Some Updates
January 19th, 2009
Dear listeners and Chinese learners,
This is a long due response to you all! I created the learnchinesepod.com in 2006, the original idea was a kind of “test” or challenge to myself. I had taught Mandarin/Business Chinese incorporating the most innovative methods for many years and developed my personal style. My teaching career has always been a fulfilling, rewarding and successful experience. One day a friend of mine challenged me to bring my teaching and lessons on line.
It was quite difficult for me as I was accustomed to classroom experience and online learning (pre-recorded) was a new and radically different domain for me. I could remember when I was learning English, our teacher would let us listen to a lot of cassette tapes (no MP3 at the time) and I hated them. They all have those “standard” British accent, with a very cold and dreary voice and it was all scripted . It was not fun and it’s definitely not a language learning product which I would like to take part in.
At the time, there were a lot of questions. How to convey those body gestures I use in the class? How do I explain tones without association of facial expression and hand movement? How do I use eye contact to involve every students to ensure learning outcome? How do I personalize content on the fly to teach by employing progression principles? How to cope with student mass with diverse background and learning aptitude? How to structure the lessons? How to eliminate the street noise outside my living room while I am doing recording? How to improve my English skills and oral presentation skills so I can express myself clear by only use sound? Technical issues? etc….
One could probably could never answer all these questions. But I thought for several weeks and with some planning and hard work, learnchinesepod was born. Due to personal reasons, I relocated several times and now re-establish myself in a complete new country and environment. For a period of time, I needed to deal with so many personal things that I forgot about the project.
Now that I am settled. I would like to soon came back to the project. Before I restart, I would really appreciate your help by submitting some of your overall comments, opinions and ideas toward the current podcasts. I promise that I will read them all and take them into consideration for the forthcoming pod casts.
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17 Comments Add your own
1. David Buchan | January 20th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I have very recently decided to learn chinese. I have gone through your current podcasts and have been very impressed by them.
If you would like any help, I would be glad to be of service.
I would be of most help with technical things. I have a degree in computer science.
Anyway, I look forward to hearing from you, and listening to your next podcast.
Thanks
David
2. Jack | January 25th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
I recently decided to learn Chinese. the only program that worked for me was your program. I am currently working on lessons 2 thru 9 which are available on itunes. Are there more lessons available? I hope so. I tried to email at yao@learnchinesepod.com and my emails were immediately returned. Will you be back with more lessons?
Thanks,
Jack
3. David | February 4th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for doing the podcasts and I look forward to new ones. I appreciate the speed at which you speak in the lessons. It is hard for me to comprehend the different tones when the speaking is too fast. Have you ever considered doing video versions? That would help with the visual aspects you mention in your post.
4. David P | February 12th, 2009 at 6:00 am
I really think that you have one of the very thorough and well rounded Chinese pod lessons on the web. I REALLY wish that you would continue developing this site and try to get it up to at least 1000 podcasts like the folks at chinesepod.com. However I prefer your slower and more repetitive style of teaching in the podcast lessons and especially enjoy the FREE pdf\’s for all the lessons.So please get a move on now. I\’ve got to get past the ninth lesson!!! Let\’s get cracking!!! And I hope that because of your love for teaching that you\’ll keep everything FREE when and if you do return. I\’m holding my breath for you to return!!!!
5. Phillip | March 11th, 2009 at 11:35 am
Hi Yao
I too have just started to learn Chinese and I really like the way you have done your podcasts. I really hope you have the time (and energy) to make more as it would be great to continue to use this website as a resource.
Regards,
Phillip
6. Peter McGreskin | April 11th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Hi Yao,
I\’ve just recently started to learn Chinese, and was delighted to find the podcasts and PDF\’s on your website. I have the podcasts on my mp3 player and listen to them every time I travel distances in my car, and I have to say the structure of your lessons has been a great way for me to learn Chinese. I hope you will get the opportunity to add more lessons, and I look forward to them, thank you again,Peter
7. surumi | April 15th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I really love your pod casts. Out of all the teaching programs and casts yours has really helped my to grasp and retain what i have learned. I really enjoy learning with your lessons. Thank you Yao. I can\’t wait for your return. I will definantly be listening.
8. david | May 4th, 2009 at 1:16 am
Yao, this is such a great idea, thank you for creating the site. I am now listening to the lessons. I would be very grateful for more lessons!
9. Tony | May 10th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Yao, I took am enjoying your podcasts. They are fun lessons — and I find myself retaining all the vocabulary. It is a great format!
Tony
10. Marco | May 16th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Hallo Yao,
I found your podcasts last year and used them to prepare for a trip to China. I tried many other podcasts, but the style of teaching in your podcasts is my favorite. I also ordered your book and CD, but the handling isn\’t as easy and natural as the podcast, so I gave up using them.
I am really happy to hear that you want to continue the podcast. I don\’t care if it is free or not, as long as the pricing is fair. Maybe you could offer it for free and add a paypal button to the website. I am sure many listeners, including me, are willing to donate for the podcast.
I have a chinese fiancée and her parents don\’t speak English, so I need to learn Chinese as fast as possible to be able to talk to them. I\’m looking forward to the next podcasts.
11. Dominik | June 19th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Hey!
I love your pod, I studied them all and now I’m sad that there aren’t anymore
keep up your great work, it really makes learning Chinese a more easier task!
Thanks once again,
Dm
12. Jimmy the Fish | June 26th, 2009 at 2:58 am
Hi Yao,
I only just recently found your podcasts, so am overjoyed to hear that you’re starting the program again! I traveled for a few months in china and absolutely loved being able to use the scraps of language i had – but now i am wanting to learn more!
i find your podcasts to be a great learning tool for the simple fact that you explain what the words in a phrase means as well as how they interact, rather than just repeating the phrase over and over. the pronunciation is easy to understand – and just really great stuff overall! look forward to the new episodes!
cheers,
Jimmy
13. Ridzuan | July 6th, 2009 at 4:07 am
Hi Yao,
Keep up the good work. Wo hen xi huan ni de pod cast de. Wo recently xue zhong wen and I think your pod cast as accelerated my learning by 100%
14. Dan | July 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Yao–Did you get sidetracked by playing basketball for the Rockets? Just kidding. I enjoy your teaching style and look forward to more lessons. When will you be back?
15. Chuck | September 4th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I enjoy the POD’s very much, I am sure there needs to be a way to MONITIAZE this or why spend the time it takes, I hope you find a covert this is a cash cow, or at leats worth your spending time on it if that is the issue. Living offten gets in the way of teaching, your method is AWESOME! so I look to hear more.
Chuck
16. Samantha | October 16th, 2009 at 6:07 am
Hi Yao,
I found your podcasts about a week ago and have enjoyed every one! I agreed that your teaching style is so much easier than other podcasts and websites. I was disappointed to see that learning Chinese for free online doesn\’t seem to be as accessible as for many other languages until I found your site.
I work in sales and we have a lot of Chinese students coming to buy from us. My main reason for wanting to learn Chinese was that I thought it would be nice for someone to make an effort, rather than just hoping they will speak fluent English.
I would like to see a podcast with a range of helpful phrases, perhaps this would need to be longer as it would be more in detail.
I really hope you release some new stuff soon!! (But I\’m getting your book for xmas… if I can wait that long! :0))
Thanks!
Sam
17. Jon | November 30th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Yao,
Considering another year has passed since your last post (almost) and it has been several years since your last lesson, I am not holding my breath for a new podcast. However, I would like to say your lessons were very helpful and the pace allowed for easy memorization. Thanks and I hope you bring this back.
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