User Comments - alwingate
alwingate
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang
May 21, 2008 at 6:10 PMKen, I have found the format that you used from the very beginning to be very useful in my acquisition of the language. I think I would have given up a long time ago if the format you are speaking of is similar to the format used in the intermediate lesson. One of the good things about the old format is that it gives a structure from which people can begin to learn the language. The intermediate lesson structure to me is pretty useless. My vague recollection tells a that this is an approach taught by some TEFL classes. I have talked to a few people -- teachers -- who have taken these classes and very few of them if any of my recollection felt that it is a useful platform for teaching language. This is secondhand information. I have never taken one of those classes partly because of the poor reviews they get from people who have taken the classes. So I'm really not sure about the changes that you are suggesting but I would say this -- two things. If it works -- don't fix it. If the new format breaks the spirit of newbies you will not gain customers that you will lose them. Okay. He thinks that it is important to try new ways to teach in a constant effort to improve one's ability to teach and the student's ability to learn. So why not give it a try and see what happens. You may find yourself the captain of the Hindenburg. Or it could be a breakthrough item. I notice that you did a little song and dance during a lesson which reminded me of the intermediate section. I hope that the intermediate approach to teaching language is not adopted for the lower levels. It's always a question in one's mind: what do we do next; how can we improve? The test is always the results. Are your students learning? Or are they just being entertained? Does the new approach show great results in other venues in other experiences? There's a fine line between entertaining and drawing people to you and being an effective teacher. It's a difficult balancing act. So that I've given you my opinion and when I hear more of the changes I am sure I will have more thoughts on it.
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang
May 21, 2008 at 5:59 PMkesirui To me it is very hard to be a vegetarian in China due to the fact that even though it may be a vegetable dish they will throw some tiny fish on it with her eyes looking out at you as very hard for us vegetarians eat something like that. Also I must say that most of vegetables I have found float in some kind of oyster sauce which gives it a fishy taste. I am sure you know what I mean. However there is in Taipei a vegetarian buffet which is strictly that and no meat of any kind is used in cooking. Taste wise it is delightful. I am finding out that the food in Taiwan is laden with sugar whereas in United States food is laden with salt and MSG. I prefer the salt taste and a side benefit is that it raises my blood pressure to the point of action. On the other hand, Taiwan cuisine really helps me to attain the goal of raising my blood sugar level. On the other hand, if one has not tasted juice made from the Lio Ding orange. if you like orange juice you will love Leo Dein. It is the sweetest most non-bidder orange juice I have tasted -- it is the nectar of the gods. Part of the reason for this I think is they do not throw the peel of the Orange in the mix.
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang
May 21, 2008 at 5:52 PMI liked the accent too. Uh, but as the lady said she has doubts The lady said she liked the accent. It's pretty cool. I'm guessing that is what you would hear on the streets in this particular city. Actually the reason I like it is because as a boy I love the accent of pirates. This sound reminds me of Wallace beery in treasure Island. Sometimes really I cannot see where I am going with this course of study though I do enjoy it very much. I'm sure that the the teachers at Chinese pod have specific objectives that they would like their students to complete. In this lesson I would say it is at least an advanced elementary lesson. The patterns in the lesson have not been discerned and so no comment can be made there. I would give this lesson four stars based upon the always entertaining and useful free Chinese pod lesson conducted by Jenny and Ken. they are a great team. One thing I did notice though is some leakage from the intermediate lesson in terms of a discussion format. I am really not sure how useful that is since I am unable to attain an intermediate goal at this time. I've never liked change that is particularly to change something that is already successful. Call it a character flaw. I for one must always keep in mind as a teacher is very necessary to keep at the top of my priority list to make as many students feel successful in the class because they are successful. I have seen this kind of thing done in their section which expands and adds to the dialogue section. Some of the sentences will seem incredibly hard and then they will throw in -- the teachers that is -- some rather easier sentence which makes one feel that he or she is making progress. The reason I give the lessons four stars instead of five is because I still feel there is not sufficient recognition of student need in the expansion section. It seems as if the reader speeds up more when the sentences are longer and the pattern and rhythm of the language is lost. This is just my personal experience. I don't know. I find