What is unique about CPod?

Basically, the reason I keep comming back to CPod is because IT WORKS!!! I have a blast listening to everyone in the studio and this just feels like a natural way to learn. Not only that, but thank's to the conversation's that go on here, I actually get to be a part of CPod. If I have a question, I don't have to aimlessly roam around the site. All I have to do is ask and ba da bing-ba da boom!....I've got answer's all over the screen!

Every lesson is a burst of motivation! I can immediately use what I learn because the material is so common and necessary! It's pretty obvious that I'm learning the kind of Chinese that people speak today and not some outdated version that could only result in confused faces staring at me.

About a year ago, I tried using a very popular program that I won't name here. Anyway, my problem with that program was that nothing was explained and I had to figure everything out on my own, but how could I figure anything out if I had no foundation to work off of? I didn't take more than 2 weeks before I lost motivation and quit trying.

With Chinesepod, I'm facing the opposite situation because you guys explain EVERYTHING and then some! I'm never bored and I have the feeling of accomplishment that I was longing for back then!

I've gotten frustrated with studying Chinese so many times before and the other day I was thinking about those times when I kept giving up. These days, giving up isn't even an option because I've learned so much in these few months of using CPod that I can never completely forget everything. Chinese is finally starting to feel like second-nature in my life! Studying doesn't frustrate me anymore because I having so much fun learning and everything sticks since it's so useful!

From the bottom of my heart, it is you guys that I love the most about Chinesepod. It is also part of something more all encompassing, which is the connection bulit around Chinesepod. Be it connection with a person, a podcast, a dialogue, a joke, even a sound effect, Chinesepod is always engaging. And I felt very strongly from day one that Chinesepod was started because everyone involved believe we can work together to make a difference and positive impact on learning Chinese.

It's highly entertaining. When I go to China, sod all the useful vocab like "when is the next train to Xian?", I shall always know how to say "Peeing in an alley is slow and inconvenient". Now *that* is an education.

I guess it's the nature of language learning that it has to get personal. So much of Cpod is personal experiences, grappling with day to day interactions involved in independent living.

It is young, vibrant, bubbly (I'm thinking Amber and Jenny) and despite some of the monotones of the guys it still stays breezy, light and upbeat.

It's all about making Chinese learning cool!

These are tremendous comments, that make us feel loved and wanted! It's clear that different people focus on different things, but one common thread is that people feel a bond with us and with each other. Amazing what technology can do sometimes!!!

I started learning Chinese a year or two ago in my late fifties, and came to semi retire to Beijing last year for some fun and paettime work and to learn in a more conducive environment. Even with that to help me, it is nothing to what ChinesePod has done for me in the last few months since I discovered it.

Not only is it the chemistry between yourselves and all of us, but it actually makes me want to get up and go to the computer in the mornings to download and get stuck into the lessons. It has catalysed me into buying an MP3 player and a stand ( I did not know what these were until last year), I now listen at night to Amber's or Jenny's voice sending me to sleep (sorry Ken) , and wake up to one of them with my alarm clock in the morning. What joy to lie in bed and listen to a couple of previous lessons and then go off and do more study on them.

But above all, it is just so much fun and yet so professional. You should be so proud of yourselves and I can't wait to come along and meet you all later this year in your Shanghai HQ.

I've said this to you before, Ken, but to me a place is only the people it contains. ChinesePod has always been unique because there is only one of you. Only one Jenny. Only one Aric. Colleen. Eileen. Amber. The list goes on. We come here and we get attached. We hear your voices daily and in a very very real way, you become a part of our lives. We miss you when you go (*sniff* Aric, Colleen, Eileen...). But this place is also us. The Franks and Bazzas and AuntySues and TaiPans. We've become a part of this place like its furniture. We even miss each other when we step away for a little while. That kind of connection is unique here and it's nothing you can plan. You can't build it on purpose. You can only be glad it happened and strive to nurture it. We're in this thing together. Also -- as if you needed another thing -- you actually delivered on the promise of "Mandarin on your terms." School learning was always frustrating for me because a person can only go as fast or as slow as the slowest student. By removing that one giant obstacle, you actually made this fun. No small feat, that.

