In Huangshan (??) southern Anhui province in Eastern China, Fu Shou-Bing logs on to the computer in the public library near his village. Since discovering ECpod.com(http://www.ECpod.com), the retired High School Chemistry teacher has been logging on almost every day to the English-Chinese teaching website. Sometimes he cycles the 25 miles home, cooks himself a simple lunch of rice and stir-fried vegetables with salted fish, often returning once again to the library and his new hobby in the evening.
ECpod.com boasts an educational website that teaches members conversational English or Chinese (no “this is an apple” stuff here) via video clips contributed by other members. After a vetting and often transcribing process by language tutors commissioned by the site, the clips are available free of charge in YouTube fashion. The twist? Members film each other in everyday activities, hoping other members will learn not just their native tongue, but also cultural innuendos lost in textbooks and more conventional means of language learning.
“One member filmed himself cooking in his kitchen. We got a few emails asking what condiments he used,” says a bemused Warwick Hau, one of the site’s more public faces. One emailer even wanted to know if she could achieve the same Chinese stir-fry using ingredients from her regular CR Vanguard (????) supermarket. “We often forget our every day activities may not be as mundane to people on the other side of the world,” Hau adds. Another such clip is “loaches” – a Chinese mother of 3 filmed her children and their friends playing with a bucket of loaches – slippery eel-like fish the children were picking up and gently squeezing between their fingers.
Lately the members have also begun to make cross-border friends and contacts. The ECpal function works much the same way sites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com work – members can invite each other to view their clips and make friends. And it has its fair share of juvenile humor as well. “Farting Competition” features two teenagers and graphic sound effects. Within several days, the clip was one of the most popular videos that week, likely due to mass-forwarding by the participants’ schoolmates.
For other members keen to learn more than the fact juvenile humor is similar everywhere, there are many home videos featuring unlikely little nuggets of wisdom. “The last thing I learned from the site is why you never find green caps for sale in China”, says Adam Schiedler one of the English language contributors to the site. Green caps signify cuckolded husbands, particularly shameful in China as they are a huge loss of face. Adam vows not to buy any green headgear for his newfound friends.
The subject matter of the videos often speaks volumes about its contributors. Members choose their own content and film the clip wherever they please, some of their efforts drawing attention to rural surroundings and the quaint insides of little homes otherwise not seen unless you backpack your way thru the tiny dirt roads and villages along the Chinese countryside.
Idyllic countrysides and cooking lessons aside however, ECpod marries the latest video sharing technology with the old school way of teaching a language – from the native speakers on the street. It’s a modern, more convenient alternative to spending 6 months in China. And why not let the Chinese teach you?
By: Susan Lee
Posts Tagged ‘Conversational English’
When in Rome, Why not Let the Romans Teach You?
September 27th, 2009English Language Courses
September 2nd, 2009Learning the English language is similar to unlocking a door filled with a whole new world inside. It has become essential that the knowledge of the English language is the new key to communicate with the world. With this in mind, it is important to start as early as now in learning the world’s second language. There are a lot of schools in Spain offering English language courses to those who want to learn the basics of the English language, its proper use and even just to brush up on their conversational English. Here are some of the schools in Spain that may help you in learning the English language:
Villaviciosa de Odón centre in Madrid, Spain opened in 1997 and since then have been providing the best quality of English learning to its students. All of their instructors are native English speakers so that is why they are most qualified to teach both adults and children. As part of their courses, they will incorporate activities using technologies that will help the students boost their English, allow students to borrow reading materials and references to help them in their study and organize different competitions, shows and quizzes to help motivate the student while learning at the same time. For new students, a level test will be given to determine their current standing in the use of the English language. Courses are held in a period of one year with four different departments and each with various levels. The classes are three teaching hours a week. Classes are held twice a week on alternate days, or there are intensive classes once a week on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings.
Casa Lila is a modern four bedroom villa situated in a new urban area situated in the vineyards of the Hondon Valley midway between Hondon de las Nieves and Hondon de las Frailes, approximately 20 kilometres from Elche, and 30kms from Alicante and the coast.. A lot of homeowners in the area are owned by many Spanish, Dutch, Belgium and English people. We have many English speaking neighbours with whom you will be able to practice your new language skills. The tutors are qualified, born and brought up in South East England. They have experience in accommodating many foreign students into their home in England and teaching them to start or improve their use of the English language. The English language course is held on a weekly basis, wherein students settle on a Sunday afternoon. They will be given an ability assessment so that each programme is personalized for every student’s needs. The course intensive with 5 teaching hours from Monday to Thursday, however students are also given a lot of free time. The total cost of one week’s teaching is € 450 and € 800 for two weeks.
ABC College in Barcelona, Spain offers English language courses at all levels for adults, young adults and children. They offer one- to –one or in- company classes for their students. Their courses are general English, English for young learners, intensive, additional official examination practice, and business English. All teachers are qualified and experienced, all native English speakers who were trained to establish rapport and accommodate each students’ needs. The program is constantly updated to adapt to the level of the student’s performance. The use of the language is further reinforced by using instructional media in English and focus is placed on each student’s grammar and pronunciation. Prices range from € 290 to € 1410 depending on your length of study.
British Council in Bilbao, Spain has highly qualified teachers that will help you to hone your skills in English whether for personal or professional use. They encourage learning by allowing students to use media and other materials in English. They offer a young learner’s course, adult courses, conversation courses and summer courses. Both adults and children will undergo a level test upon registration to accommodate and adapt the program based on their knowledge.
By: Daren Kyle
