Learn Chinese with your iPod
Since we recently bought an iPod, I have gotten obsessed with podcasts. For all of you not familiar with this term:
"A podcast is a collection of digital media files which is distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and personal computers." (Source Wikipedia Podcast)
In plain English Podcasts are a series of audio or video files, like a regular radio or TV show. Sort of like a spoken blog. You do not need to download each file but you can subscribe to a podcast via iTunes and new shows will automatically be downloaded when available. If you own an iPod, the podcast are automatically synced so you can take them on the road with you.
I stated to dig around and I came across several podcasts for learning all sorts of languages. As I am learning Chinese I checked out some Chinese learning podcasts. Among the many, I found 3 that I think are especially worth listening in to:
- Chinese Pod: This one is my favorite. It has lessons for everyone from novice to advanced level. As you advance the English gets replaced by Chinese more and more. In the end there is only Chinese (advanced). There are 4 hosts, Americans and Chinese who mix interesting conversations with learning new words and sentences.
- Chinese Learn Online: A little more serious then Chinese Pod, but non the less effective. This one is more serious and purely focused on learning the language. It also goes from easy to difficult with an increasing amount of Chinese speaking
- SWR2 Chinesisch für Anfänger: This one is for German speakers and focuses manly on beginners who want to learn basic language skills along with some Chinese culture. It teaches in 70 short episodes enough Chinese to survive in China. What makes this one special for me is that the two of the hosts, Mr. Baus and Ms. Gu, have been my teachers at the Sinicum in Bochum, where I learned Chinese. Both very good teachers.
As most of the podcasts have fairly short episodes, they are a great way to learn some Chinese where ever you are - waiting for the bus, standing in line at the supermarket, riding the metro…
At the end I would also like to mention MandarinTube, which is not a podcast but also offers spoken dialogs, videos and much more to learn Chinese the modern way. You cannot take it on the road but you can use sometime at home or during your lunch break to learn some Chinese.
In this sense 学习，学习，再学习 - learning, learning and again learning.
