[dean-dzai]

Did anyone listen to any of the podcasts from RTHK's "Naked Cantonese". Any comments?

There is some very colloquial language in there which is quite rare to find in pod casts (actually Cantonese language learning podcasts are rare enough already). I with there was something like chinesepod.com for Cantonese like there is for Mandarin out of Shanghai.

As far as recordings go, I still think Pimsleur is a good place to start.

[Pekkerhead]

actually, I find this podcast entertaining, but not really that useful for learning Cantonese - strictly neophytes only, plus they just go off at a tangent too many times and the presenter Sarah whatserface is just rubbish - embarrassingly bad in fact.

However, having seen Cecilia in action (I listened in to one of her private lessons at a Pacific Coffee once) she is very good and one of the better non-Chinese Cantonese speakers I have heard.

[dean-dzai]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

actually, I find this podcast entertaining, but not really that useful for learning Cantonese - strictly neophytes only, plus they just go off at a tangent too many times and the presenter Sarah whatserface is just rubbish - embarrassingly bad in fact.

However, having seen Cecilia in action (I listened in to one of her private lessons at a Pacific Coffee once) she is very good and one of the better non-Chinese Cantonese speakers I have heard.

I agree, I wonder how they could improve it? The first thing I thought of was loosing Sarah on the show. Maybe adding native speaker of Cantonese as a third person and keeping Sarah would mean you can really hear the difference between good and (Sarah's) bad Cantonese. (Canning Sarah would also be okay).

I am not trying to be mean to Sarah, she is learning slowly but surly, just that it is a Cantonese learning program and her pronunciation is embarrassing. Chinesepod.com works wonderfully with Jenny and Ken, maybe Cecilia should be partnered with someone else.

[Pekkerhead]

Agree. I think the problem is she just can't be arsed. She has lived in HK for 6 years (from what I understand) and still doesn't even speak it at a basic level, that tells me she doesn't want to.

The problem is that she changes the subject when she is put on the spot or starts feeling the pressure, and so the limited time they have is taken up by inconsequential banter (though some of it is funny), leaving no time for some decent vocab. They need to swap her for someone that is actually going to make an effort.

[Boneco]

For anyone interested in listening to the previous podcasts, here is a link i think it might be useful:
http://podcast.rthk.org.hk/podcast/nakedlunch.xml

[dean-dzai]

Originally Posted by Pekkerhead

Agree. I think the problem is she just can't be arsed. She has lived in HK for 6 years (from what I understand) and still doesn't even speak it at a basic level, that tells me she doesn't want to.

I have only been here since March 2006 - I am bad, but my tones are certainly better and even if I can't understand I can fool people for atleast a few minutes.

Has anyone thought of doing a podcast? I would love to see some linguists get together and do something maybe like Chinesepod.com but for Cantonese. What podcasts or audio lessons do people recommend?

[trickyt]

I think this show is great fun. I wish there were more Cantonese language lessons around. I like this one because there is plenty of English whioch makes it less effort than a program which be mostly in Cantonese. Ah-sa is funny. i love her. I wish I could meet the "Leung Loi".

Sadly it looks like the language lessons have ground to a halt in mid October. Does anyone know if or when they re-start, If not, has anyone got any suggestions to find some alternative Cantonese lessons in podcast format?

[dean-dzai]

Originally Posted by trickyt

Does anyone know if or when they re-start, If not, has anyone got any suggestions to find some alternative Cantonese lessons in podcast format?

I have no idea if Naked Cantonese will resume or not, but Pimsleur Cantonese for English Speakers is a good place for 'beginners' in audio format. I wish there was something further, Chinesepod.com is fantastic for Mandarin, I wish someone, maybe a Hong Kong university would go to the extent of making something like Chinesepod.com for Cantonese.

[Raiqi]

The podcasts are back. They seem to come out all in a heap but our favorite Cantonese speaking Norwegian is back again. Hai Gam Sin!

[Pekkerhead]

let's hope both of them have been reading this thread and made a bit more effort