A number of new additions to the site:
New Flashcards
First, we have created a new main tab item called “Vocab Builder” which will contain all the glossary, word bank, etc related items. For the Flashcards, we have updated the design and added in a number of user-requested features, such as a counter, first-last & next-previous buttons. You will also notice a currently inactive ‘Play’ button that will eventually allow for each term to be heard. It is just going to take us some time to build this out as we have more than 30,000 phrases that we need to record.
Greasemonkey Script
We have also added a new subtab, we are currently calling “Greasemonkey Script”. If you are a Firefox 1.5 user, this will provide you the ability to save Simplified Chinese words from ANY webpage into your ChinesePod Flashcard system. A big thanks to David Lancashire at adsotrans.com & newsinchinese.com for continuing to inspire with good ideas. If you are interested in improving you vocabulary or reading skills, you should definitely check out his good work. Instructions on how to install this feature can be found here and if anyone has a better name than “Greasemonkey Script” please let us know below in the comments.
IP Re-Direction
A couple weeks back we launched a Japanese version of ChinesePod. This week we added an IP check that will automatically forward Japan-based users to the Japanese site. If you are a native English speaker in Japan, you can always switch back to the English-site with the language menu on the top-right. There is also the Site Version option under Your Account - Modify Details where you can set your personal preference.
I am experiencing two problems with my Word Bank:
1. If I left click a word in Glossary to add the word to my word bank, the glossary entry appears in a new screen with an “Add to Word Bank” button. Clicking this leads to a “You have successfully added this term to you Word Bank” screen. However, in my word bank, whilst a new entry line appears to have been created, there is no data in any of Chinese, Pinyin or English fields. Returning to Glossary and adding any further new words fails with the message “the entry already exists”. As a side issue, the “Close Wimdow” button on the “You have successfully added……..” screen does not function and it requires two clicks on the “Back” button of Firefox to return to Glossary.
2. The new flash card function is not working. When I click on a card to reveal the translation “Null” appears. Same for each card.
I am using Firefox ver 1.5
I’m sorry if this is addressed in some FAQ. I’m a new users, put paid subscription. When I use the flashcards from my PC, the “English” for every one of them is “null”. It doesn’t matter whether I start with English or end with it, or whether I use firefox or Internet Explorer. I’m on XP pro with SP2. I’ve tried from my Mac and all I get is an infinite wait on “connecting to database…” Any ideas on what to try next?
Phil - if you’re still around - did your wordbank EVER work, and just stop working, or did it NEVER work? Just curious. Wade
I do not recall adding a word from Glossary before, only from the Dialogue Transcripts, which still works OK. The flash cards worked before.
Phil / Wade,
As you are well aware there are a number of issues with the Word Bank, Flashcards and Glossary. Most of the problems are related to the Glossary, which is currently lacking correct English translations for most of the 30,000 plus words. The Roll Over Effect, Word Bank and Flashcards are all integrated with the Glossary and are therefore impacted by the missing information. We are aware of the problem and are taking measures to resolve the issue as promptly as we can. Our action plan includes:
1. Resolving the “Null” display issue with the Flashcards. Our technical team is working on a fix that will go along way towards resolving this issue. The fix will be tested and implemeted over the next 2 to 3 days.
2. Missing and incorect English translations in the Glossary. Correcting the translations and adding those that are missing can only be done manually. We are working on an action plan to resolve this issue. Are priority is to ensure that the vocabulary used in our daily podcasts and learning materials is entered correctly into the Glossary. Vocabulary outside of the lessons will be entered as time permits. We are forming a small team of people to complete this task, but with 30,000 records in the Glossary this will take many weeks to complete.
Matt Park 段伟
Update on this:
1) We have updated the glossary tables and the NULL problem should be resovled now.
2) As for the incorrect English definitions, we originally started with the CEDICT English-Chinese dictionary. There are a number of incorrect or just plain strange translations. Instead of slowly going through and editing them with definitions we think best, we are going to open it up to the community. Just as we have options now in the Vocab Builder for English, Pinyin, Chinese and Wildcard we will add a new option with wiki-like abilities called PodThink. The community will be able to directly edit the definition to how they see fit. The name ‘PodThink’ is up for negotiation if someone has something better.
We appreciate the feedback.
Tech Team
Tech Guys,
Why when a comment is added to a day’s lesson it is often hours before it appears in the “recent comments” or even updates the number of comments for a lesson. Why do I ask while at work I will click to see what is going on but often there are comments if you open one of the lessons but you have to do so in order to know Barry has responded or David has said something…….
Thanks You guys are doing a great job
Mike in Jubei
Hey Tech Guys
You are either really good or I got lucky with the update clock as my last post after one of the dialogs almost instantly appeared.
SO now I have a bigger request. The flashcards are coming along nicely especially the “tease” for the inactive “Play Button.” Would it be possible for you to compare specs or whatever it is with Pleco Software. They plan to have Play mode on their Flashcard software that runs on PDA’s sometime in the future. I of course have selfish reasons as my new Palm PDA is coming with my wife in two weeks and then I will order Pleco software as it is.
The main purpose of the PDA/Pleco for me is to to (1) listen to chinesepod (2) see the pdf’s when I cheat and need help (3) see a character on the street, write in on the screen and get a translation (4) flashcards so (5) HEAR the flashcards would be great.
I made the request to Pleco on their forum as well.
Mike in Jubei
A minor wordbank problem (I think). As an English/Pinyin user I tend to sort the wordbank by Pinyin, which I assume to mean an alphabetical sort on the Pinyin field. Starting from p1, sorting by Pinyin produces the expected result. Moving to p2, the 20 words presented are not the next 20 of a fully sorted database, neither are they sorted. Then sorting p2 by Pinyin returns me to p1. Also is would it be possible to have the wordbank default to a user preferred sort order?
On a more general note, I have been using Cpod for some weeks now and enjoy poking around the podcast comments, blogs and wiki etc. There are plenty of useful questions and answers on all sorts of subjects, however they are also totally scattered around the site. Is there a search function that I have not discovered? For example maybe the above question has already been asked and answered and a search on “wordbank” or “word bank” may reveal all.