I have no choice but self-directed study, that would work for me. ( A colleage flunked a junior college Chinese course, because his travel schedule gave him too many absenses.) My schedule is not regular either.

Given that, it is hard to find much Chinese learning material that is beyond the textbooks you can find in a bookstore in the US, but is still approachable for someone who is not completely fluent. [I know Podies like to complain about the gap between say Ele and Intermediate, but believe me the gap between "Ultimate Mandarin" (the textbook in my local bookstore) and 世界日報 (the local Chinese language newspaper) is much bigger.]

Aside from that, the lessons are fun, and the Chinese in the lessons is current and authentic.

I would like to see the Advanced lessons get back to covering Chinese life and culture more than they cover things that westerners can relate to (NBA, NFL, youtube ...) I would like to see the native speakers on CPODs staff describe their lives and interests, not learn how to talk about myself. I think the former would better inform my language study.

I like the daily schedule a lot. There is always something to check out. Also, my present habit is to study one Intermediate, one UI and one Advanced lesson every week. I'm caught up with the Intermediates and UIs, as in have studied every one that's come out since CPODs inception. So, the fact that most weeks there is at least one lesson at every level fits my current needs well.

The instructors all sound like people I would like to meet personally.

I think those are the main points.

Well said everyone. Aunty Sue and Doc, I am thinking new sides of your personalities where shown us with your two posts. Very enjoyable.

When it comes to linguistics, I am nearly an idiot. So, in 1993 when I found myself immersed in Chinese, I had no clue what I was in for. Lacking skill, intelligence, confidence, and much more, through brute force by a teacher, numerous used up pencils, a large pile of lead ridden 國語作業簿 and frankly, I don't see how it happened without some divine help too, after two and a half years I could actually communicate a bit.

Having to return to the States, I found myself downtrodden because I had actually started to see significant gains in my Mandarin and then, gone. Gone where the visual reinforcements, gone where the train and bus rides where good conversions happened, gone was the daily restaurant, gone, gone, gone. All of the real language, gone. All I had here in the states were books. Over the years I had some people support, but not until January 2007, did language learning change for me.

Cpod bought China to me.

To me, outside a personal tutor, Cpod is the best way for me to continue learning Chinese. And even if I could find a great personal tutor, I think I would still ask that Cpod be the curriculum for our time together.

Ken, I have said it to you before and I will say it again, you and your team's work has made learning Chinese possible for me and my family. Thank You.

To complete my incomplete thought: "...both teaching the subject and using current technology..."

Of course Jenny Zhu is a common thread for almost all of CP. Also is the great talent you've been able to assemble.

But just as important is one of the founders who is passionate about both teaching the subject, lets his passion show, and isn't hiding up in some ivory tower telling us what we should know.

Sometimes, I've felt the CPod experience was too much about Web 2.0 technology, whatever that really is, than actually teaching the lessons. However, despite the technical glitches, the lesson quality is really top notch.

I agree with all other points made above, but would like to add for myself how much I appreciate the cultural tidbits. As someone planning on traveling to China, I find myself listening as much for gaining insight to daily life on the mainland as I do for the language.

Technology - It's all probably standard "Web 2.0" (I hate that term) tricks by now, but I was über-impressed with stuff like the roll-over translations when I first started. These features are generally implemented very well, and work fairly consistently. Commitment - Being from a small, mid-western town, I've seen my share of businesses open up and then shut down within a year. In my opinion, this is mostly due to poor planning and lack of commitment. I know you can't win them all, but a little blood, sweat and tears goes a long way toward being successful. I can see plenty of evidence of this commitment at CPod, and I really appreciate it. Affordability - Big plus for me. There are other inductive/immersive language programs out there, but for your money, I'm not sure where you can get this much content + interaction with instructors and other students. The Pronunciation Guide - This was one of my first stops, and it was probably the best decision I ever made. This type of detailed, accurate information on pronunciation is very difficult to find anywhere else. I know native speakers are generally quick to complement foreigners on any attempt to speak their language, but they really do notice (and appreciate) when you pronounce it "shū" instead of "shoe." The Grammar Guide - I'm taking a leap of faith on this one. It is the last big gap (in my opinion) to be filled. It's gonna be great. Amber - You just can't beat someone with such excellent musical taste and a Canadian accent.

