Farewell to the ChinesePod Factory - Lip Dub Video for our Poddies!

so much fun watching this old video again. Makes you wish you were there and part of the team. sniff sniff

Thanks Amber,

I hadn't seen it.Fabulous.It must be great to work with such a talented group of people who at the same time also look like such fun.I wish you all many more such prosperous and fun years.Cheers.

I'm resurrecting this post because I just watched the video again and it brought tears to my eyes!  hehe so sentimental!

For those who haven't seen it, it's our lip dub goodbye to the old ChinesePod factory... in the spring of this year.

Thank you for the local link roscovanbasten, It's appreciated.

Hmm..l wonder what's happening right now in the old factory.

C pod Great Videos! Make more!!... Chris...Awesome Rap. Was it hard to combine the authentic urban Black American rap tone with Chinese tones?

and you know what makes the old factory different from many a danwei (work unit) in China? Nobody has "Solitaire" or any other such game on the screen. With so many computers, that's incredible...

Hi Wildyaks,

you can see the new factory here:

http://chinesepod.com/connections/viewpost/jpvillanueva/connect/New+Factory+Tour

I can't believe I did not see this post earlier and watch that super video clip earlier! This is great! Thanks guys.

Will we get one from the new factory? Maybe it's already out there and I missed it?

(I have started to do more studying and less reading posts... That's how I miss such landmark events as this video clip of the old factory...)

This is the second time i've seen a home video like this. Is it Monty Python style comedy or something?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JStS8tBRMQQ

Here is the Pod Only Knows video on Youku （www.youku.com):

http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_cf00XMjUxNjAwMTY=.html

Can someone please (pretty please with a cherry on top)

re-post these videos on a Chinese Mainland video sharing site?

wow, I wish I worked with the fun folks at ChinesePod!

: ) hire meeeeeeeee =P

Good luck at the new office !

Wow, a very nice office...you guys deserve it. Thanks for the new pics jdubbiking.

Very nice touch on both counts. Thank you for sharing with the Pod universe!

That video made my day...and I had art history class today. That's hard to beat. Best wishes with the new office!

Great, hilarious video. I couldn't believe, either, how many of you there are in that office- no wonder you're moving!

I just re-upped my Praxis subscription, so I'm really looking forwards to the new additions, especially ItalianPod- I've been starved for really good Italian content since I studied in Rome. Hope they come out soon!

What a treat to see the old and new factories. There is definitely magic to the team. Someday I will come visit. Love the lessons. Thanks jdubbiking for the new photos.

A Link to photos of the new Place and of a Newbe lesson being recorded

http://picasaweb.google.com/jdubbikin/PraxisLangageChinesePodStudios

I was expecting the elevator guy to all the sudden break into song, but dang it, he didn't. That would have been the funniest, first turning away from the crazy camera man, then turning back and singing.

So, crazy camera man, I guess you were playing the music quite loud as you moved around with the camera, right? Later dubbed over the music again?

I only miss the elevator lady Jenny said she always talked to. She mentioned that on the newbie lesson Riding the Elevator.

on the video we only see a guy there, seems Jenny fooled us!

great video guys, nobody else deserves a better place than you.

I've been in Paris for the past 8 days so that is why I never got to comment.. poor me, huh? And I haven't been around posting since I was writing two 3000 word papers on Chinese politics and economics, so I am so far behind on posts and podcasts... ugh. But I am back Baby! Hope to be a little more here to learn with everyone and see CPod continue to grow! Couldn't be learning Chinese without you!!

I know I am over a week late on posting my comment about the video, but I want to say WELL DONE! THANK YOU! and for some reason I too will miss the factory. Maybe I miss most the fact I never actually got to stand in it, despite my wishes to be back in Shanghai again, as I was there exactly a year ago to this date (Happy May Labour day to you all!)

Yet I know you guys will be happy in the new "factory". What is the address for this one? how far away is it from the old place?

Very cool. That should go on the next promotional DVD.

Very FUN. Enjoy the new digs.

Great to see you all. Thanks!

