Yes, ChinesePod has been promising a grammar guide for a while now. There’s a good reason that it has not yet appeared. Basically, an entire language’s grammar is a lot of information, and we want to organize it well. With the help of the Academic Team, I’ve been working on the Grammar Guide since the middle of last year. ChinesePod V3 will finally see the launch of the Grammar Guide.
ChinesePod has always had a sort of funny relationship with grammar. From the beginning, Ken has applied the top-down approach in the podcasts, preferring to let students infer grammatical structures on their own as much as possible. But still, some have asked for more grammar, or even grammar-centric podcasts. Ken’s method is working really well, but if this learning experience is really “on your terms,” then the more grammatical-minded among you should have a choice that meets your needs, no?
The Grammar Guide is the compromise. It will be a wealth of information on Chinese grammar, not only browsable by topic, but also intimately connected to the lessons by grammar tags. (No, I’m not talking about the “grammar tags” that exist now, which sometimes come with a “grammar point summary,” I’m talking about grammar tags that link to full-fledged Grammar Guide entries when you click on them.) Thus, those seeking more info on grammar will be able to find it easily, and those that would rather do without will not have it intruding upon their podcasts.
Let me explain a few more specifics of the Grammar Guide. Unlike our trademark modular, stand-alone lessons, the Grammar Guide is a hierarchical monolithic entity. We briefly considered reorganizing Chinese grammar somewhat, but that’s a really big can of worms, and there was not enough benefit to the student to make it worthwhile. That means we chose to follow more or less traditional categorizations of grammar. The explanations are clear and and to the point (written by me personally), with lots of examples of usage.
As for the grammar tags themselves, they are all being redone. Each tag will consist of a word (rather than a formula-looking thing), like jiu (就) or keyi (可以). Those tags (and their explanations) will be at the bottom of a hierarchical structure, and it’s easy to browse around in it to discover more about the words’ grammatical classifications and their usages. In addition, there are lots of links to similar grammar points, grammar points not to confuse with, and grammar point comparisons. Basically, it’s my own dream Grammar Guide for the Chinese language, and I think you’re going to like it a lot.
Because the construction of the Grammar Guide is such a monumental effort, it will be released first in a “lean” form, consisting of the underlying hierarchical structure and tags. After V3 is launched, both grammar points and category descriptions will be gradually fleshed out and improved upon. This will be a top priority after the V3 launch, second only to the development of the new lessons themselves.
Keep the faith, grammar fans. Help is on the way!
-John
Next Up: Pinyin Guide & Listening Test
中文 Chinese
马赛儿 Says:
March 26th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Looks like I’m going to like this a lot. I actually just bought a Chinese grammar reference when I was back in my home country the other day, precisely because I learn a lot from seeing grammar formalised in such a way and being able to browse away from the podcasts to discover more about the structures. I have used this reference now for the last month, referring to it after every podcast, and I learned a tremendous amount from it.
I believe I learn more from this than from inferring grammar, which is pretty much what happens in the “expansion” section. Plus, I find you can more easily ‘chuck’ your learning instead of going through lots and lots of sentences which cost me a lot of time (something I don’t always have, again compare the expansion section).
We actually had a discussion on the v3 expansion section recently, my second post to which didn’t quite make it through the wire in full. Let’s hope this way both learning styles get accommodated for.
One last, rather selfish, question. My premium membership runs out soon and I’m in serious doubt about whether to choose another half a year of premium learning over half a year of basic learning. With v2 I found I slowly but surely used less and less of the premium features, and right now I’m pretty much only using the PDF transcript. Before deciding on my next membership I was hoping to sort of try out v3 for a week or so. Has a date been set for it’s introduction?
Yours sincerely,
Brendan (Peeling Mandarin) Says:
March 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
I’m really looking forward to this addition. It’s a really nice feature for those of us who like to be able to peg the language that we’re exposed to onto some fundamental structure. Thanks John.
AuntySue Says:
March 26th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Grammar info that’s there to explore at the precise moment when you’re busting with curiosity, and grammar you’re told you have to learn and be tested on, are complete opposites in approach and in learning outcomes. I’m sure it’s only the second type that Ken isn’t keen on. Thanks John, it’s like we’ve come of age and you’re throwing us the car keys. This will give the freedom of grammar access, to people who had thought it could only be imposed as a chore.
Ken Carroll Says:
March 26th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Aunty,
You said it. Grammar cam be a fascincating (honestly) under the right circumstances! Having it your finger tips exactly when you need is one way to make it so. (This find-it-when-you-need-it quality is one of the most powerful aspects of e-learning generally.) This is an awesome development. We’re going to be able to do stuff that’s never been done before.
Ken Carroll
Antonio Says:
March 27th, 2007 at 2:00 am
I welcome the grammar guide, this is something I’ve been missing in chinesepod. Current grammar tags were not enough.
John Says:
March 27th, 2007 at 10:58 am
马赛儿,
All I can tell you is “Early April.”
Satisfying Conclusions | Sinosplice: Life in China Says:
March 30th, 2007 at 12:45 am
[...] course, the real satisfying conclusion will be when ChinesePod finally launches V3. It has been extremely busy these past two weeks, and it’s not quite over [...]
Jason S Says:
March 30th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Yay grammar!
Delta Says:
March 30th, 2007 at 10:52 am
John,
When you say “early April,” you don’t mean, like, April 1st, now, do you?
China » Blog Archive » Comment on The All-New Grammar Guide by Satisfying Conclusions … Says:
March 30th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
[...] [ ] course, the real satisfying conclusion will be when ChinesePod finally launches V3. It has been extremely busy these past two weeks, and it s not quite over [ ] – more – [...]