I agree with most of the answers here.

But from my point of view, the Cpod intermediate and upper-intermediate lessons are also pure gold.

I don't know any equivalent in this sort of format and tone (but I didn't look very far). Moreover, JohnP have an amazing talent to guess the exact question or joke I've got in mind during specific parts of the podcast. ;)

On the opposite, only on Cpod could you hear 2 or 3 persons with almost the same pitch of voice speaking at the same time (loud hubbub) when trying to teach you something in chinese. But that never happen with low voice/hight voice groups like Ken/Jenny or JohnP/Jenny.

Sorry, I'm not a native english speaking poddies and can't cope with too much information in english at the same time.

The Top Ten Reasons ChinesePod is Leagues Above the Rest (a la David Letterman)

10. It's Mandarin Take-Out.

9. You will never be late for class again.

8. A bevvy of really bright and smart hosts.

7. The enthusiasm of the hosts is contagious.

6. Vibrant, intelligent and respectful community.

5. Can't beat the price.

4. Movie Madness-the most clever scheme to learn Chinese.

3. Dear Amber-the most adorable advice column and hostess on the net

2. Qing Wen-the most fun way to learn grammar bar none.

1. AND, THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY CHINESEPOD IS UNBEATABLE (DRUMROLL, PLEASE)....................................JENNY ZHU!!!

scottyb,

Your post is certainly not redundant. I want to hear everything you gave to say. Feel free.

There are some interesting patternbs emerging here (jazz, for example, hits it on the head :) but I won't say too much about that at this point. Please keep 'em coming. What is unique to you about CPod?

It occurs to me, after rereading Ken's post and the following comments, that my post is totally redundant. Sorry about that.

1. Versatility - it does not matter what your level is, or how you like to study, there are usable resources for you. In addition to the podcasts, exercises, vocab flash cards, etc., 请问, movie madness, and the fix are all powerful tools that I don't believe have an equivalent in other programs.

2. Entertainment - weather your tuning in to hear Peter get whacked by a ninja, catch up on the latest gossip about Yang Jie, learn how to make Chinese crepes, or try to win some of Dave's love, Cpod is very good at making me want to "turn the page."

3. Effectiveness - All of the other language learning systems I have tried or heard about rely on the more traditional pattern: this is how you say water, this is how you say glass, etc. Ken's always mentioning inductive learning and, although I'm not sure how that is formally defined, I know it works.

4. Personality - Perusing the comments above, I noted several users mentioned the community as well as the Cpod staff and the personal touch both bring. I think Cpod makes us feel like we are part of something, and I wouldn't underestimate the loyalty and commitment that generates in your customers.

I forgot:

My breakfast: Ken, Jenny and a cup of coffee ;-)

What originally drew me to cpod was the ability to listen, read pinyin and see the characters with english translations all at the same time. This seems normal now but at the time it was a huge improvement. The ipod mobility allows me to reinforce my study anywhere especially during my long commute.

It's fun to listen to.

But I would like it even more if the content would be offered with traditional characters everywhere without browser plugins, without mistakes in the text...

The presentation in a manner which can be picked up at any time and then moved along with at your own pace. Listening to Elementary and not sure you're ready for Intermediate? You don't have to pay extra - you can just listen and decide. Been going through Advanced for awhile, but curious about something? Maybe going through a Newbie lesson will add some cultural insight you might have missed before.