I never saw the old place but apparently I was the first to visit the new one :-) and the new one is well very new and very nice (OK except for the smell of fresh paint Did that clear up yet?) So I must thank first Ken and Jenny for allowing me to photograph a recording of an upcoming newbie lesson (I will post the pictures as soon as this Jet Lag goes away) Amber, Clay and Connie for taking the time to answer my questions and a Big thanks to Adi for showing me around the Shiny new digs. You all have a great thing going and look like you have so much fun. Can't wait till I am back in Shanghai again. Keep up the great work.

谢谢。

sorry, i mean xin1ren2, talk about over excitement! Chinese pod... YOu ROCK!!!!

你 好 Chinese poddies, 我 在 zhe4li xin4re2 (still learning), and is currently enjoying the free account, but even so... I was moved by this video. hOpe you guys are in a much better place now. YOu guys are really great! 謝謝!

那一定会让人目不转睛!!!

You guys are legends!

This stuff is the spice of life. Great videos!

You're all crazy! I loved it!

French and Italian pod? That's a great idea!

I'm wondering if anyone at CPod has made a photographic record of the factory.....from move-in, to expansion, to move-out.

Not to create additional work for you guys, but if someone already has a photo history of the "old" CPod, it'd be really nice to see the progression.

Awesome! Thanks for letting us share in this goodbye. I'm sure there will be many great memories made in the new office.

What would WE do without you? Thanks for all you do for us.

great videos getting better with every time watching. Will you also share with pround your new working environment?

aaahhh, i just got home after a long days work, and after watching that video, you guys look like you have so much fun. What a special job. I hope you appreciate it, and I hope you continue your success

Tom

Ah... that was so bittersweet. You guys are so cool. Thanks for the memories.

I'm going to miss the old Factory's ... ambience. The new place is nice and clean and modern, but it's missing that certain funkiness (read: creeping mold) the old place had.

Thanks to Amber and Marco, though, we'll always have this video to remind us from where we came. :)

You guys are the best! You really made my day. You had me laughing and getting all choked up at the same time. Thanks for all that you do, CPod.

Great videos you guys. Congratulations on bringing such great spirit and learning from the factory. May your work be easier and more comfortable in your new place...but may the spirit of ChinesePod ever grow. Learning and fun, its the best.

great vid´s 谢谢你们 ^_^

keep up the (more then) great work!

I loved this so much!!!! looks like you people have a lot of fun! (I can tell anyway just from listening) haha

Thanks! ^_^

Chinese Rap!!! that is very smooth. I was catching up on some lessons today and Ken was remembering back to 1988. Imagine a post-olympic China. Maybe 2010 or 2012. Will it be all bling? Fancy cars and clothes? Suburbs? Yikes, suburbs eating all that prime farm land!

Phalaneng - Yes there are still many francophones who don't speak english. I'm guessing as the globe "shrinks" that number is getting less. The Quebec provincial government fights very hard to maintain it and even embed it into the culture. New immigrants to Quebec must send their kids to french schools and residents who were raised in french schools must also send their kids to french schools. The anglo schools are only for the residents whose parents went to anglo schools. They are becoming extinct ;)

Wow. I'm having my morning coffee now and this really brings a big smile to my face! =)

Next step : The rap video ! ;o) Here's is a great one from Chris Pereira :

two thumbs up! :)

How about another video of "settling in" to your new digs. Great video...Great idea... took me a second to realize everyone was lip syncing... ONE TAKE...?? amazing... although two takes would be a waste of time. Great to see faces to names and voices that we all know so well. Thanks...

Other video ideas:

1. How a lesson is made. From start to finish.

2. Lunch at Chinesepod.

3. Communication at Chinesepod.

4. A typical day, follow somebody as they get out of bed and get to work and work at Chinesepod... do they use ENglish? Chinese??

5. Video of a Chinese pod listener's life and use of Chinese pod... you could do a contest...that would be cool.

That's all I could think of.

Again, great video great idea.

Hehe..can't wait for Pinoypod.:)

If I didnt know better, Id swear you guys were lip syncing. JP - what a ham. Amber - you have a nice "toque". I hope there is heat in the new office? Both vidoes were good. Jenny - you look great. Ken - well dont worry, everybody is looking at Jen anyway. I guess Connie really is a little short, but cute as a bug's ear and the brains behind the scenes. Nice to see all of you. Now, how about a peek at the new office? Looking forward to continued service and growth in the new location. You guys deserve some sort of award. The "Nobel pod prize" or something.

