User Comments - MisterTsai

Posted on: I Don't Feel Well 我不舒服

Something I have noticed from this video and your previous videos where you 2 (Jenny and Grace) interact.

I think it will be best to transition smoothly between talking about the dialogue and stating verbatim what the dialogue is. For example, please take a look at the video from 12:00 to 12:20. There seems to be a blooper somewhere that causes you 2 to re-record. But by re-recording you 2 forgot to say something like "and what does the guy say about his decision to eat? 哎呀，我后悔极了。。。". Instead, Jenny goes straight into stating the dialogue verbatim.

Imagine if I'm not watching the video and I'm just listening to the voice recording (which is the purpose of a podcast). I would feel this transition to be somewhat abrupt, awkward and out-of-nowhere. On the other hand, video-watchers know what is about to be said because subtitles exist at the bottom of the video. But just remember, ChinesePod is inherently a podcast. The method of teaching should always be audio and words first. If the conversation doesn't transition smoothly through words, then the conversation needs fixing. Video should always just be supplementary to the material being taught. Don't depend on the video. Depend on the words being said.

Transitioning is very important. Not just from talking about the dialogue to stating the dialogue verbatim, but also in general. Aside from the topic of the content, having smooth transitions between anything said within a conversation is the difference between a poor podcast and a strong podcast.

If you need any examples of what makes a strong podcast, I would suggest checking out Jenny Zhu and John from 2006 and onward. They epitomize smooth transitions, which makes their lessons so effective.

I hope this advice helps. And please pass this advice down to any new ChinesePod teachers. Thanks!

Posted on: Characters - The New Co-Worker

Hi Grace,

I just wanted to say that this video is AMAZING. I love this concept of taking a closer and deeper look at the characters that we are learning.

I'm going to be completely honest with you. I haven't been a fan of the new content that ChinesePod has been rolling out recently (with all the new changes to the staffing and video editing principles).

BUT, this video is amazing. I've been asking ChinesePod for a year now to open up a new section where we'd be able to learn all the Chinese radicals and examples of how they are used in real Chinese words so that we can better memorize, understand, and learn the meaning behind each component that makes up a Chinese character/word. This video brings this concept somewhat alive and more.

With that being said, I do hope a video like this can be made for every level, especially intermediate, upper intermediate, and advanced as the Chinese characters/vocabulary become more advanced and more difficult to simply just memorize.

Another side note, it feels somewhat awkward to place this video into pre-intermediate. This video technically isn't a podcast because we can't just put in earphones and listen to the audio to learn. We actually need to see the video, see what's on the screen, see how all the components fit into the left side the right side while you are talking, to know what you are talking about. My suggestion is to create a separate section (maybe called "Writing Chinese Characters") to place this kind of video. And hopefully, at the same time, you'll maybe be able to open up the Chinese radical section.

Anyway, I love this video! Great job!

Posted on: Donald Trump Declares U.S. Exit from the JCPOA (Iran Deal)

In addition to the feedback given by the others...

Moving forward, would you be able to use one still camera angle? I feel the constant changing between camera angles to be highly distracting, almost to the extent that it gives me a headache.

Posted on: The New Coworker

Please just use one fixed camera angle. The constant switching between different camera angles is very distracting, almost to the point where it gives me a headache.

Other than that, good job!