The well-done iPod/mp3 player interface that allows me to see the characters and not just pinyin is also fantastic; many other podcasts don't do that, and it's a great help if I'm listening on the train or at work and can't get to the site.

I think something that needs to be mentioned is the incredible staff that you have. Jenny, Amber, Connie, Clay, John and sometimes even you Ken. The Jenny-Ken interaction, the Jenny-John formula and the Amber clay connie show are priceless. In addition your skill sets are overlapping and complimentary which works well to provide answers in all situations. I also appreciate the fact that the staff does take the time to answer questions. I am sure there are more unsung heroes in the background as well but the above mentioned group (as well as the listeners) make this experience what it is. What you do right you do well, maybe you should ask about what it is you do wrong.

My number one point would be the presentation of the contemporary Chinese language from a western perspective. There are many resources available that present Chinese from the Chinese perspective; however, only on ChinesePod can I hear Jenny say that this singer is like "the Chinese Barry Manilow". While obviously a somewhat trite example, I find that type of comment often helps me understand a specific term on a more subliminal level. (Its also funny, which helps.)

I believe that this approach compliments the more traditional materials (e.g. textbooks), as well as being a valuable resource in its own right.

Chinese is one language that seems very intimidating to Westerners. (Think the first reason is the characters and the second reason is the tones.) The lessons are entertaining and engaging and presented in a very accessible and low stress format.

There is also a very good and supportive community of other learners on the site. Out of four times I visit the site, maybe once is to check for a new lesson or extra and three times would be to check for new comments and conversations.

ChinesePod is also a very low-overhead way of learning both in terms of time, physical resources, and computer memory if you stick with listening to and downloading the smaller files. I travel and move a lot so it is really important to me not to accumulate things like books and not waste file space on my computer.

For me, the main attractions of Chinese Pod is

the possibility to really have a chance of understanding spoken Chinese. There are some other sources of spoken Chinese specifically for students , but they are often quite simplified, or specialized. There is also lots of material available in Chinese, aimed at a Chinese speaking audience. but of course it lacks the explanations and the easily deciphered written versions. So they are of limited use.

And as Henning says, there is huge quantities of very high quality material available.

YOU, Ken.

1. Practical lessons, anytime, anywhere

I learn new (sometimes interesting) vocabulary and their contemporary use. I get to apply them right away with Chinese friends at work and in China. While I learned some things from University textbooks, I thought I was learning "old" stuff.

I can listen to the lessons several times, write down the words on my own (for lower-level lessons) and compare them to the transcript. I can also read the transcript as I listen to a lesson.

2. Creative Content

The airport lesson is one of the best Chinese lessons I've ever heard.

3. Qingwen

Practical patterns presented weekly by a terrific trio.

4. Cpod instructors don't take themselves too seriously.

5. Cpod is still small enough right now that the teachers are able to respond to occasional email inquiries.

Amber went out of her way to help me figure out "我服了你“ several months ago. Jenny and John covered this phrase a day or two ago. Connie is the same way and exchanging holiday greetings with her always ends up with me learning some more new Chinese words and phrases.

6. Jenny Zhu

We all love Jenny and what she does for all of us, but we will never surpass Bazza's love for Jenny. ;)

But seriously, everyone at Cpod, including those in the background does a terrific job of helping me learn Mandarin.

Now what I would like from Cpod in the future is for it to provide lessons to improve my reading and writing skills.

Ken: To describe the uniqueness one has to look at your competition.

Compared to a conventional adult education course: Making use of all the advantages of the internet with 24-7 availability, user feedback and user interaction, flexibility of syllabus and the chance to look at every available level of proficieny.

Setbacks: You don't meet actual people in real life unless you push it by organising a meetup. Nobody corrects your errors unless you sign up for it.

Other online ressources: Higher quality of content and continuity. It was quite clear from the very beginning that you don't copy content or methodologies from textbooks, but develop on your own - albeit sometimes on the fly and as process testing things and eventually abandoning some.

