There are some things about Chinese that you won't learn in a classroom, and some dialogues that conventional textbooks simply won't feature. For an example of the latter consider our crossover dialogue for today, inspired by a mixture of 1980s films, serial nightmares involving thirsty politburo members and a certain orange-flavored carbonated beverage that just happens to taste delicious when mixed with a bit of rum and drunk on the beach.

If you've listened to Popup Chinese for a while, you'll know what to expect. Or maybe you won't. But regardless of whether you're inured to the way we teach Chinese yet, listen up for our Chinese podcast that covers three elementary topics: an prepositional exception that proves the rule, an adverb you can use to tell friends that - as it happens - you don't really have the time to help them move, and a very colloquial way to order dinner. Because this is a long podcast and by the time it's done you'll probably be starving too.
 said on
May 1, 2011
I apologize if this sounds petty, but did you guys show Echo the right movie? The original crossover was Encino Man and American Pie, but she name drops Long Duck Dong at least twice. Wasn't that the character from Sixteen Candles?

Punishment should be taped eyelids a la Clockwork Orange with the complete Pauly Shore film canon! *evil laugh* 别人笑我太疯癫,我笑别人看不穿!
 said on
May 1, 2011
@f8daniel,

Hahaha, you are all right. It was just me mixed these two movies up :P

--Echo

echo@popupchinese.com
 said on
May 5, 2011
Why do some lessons have an "audio review" a.k.a. "the popup fix" and not others? Those are invaluable as drills.
 said on
May 5, 2011
Depends on the quality of the audio recordings going into them and where they're recorded. Too much static noise in the background makes them harder to use. We'll be going back and regenerating them where missing in the future. Thanks for the reminder.