myself in Hades. The newbie section is too easy. The elementary section can be too difficult. I had to stop my study because of the frustration I experienced to trying to master the lesson. So perhaps I am just a slow student who falls through the cracks. But I think that some of my observations -- though personal -- may apply to some others as well. I really do not believe that I am the last person in class in rank. Although the other day my Chinese friend said to me, "Al you are a kindergarten student in Chinese." At first and heard a little bit here that but it was true. I began to evaluate my abilities and speaking Chinese and discovered that in fact that I function at about a first grade level. How abysmal is that? I really do enjoy Chinese pot. I just do that little joke in for the boy and enjoy smoking hashish. I do enjoy it a lot. The thing that differentiates Chinese pod in my mind as a language institution on the Internet is the personalities of the front people in the institution. Ken his number one in my book. Also Jenny adds a special flavor. I don't listen much to the other podcasts because I have only so many hours in the day but I do enjoy listening to Amber on her shows when I get the time. I still would like to see some lessons oriented toward teachers. You know the kind of thing you could develop. An example would be keeping classroom order. What kind of phrases and sentences could be used in a classroom to maintain maintained order during the cleaning period of the day. The thrilling sound you heard in the podcast was given by an escapee from the Spanish pod team who was quickly taken away by the men in white and placed in a secure room for his own safety.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:39 PMBig Kev Actually I think Pinyin came into existence in 1945 correction 1949 in an effort to help students to learn languages more quickly. Pi±a certainly is a bridg to Roman alphabets that is Roman-based that is languages which have an alphabet. At the same time, traditional characters were simplified for the sake of learning. I do not know what the current thinking is in the Chinese government regarding the use of characters and Pinyin. I feel sorry for my Chinese students in Taiwan who have to learn a series of ways to deal with their language and the learning of English. They have something called KK which is kind of like the pronunciation guide you find in English dictionary. They also have to learn something called BuPuMuFU which is a way of learning sounds using simple symbols which then lead to the learning of the traditional characters.Pinyin is not used in the school where I work. I don't think it's used in any of the schools. To complicate matters further, students are now required to take a class in Taiwanese as opposed to Mandarin Chinese. I like Pinyin because it bridges the gap between characters and language switch are based upon alphabetical systems. I am told by a Chinese friend that BUPUMUFU is a more accurate way of learning Chinese sounds. Pinyin does some compromising in order to bridge the gap between languages.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:30 PMAmerican Red Cross: I think you can donate to the American Red Cross as individual and do not have to go through any organization as an intermediary. I am not sure whether the American Red Cross will allocate the funds in the way that you desire. They have done so in the past but not without a great deal of pressure from media.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:27 PMUser 31 Just take the lessons you have and open them in iTunes; select the lessons you want on CD and click Burn! There you have it. The lessons are now on CD If you follow the procedure carefully.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:25 PMChange, Or We could just get rid of the word lady. Just joking.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:22 PMJoanne this is always an issue. In my opinion, Jenny is the best tone teacher I have run across. yet, at some point of decision was made to speed her up. it could be a business decision. It could be the press of a schedule. But when I was a wee lad in elementary school it meant that I was in the K-6 grade range. so if you are elementary like I am sometimes you will find yourself frustrated with an intermediate pace. At other times the pace seems quite useful but at other times I believe it is destructive to learning. However it can work both ways for me since if he spoken sentence drags on too slowly but also becomes a thorny problem. Chinese on your terms is a tough premise and the folks here to enact foot job and I am sure that they will weigh our comments and make adjustments to create better learning situations. But I do agree with you that when someone reads through a dialogue without pace it creates a learning obstacle. At this point I can only offer you my sympathy. You might try some of the early leader lessons particularly the free dialogs with Ken and Jenny and notice the difference in the case of each lesson. Anyway that's my $.02 worth. I do know how frustrating this learning problem can be.
Posted on: I don't want it!
May 19, 2008 at 4:15 PMQuasi frog Maybe is not what you say but how you say it. On the other hand, I can't think of any other explanation at this hour of the morning.
Posted on: Hungry Traveler: Xinjiang
May 22, 2008 at 3:30 AMI must ask Azerdocmom if you are an elementary student? Because the pedagolocial principles will be different as the students advance.