Setbacks: Your success is stretching ressources, e.g. server availability, software reliability.

Conventional radio other podcasts: Listening and reading content are available with quizzes, vocab etc. Last but not least: User discussions and feedback, although the group88 probably doesn't work as good as previously expected. The blogs don't play that important role anymore, either.

I think it's the edutainment value of the site.

Is there a Pepsi and Coke in this space? If not well you can claim a lot of the content as unique. But that shouldn't detract from what is very good and familiar content.

A lot of the users probably have a habitual interaction with the site. Like McDonalds, some just drive thru and pick up the lesson and go mobile, others sit upright at a desk and go through the exercises and expansions while others like to hang out and contribute to the discussions.

Learning Chinese is kinda like the Seasame Street experience for kids. Kids can be amused by watching the same episode several times and the nature of the Chinese language is so multi-layered that even easy lessons can be useful to Advanced learners.

But it is the relationship between the users and the staff that is so unique. You need us as much as we need you - you need our input from the West to validate the experiences you have while living and integrating there. In a sense we ease that integration for you! At the end of the day we are both looking with one eye on a microscope and the other down a telescope trying to understand this fascinating but sometimes frustrating culture.

The first thing that struck me as different and wonderful, is something that still thrills me every day.

When I listen to a lesson podcast, its general atmosphere is comfortable, familiar, low stress, and entertaining in a radio-like way.

Every word spoken is spoken from my own perspective, as if I were sitting on the lounge between the two of you and we were all peering across at this foreign language together, and bringing delicious handfuls of it over to pass between us.

Nothing is done to me. I don't have to do anything to you. We're in this together, just for our own satisfaction. It's quite ok to leave behind whatever's less interesting, and to pocket as many of the jewels as we like before leaving. And as if that's not idyllic enough, when I happen to wish for more of something, next time there it is!

These pleasant experiences can be relived, over and over again. They can be broken down and analysed. I can check my memory and understanding of their construction. I can look at what others are saying about the same experience, and someone says they didn't quite get it, I can show them where the joy lies.

After a while, I can create similar Mandarin sequences, and use them to brighten someone else's day as it once brightened mine.

gosh my english is bad and I've become absent minded when typing. ---> "even the beginner lessons that you and Jenny produce are interesting to someone who..."

oops... I didn't finish the sentence about "weirdness" and "differences" you and Jenny talk about, wanting to say that evenn to beginner lessons with you and Jenny are even interesting to someone who goes to advanced Chinese classes at school and has lived in China for 5 years.

I would have to agree with all of the above, especially Bazza ha ha, but it is the wonderful content of the lessons, even the beginner lessons being an enjoyment to hear you and Jenny talk about the "weirdness" or "differentness" I should say of the different between western languages/cultures (i.e. English) and Chinese. You just don't see these conversations, vocabulary and grammar point discussions, from beginner to advance in ANY text book, at least not unless you want to buy every frickin' one out there, and still they won't touch on the things like WeiXiao said above.

Jenny Zhu. ;)

I have to agree with WeiXiao4. It is mostly the wonderful content and she has given some great examples. The way these words are used, other choices, and where they came from is then discussed. I have to say the quality of the presentation and the discussion of how things relate to english is also important. I am constantly amazed at how well Jen understands the english language and can bring things into focus. All your bulleted items are important as well.

One outstanding quality of Chinesepod for me is the relevancy of the lessons that are offered. In my favorite Zhang Liang and Lili soap opera I learned how to argue, console, connive, flirt, romance and be jealous. I can say someone is a "third wheel", "a great catch", and a "two-timer". I can describe a person as vain, devoted, stubborn, enthusiastic, considerate, honest, humorous, or modest. I know how to gossip, praise, cherish, and cheat. All this useful vocabulary wrapped in wonderful Chinese grammar and idiomatic expressions. Where else are you going to find this kind of stuff when you need it without waiting years until someone else thinks your ready for it?

The sheer amount of high-quality content.

Next come the points you mentioned.