-RJ

I loved it! Vera, I saw you! Thanks for really making me smile (wei1xiao4).

Great idea! Great people! Great video!

Love the song! Straight out of Love Actually. Haha :)

Good job guys! Thanks for all the lessons and looking forward to more! Wishing everyone all the best!

This was very fun to film. A great idea!

Eric, the "ba ba ba" guy is also the Taiwanese voice in the recent Regional Accents lesson.

哎呀！太好了！哈哈哈！好笑啊！ That is a fun video! It's so cool because I was there! And, I recognize the factory and the alleyway and the people! I miss being there so much now; I want to go back!

我认识办公室。我也认识大家。我好想念你们！我要回去上海和ChinesePod！

Dear phalaneng, I believe that the guy who looks a bit like a Hispanic Shah Rukh Khan is Leo Guerrero ("Leo the Warrior" -- wow!!!), who does the marketing relations. I can definitely relate to his looks.

Wow, I never imagined PraxisLanguage would be such a huge company! Incredible...

By the way, who's that man who looks a bit like a Hispanic Shah Rukh Khan? ;-)

"Maybe frenchpod will help this Canadian talk to the other half of the country."

Perhaps you could shed some light on an issue that I am interested in: are there any francophone Canadians who don't speak English too well?

I find it very terrible that you all should have that much fun at work!! I'm so jealous! Maybe frenchpod will help this Canadian talk to the other half of the country. And maybe ChinesePod will continue to allow me to see the world.

我很喜欢了！

Thanx for that video!

Tolles Video - was ist mit GermanPod?? ;-)

So, if ever I'm back in Shanghai I'll never be able to visit you in those legendary offices.

Simply brilliant. Brings back fond memories of my visit. *sniff*

Awww, I loved that. I had no idea there were so many people in the Praxis family! You'll be listed on the Dow Jones soon at the rate you're growing. I must say it was very good for only 1 rehearsal - and no cuts either!

Can't wait for French and Italian Pods - this Marco guy sounds very cool. (By the way, great video marco!)

The factory farewell video sums up perfectly what i love so much about Praxis - you're excellent language teachers, but never scared to do things in a fun, really enjoyable way.

If I was a woman I'd be crying by now... :)

Thanks for sharing those videos!

And thank you all so much for your work!!

I just found cPod about 3 month ago and i am already addicted... very addicted! I have to smile to my self sometimes when i listen to the "...what would you do without cpod... crying in public..." jingle: i am not sure...i think i would be in danger to do so! :-)

Looking forward to the brand-new shows, Good Luck for the moving!

And also a big thanks to all Poddies! Its so helpful and i am having so much fun learning together with all of you!

Thaks again to everybody, hosts and learners!

Gesang 格桑

Great video and obvioulsy "FrenchPod rocks !" :o)

The only thing the video doesn't show is how freezing cold it was in there when I visited. It was really, really cold that day!

Thanks for the clip(s).

Epic!

Zui hao de!

Very sentimental piece. I started at the old factory in June 2005. Fresh out of uni, I found myself in a run down factory with lime green walls, energetic (somewhat geeky) colleagues and a unisex bathroom. Ah, those were the days.

Thank you, super-talented Marco from ItalianPod, the mastermind and hand behind both clips. He's since gathered quite a following in the office. John B said 'you gotta admit that Italians are simply better at some things'. Amber also worked her heart out on the video. We heart you.

This is a tribute to us and to all poddies. The end scene in the video with all the pods popping out made me very proud to be part of the family.

Good luck to you all. Very moving video. So this is where the buzz is, this is where it all happens....

Time too for a personal note. I have been with you since the end of 2005. I was stuck then in a chinese evening class that was really going nowhere. Partly because the method was not good, but also because most of the students there were not very motivated, so the level was quite low.

I was a paying customer too from the beginning. Looking back for more than 2 years now, I want to tell you that I think that the service you offer is incredible value for money. My progress has been incredible. I have been exploring other avenues, complementing my studies with the odd book and course here and there, but I keep coming back to CP because it it the best! And seriously guys, don't see anyone coming even near.

