesepod experience brings us into Chinese culture in more ways than one
podster
Seems a bit harsh. CPod was founded and owned by non-Chinese, and China certainly does not have a monopoly on corporate opacity or poor customer service.
podster
January 19, 2014, 06:31 AM@nkchew33, Its true that you won't be hearing John's voice on the most recent recordings, but it may be worth reminding newer poddies that there must be over a thousand recordings of him in the CPod library. Same for Jenny. Also, when co-founder Ken Carroll left a few years back there was a lot of hand-wringing about the future of CPod then too. Currently it seems that grammar and lesson related content are still being answered on the site by teachers in a timely manner, at least most of the time.
chris
I've not managed to spend much time on the site over the last year (having probably spent too much time on it the previous few years!). Seems a lot's happened since I've been away. I saw the news about John a couple of weeks back, but hadn't realised Jenny had left as well. When did that happen?
podster
Chris, There has not been any formal announcement about anything. Hence the other users' comments about transparency and the various inquiries.
I noticed that we had not seen you as much as we used to. Maybe that's the real reason why people worried that ChinesePod's salad days were over. 囧
Tal
When Ken "left" CPod was still I think a lively place where views and info were (comparatively) openly exchanged. (I recall Jenny herself making an appearance on the forum to reassure everyone that CPod would not be disappearing anytime soon.)
That [kind of openness] has not been the case for some time now. CPod seems to basically treat its customers and supporters with contempt, I strongly suspect the way they treat their employees is not that much different.
I noted the recent dismantling of Englishpod (run by the same company), and to be honest I suspect that our beloved pod may be in the tertiary stage of illness. As no form of reassurance or explanation is ever forthcoming, what is one to think?
adam_p_lax
The lack of information about changes at chinesepod recently is what bothers me. We're paying subscribers so they should at least inform us about what is going on.
podster
神马都是浮云
nkchew33
January 19, 2014, 06:23 PMI do agree with you, Chinesepod team, please keep us informed about John, Jenny, Connie and others.
bababardwan
January 19, 2014, 08:16 PMIf it is the case that they have left, I too am very interested to know. They would be greatly missed. I do wonder though, when we already have this above post at the wisdom and necessity of this post:
http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/13965
...and it's underlying comment. I know it is well meant and stems from the sense of loss we have of these talented teachers who are friends to us, but I think it's worth being mindful of giving any replacements a decent chance, of hoping for a continuation of CPod [which even with such losses will have to be better than no service at all] and try and avoid self-fulfilling prophecies.
veronique21
+ 1. You tell exactly what I'm feeling, my friend. Yes, they will be missed but we still have a very nice and talented team of teachers.
podster
Trip down memory lane: (CPod back in 2008)
http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjUxNjAwMTY=.html
or
http://www.vimeo.com/931429/l:embed_931429
Right-Wingnut
January 19, 2014, 10:30 PMOP, Liliana left Chinese Pod about two and a half years ago.
waiguoren
January 18, 2014, 09:47 PMYeah - how come there has been no announcemement about this?