User Comments - stavros

Posted on: The Night Club Experience

I am only new to Chinesepod and I am unfamiliar with all the voice actors.  However, the actor who plays the naive nightclubber, the one who doesn't enjoy his experience, has an accent which is difficult to understand for me.  I am not saying that this is bad.  In fact, this kind of difference in accent is excellent for a Chinese learner.  We cannot expect Chinese people to speak standard Chinese all the time.  The real language, which is slurred, slurried and slopped - read: mumbled and lacking clarity - is the kind of language that Upper Intermediate learners should start getting used to.  Some more of this contrast please.

Posted on: Learning English in China

Not many comments are related to how Chinesepod users study Chinese.  I've only had an account for about six weeks and I am still trying to get used to the site.  For the most part, I don't use Chinesepod to its potential.  At times, I ignore the expansion sentences and exercises.  I more or less use the site as I like.  Be this as it may, compared to how I was studying in the past (conventional classes with a Chinese national who felt obligated to show off his linguistic dexterity and only spoke in English - very ineffective) the exposure I've had these past few weeks has been phenomenonal.  As great as Chinesepod is, I am of the opinion that it is best to keep quiet and let the language wash over you.  Chinesepod practically spoonfeeds students, and students don't have to run around screaming into the wind in order to be heard or to validate their Chinese.  They can relax and learn in an anxiety free environment, and at their own pace.  

I am slowly adapting to technology, utilizing programs such as anki.  I currently use some of the files from the shared downloads on the site; however, I will say it is much more effective if you create your own decks.  I can see enormous potential with mixing both anki and Chinesepod together - however, it should be emphasised that any items used are best to be subjectively chosen by the user and not a pre-packaged program from Chinesepod.  In fact, Chinesepod is doing more than enough.  At most, I only download one lesson a day from Chinesepod (a very good  pace; but I have the time right now).  In this way, I can build up my listening very carefully.

I will concede that I taught English in China.  And yes, I was surrounded numerous times by students who were keen to practice their English.  Every time it happened, I walked away feeling like a piece of meat and regretting I ever stepped into a classroom in China.  I took teaching seriously, but little did I know that Chinese students (outside of the classroom) were very demanding.  While I studied in my own country, I never saw any native students surround the Chinese teacher screaming slogans or badgering with questions.  In fact, I never saw native students ask the Chinese national to sing a song either.  One could interpret that in many ways - and I'll leave that up the Chinesepod users.    Regardless of that, I will state unequivocally that I will not bother a Chinese and badger them in order to blurt out a few sentences.  After all, what's the point?  If willing listeners are not in the coming, then there are more services on Chinesepod.  Again, anxiety free and in a controlled environment.

At any rate, Chinesepod is a God send.  But at the same time, the internet has become a library for language learners and polygots.  Compared to past generations we are practically being spoonfed.

Posted on: The Secret Cash Stash

坦白从宽，抗拒从严

I can't claim to the etymology of this sentence, however, I have seen it used in a best selling novel called 兄弟 bu 余华. (I recommend the book in either in English or Chinese.) In the book, the sentence is used in a satirical nature. From the tone of the spurious seriousness in this dialogue, I get the impression that nobody would use this line without at least a strong sense of irony.