User Comments - pretzellogic

Posted on: Asking for a Raise

Hi Catherinem,

So in reply;

1)I agree 100% that you, John, Jenny, Ken, Aggie, Clay and the entire production team that goes unannounced and unheralded have every reason to be proud of what you've accomplished with Cpod. My favorite lessons are Formula 1 in China, and the Bachelor Party, topics which Cpod's competition doesn’t cover. You've even done a lesson on Number 2! What other language site gives us necessary potty dialogue? Most other language sites/services wimp out at "Where is the bathroom?"

2)I think we're in agreement on the lack of esoteric topics in newbie through intermediate; I was talking about topics across all levels. I didn't say from Newbie to Advanced, and Media as well, but that 's what I was referring to.

3)I'll give more detail around my redundant comment. An example is this: on March 9, 2010 you posted on the Lesson Topic Suggestions thread that cpod is going to have a lesson around a situation that xiao_liang finds himself in, namely, meeting parents. It happens that there is a lesson similar to this already available.

http://chinesepod.com/lessons/introducing-a-friend

Is the new March lesson exactly like previous one? Probably not. But my questions are:

what words will be introduced in the new March lesson that haven't already been introduced in the previous lesson? Parents, meet, nervous, sweaty, geezer, psychopath, calm down, shotgun, (ok, maybe this is what I'm hoping its about :)) ?

What new phrases will be introduced in the new March lesson that haven't been introduced in the previous lesson? Is it "please sit", "come in", "what did you do to your hair? Bian…..bian…? Lian…..dou…."

What new sentence structures will be introduced in the new March lesson that haven't be in previous lesson? Verb/object? Object verb? Time object verb?

Now in this example, there's likely a lot different in answer to the three questions above, especially if its an intermediate or above.

But my broader point is this: when you use the cpod search engine, you get 45 lessons that have "meet" in them, 76 lessons that have "parents" in them, and 21 lessons that have "introduce" in them. Out of all those lessons, what new words, phrases and structures are being taught that haven't already been taught?

I do want also to mention that on the lesson suggestion post that was created June 2009, there are approximately 400 lesson suggestions. A number of them are redundant, but some of them were on new topics (like Star Trek, Dinosaurs, and plumbing). I've made more than 20 suggestions there. But i've haven't seen much come from that long list, maybe other than 3-6 lessons. If there have been more lessons created that came from that list, I would love to know that.

Posted on: 定做的噩梦

Interesting observation.

Posted on: Asking for the WiFi password

Starbucks in Beijing may also charge. But since Starbucks in the US stopped giving free internet access, it wouldn't be a suprise if you can't get internet in China for free. SPR Coffee in Beijing doesn't charge.

Posted on: Asking for the WiFi password

I wish I had this lesson yesterday.  I could have logged on at starbucks.  But as it was, yesterday was a good Chinese use day.  I replaced the battery in my watch (thanks Cpod), had a latte, and asked for a kids' RC model car with only a hint of gesturing (no Cpod lesson there).  Sadly, I probably got taken to the cleaners on the negotiation for the battery.  We should probably start a post on effective negotiating tactics.

Posted on: Business Style

This might have been an otherwise really difficult intermediate, but it helps that Ken/Jenny were slowing things down in the early days.

Posted on: Street Food

I can't find a Longfusi Lu in Beijing. I see a Longfusi Jie in Beijing near that Forbidden City if Google maps is correct.

Posted on: Getting to Know CPod Teacher Helen (and exciting content news)!

I'm happy to see that there's a focus on Beijinghua as well.  Excellent! I'd also be interested in hearing more dialect spoken in southern Gansu province. 

Posted on: Finishing Work for the Weekend

I know i'm not the only particularly cynical employee around, so Its fair to say that in the US, you get the full spectrum of statements and replies, from "enjoy your weekend", to "later" to nothing at all. Depends on the people involved and the company zeitgeist. Also depends on if you're a telecommuter in an location with lots of telecommuters.

Posted on: The Customer Comes First

I like that:"But now Chairman Hu is in charge".  Put that customer in their place with a snappy answer!

Posted on: Art Museum

Shout-out to the 798 Art Zone as well!

http://www.798art.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/798_Art_Zone