@steve - one possible model would be to create a “pioneer podcast group”.
The numbers would vary in reality, but, for example, have 30 people willing to pay $10 month to be part of the group.
Each member chooses one native podcast each month (from an approved list, from itunes, for example) that they personally would like transcribed. The approved list of podcasts is any podcast that has given you permission to transcribe and publish their podcasts (group members can simply ask their favourite podcasts for permission, as an example).
A transcriber is organised, to provide 10-20 mins of a podcast, each day. In exchange they get an hourly fee, and/or free access and points at lingq. Typically, 10-20 min podcast being 1 hour to transcribe, for a skilled native transciber.
Every day, each month, the 10-20 mins of a native podcast (one for each group member, each month), is published.
For an initial period 6-12 months, or longer, the content is only available to pioneer podcast members, after that the content is free to be used by lingq (open commons).
Consider a typical podcast is 30-40 mins, if a member wants the full podcast transcribed they just request “part 1” one month and then “part 2” the next month.
Again the numbers will vary, but this is a basic idea.
It is not practical for us to build library access for special groups. It makes more sense to simply add this content for everyone. Either LingQ pays for the transcripts or members pay for them
The website says it costs seven dollars to transcribe a podcast under 30 minutes long and $12 for a podcast under 60 minutes long. If the podcasts prove to be popular lessons, it should not take long for members to recover the seven dollars for a 30 minute or shorter podcast. If members are not willing to pay for the transcripts, we will , as long as we have a group of members who want to use these podcasts and either are Premium members or are willing to upgrade to Premium.
The first step is for you and other members to identify themselves and tell us which podcasts they are interested in.
On further consideration, we will undertake to transcribe these podcasts. Please let us know which podcasts you are interested in. Also please try to approach the owners of these podcasts to obtain permission to use their material at LingQ. We will look after the transcripts.
I agree we will use these websites for transcription. What I meant was that LingQ will pay for the transcripts. It is up to members to find the podcast that they want transcribed and to obtain permission for their use in our library.
@aiing. Regarding the cultural interviews series, I agree a fair number of the accents are non standard. However, I’ve found only a handful to be so non standard that I won’t listen to them…but I will read the transcripts in Chinese. I live in south China, so I’m used to the lack of retroflex on sh/ch/zh yet I’ve trained my tongue enough to the point where I don’t have any fear of picking it up. I would not recommend this series to a beginner for this reason. As for opinions expressed, this is why I like the series so much because imo it’s great to have Chinese express what they really think (especially about interacting with Westerners in business situations). While I find some of the opinions indeed blinkered, I have not come across any (yet) that I would characterize as bigoted, per se.
On average, I find the younger Chinese people express greater understanding of the cultural dynamic between China and America and this probably has to do with higher a English level. For instance, the perception that some Chinese have that Americans are “direct” 直接 is only partially true…circumlocution, euphemisms are likely not understood by those with even upper intermediate English yet this informs a lot of how Americans interact (especially in a business environment). To a non native speaker, especially one whose native language is far flung from English, this talk might fall into the “noise” category which might only cease when an American might abruptly say: “ok, let’s get down to business.” One woman though, was able to look beyond the stereotype and observe that Americans can often be 委婉 (tactful). One interesting thing I get over here w/ Chinese who speak English, is that they can often be direct with me mostly due to L2 limitations, but I think maybe also a perception that as an American that’s how I like to communicate – get down to brass tacks. Whereas the truth is, I am used to a fair amount of frivolous small talk before getting into something of import. Anyway, there are many fascinating factors at play here: The fundamental cultural differences…as well as how both sides work to compensate for these, based on whatever knowledge and perceptions they have about the other side.
Regarding Lingq, it would be great to have more material exploring cultural perspectives that could be imported – not sure where to find it…perhaps create a home grown interview series here, though that might be way too much to ask of Chinese members. I’m American, so another appeal of the cultural interview series is it addresses mainly Sino-Us relationships…however, for the sake of Lingq material, more general conversations from the Chinese point of view about Westerners (or other Asians) would be interesting to me.
In the meantime, I have just imported some content (not by me personally). I attempted to clean up the audio a little so I hope that you enjoy it. It’s a beginner to intermediate lesson.
@Iaing I finally got a firm answer from this Chinese podcasts site as to the cost of transcription. Their rates are much much higher than the low fees they advertise on their site. Back to the drawing board.
It’s a comprehensive course with everything that you need to get your Chinese to an advanced level. It’s free right now. It’s definitely got GREAT SOUND QUALITY, great structure, lots of practice activities, and will suite your level! I hope this helps you
This message is more than three years old. Andy, do you still find that to be the problem now as 2016 draws to an end? Steve, as a non-native Mandarin speaker, I’d enjoy the opportunity to record some content with a native speaker speaker to add to LingQ. Would you be able to help match me with somebody interested in such an endeavour?