In the mean time I have gone from newbie to elementary and intermediate. I can understand most of the intermediate lessons after listening to the podcast one or two times. I can understand even a lot of Upper Intermediate lessons. It is more than I had hoped for. But there is more. I have made a few friends in China, yes...through the internet. Some of them understand English, some of them don't. I use Chinese to write to them and this seems to work. And I can really write about anything I want. It may not be the most correct Chinese out there, but it is certainly clear enough for them to understand. And when they write to me, I also understand them. This is certainly more than I would have hoped for.

So for me, Cp has become very important. I hope that I can continue to use your services. Please keep up the good work. We need you out here!

Marc (from Belgium)

This is the surprise!!! Yay!!! I'm gonna miss the office though since that's where Chinesepod started out...:) Thanks for the video Amber!

哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈哈！！！

i like how some of the people looked very confused....like they had never heard the song before!! very funny indeed...Thanks POD. Good luck in the digs and keep those wacky videos updates all coming. I know that we all love them.

-亚当

I'm imagining the job listing:

"Help teach English speakers Italian, out of an office in Shanghai, China!"

Anyone applying for that job automatically gets on my cool-person list.

Does the staff for SpanishPOD also work out of the same office in Shanghai? I've been wondering that since I discovered SpanishPOD and tried to convince my spanish-studying mother to try it out. (No soap, though. She liked the idea but insists she can't find the time.) Will the new French and Italian PODs also operate from the same office? If so, that office seems like a potentially awesome linguistic place to work!

Oh, I knew who is Clay from the second vedio now, ha ha!

It is cool, thank you Marco for the good work.

Wow, Thank you SO MUCH Chinesepod for giving us such a surprise. It is really wonderful video. Look at you, you just rehearsed once and it came out so wonderful that I was moved by this surprise. It seems that i were there and hold the video and...

I agree with light487, the chinese man who sang"ba ba ba" was very funny. And JP, it is no doubt that he is a funny guy in this clew and can bring you happy and humorous every day!^_^哈哈哈 Oh, which one is Clay? I have no idea about that. Connie is very cute and lovely, i like her smile. And for our dear Amber, You are so wonderful and charming, words can not express my appreciate for you right now. Also, John, Jenny and Ken, well done, keep on the good work.

I always knew you were a silly lot (and I suspect the silliness hasn't diminished in any way after JP joined the company). Thank you for making learning Chinese so much fun!

Wow!

You have grown quite a bit since I visited you last September....

And there are even slots to fill for GermanPod, JapanesePod, RussianPod, and ArabicPod...

That's so cool! Looks like you guys had a lot of fun.

I hope for more 中文pod videos in future! :) 我爱 seeing all the 人 and hearing them speak. Please do short interviews about the 中文pod 人.. may be about who they are and what they like and all that. 谢谢

Alll of you at CPOD are such wonderful people... watching this video was an emotional experience. I wish you all a happy future in your new home! Thank you SO MUCH for everything you do for us.

We only loosely rehearsed once and did it all in one take!! so a few slip ups hehe! We have an Italian genius in our midst, Marco... he did this one too from some pics we took the other day for the site:
ChinesePod::behind the podcast from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.

Thanks so much. It's nice to have a visual on all of your enthusiasm than we normally hear on the podcasts. How many times did you have to rehearse this?

JP is quite the showman, Connie looked super-cute and Clay - what's with the eating (you can't take that guy anywhere!).

Well done and good luck at the Factory 2.0.

哈哈！ 很好Amber! :)

Finally we get to see the surprise. You're all completely crazy.. you know that right? :) I laughed a lot at some of the people attempting to sing along with the tune, especially the guy doing the "ba ba ba" bit in the middle just after we see John Pasden doing the "oooh" bit. :) Who is that?

Would have been nice to see captions of who each person is flash up on the screen but I understand how much extra work that would have been. I bet your neighbours are glad you are not being so noisy outside in the alleyway now.. haha :)

我们中文POD!

- 路加

brilliant (can't believe I'm the first to comment, from Brazil this week as it turns out) quite nostalgic too, turning over a new leaf I guess :-) good luck!

Here it is:
POD only knows from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.

Here it is:
POD only knows from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.

Here it is:
POD only knows from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.

Here it is:
POD only knows from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.

Here it is:
POD only knows from PraxisLanguage on Vimeo.