User Comments - iaing
iaing
Posted on: Focus and Specialization
December 28, 2011 at 3:17 AMThis topic touches on one of my real quibbles about cpod. Most of the teachers here have never used cpod (primarily/exclusively) to go from zero to UI (and beyond). So there really isn't a good (internal) understanding of what actually works best in this product to get to this level and to go further - particularly if you don't live in China and/or don't have a Chinese significant other.
One thing that could possibly be improved on at the higher levels is providing transcripts for the main podcast at UI, Advanced and Media. When compared with a site like cslpod (as an example), cpod really is behind what other competitors do here.
Posted on: 虎妈狼爸
December 8, 2011 at 11:18 AMni shuo de dui
Posted on: Breakup
November 12, 2011 at 12:38 AMAny chance the audio under the grammar tab can be downloadable as a standalone file?
Also, the same with the expansion tab?
(I understand you can get some of the expansion tab audio in the audio review, but it is always interspersed with English which I don't really want to listen to).
Posted on: 5000 Years of History
October 22, 2011 at 7:23 PMNot really. The last sentence is such an obviously false statement that it is worth pulling watya up on it.
http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&sugexp=gsihc&cp=25&gs_id=2p&xhr=t&q=70000+years+australian+history&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=70000+years+australian+hi&aq=0w&aqi=q-w1&aql=f&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=412ff79968cfcda0&biw=1024&bih=655
Posted on: Translation Tools
August 20, 2011 at 6:35 AMAgree, from character to pinyin - google translate.
For character to english - suggest - mdbg.
Posted on: Is it Spicy?
July 5, 2011 at 11:14 AMhttp://chinesepod.com/lessons/how-spicy
Posted on: Take Some Medicine
June 7, 2011 at 9:17 AMIt's the same dialogue as lesson C63 (Talking about illness).
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/talking-about-illness
Posted on: 康熙来了
June 4, 2011 at 4:04 AMTotally agree with you Mark.
Others have made similar points previously, put CPod really aren't that interested in listening to this type of feedback.
For example, the main reason why I specifically requested that the "xiangsheng" lesson NOT be at a media level was so that I would be guaranteed to get a decent transcript and mp3 file with it. But, alas, to no avail...
The idea that Cpod are supporting different styles of learning by not including a transcript is difficult to understand. You can include a transcript and still support ALL other styles of learning. People that don't want it don't have to use it.
It comes down to whether Cpod want to spend the cost to do it.
The key question is highlighted by John - "how important is it to have a transcript?". If you are learning the language a transcript is always handy. Whilst the aim should always be never to refer to it - if you want or need to use it - it is great to have it there as a backup. Language learning can be very inefficient without it.
Most people who teach at CPod have learnt this language without using Cpod as their primary tool - and imo this is reflected in the general level of understanding of what really works for moving through the levels quickly and efficiently...
Basically - LOTS of listening to manadarin-only dialogues and reading through of transcripts to allow quick and efficient reinforcement of new vocab.
Everything else at Cpod -- including (and especially) the main podcasts -- are, generally speaking, nowhere near as conducive for fast and efficient language learning.
Previous comments along similar lines:
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/how-did-you-learn-chinese#comment-211585
http://chinesepod.com/lessons/%E7%9B%B8%E5%A3%B0#comment-208866
Posted on: How Did You Learn Chinese?
April 12, 2011 at 9:20 AMInteresting to note how may people mention cpod (or don't).
I only used cpod. But not in the way it is generally recommended.
http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/11401#comment-208745
However, I think it needs to be said that some of the way cpod is structured is actually pretty inefficient/ineffective for learning Chinese quickly. Most staff at cpod never really used the product to learn Chinese.
http://chinesepod.com/community/conversations/post/11571#comment-210953
One comment worth highlighting - whilst living in China, or having a Chinese significant other, etc may have benefits they are certainly not necessary for learning the language. Some people believe it is only possible to get good at Chinese if you do these things, which is a shame - because not only isn't it true, but it is also self limiting.
Posted on: Focus and Specialization
December 28, 2011 at 3:59 AMYou can be beyond intermediate level at cpod but still only get 60-70% of the dialogue that goes on in the main podcasts at UI, and beyond. A big benefit to having the transcripts for the main podcasts is to get on top of the 30-40% of the key explanations that can go missing at this level.
The reason why people put so much effort into transcripts for Tal is that there is benefit to understanding all the explanations that are given in the main podcasts at these levels.
I spend more time with cslpod than cpod, these days, precisely for this reason. They explain the high level lessons completely in standard mandarin and then provide a detailed transcript that I can read through for the explanations and vocab that I miss. It is a very quick and efficient way to progress understanding.