CSL Podcasts

Podcasts are downloadable MP3s. Since they can be played on portable players, as iPods, podcasts are a great CSL study tool. You can get language input while driving class, walking to class, or even during a work-out. Podcasts can definitely help you learn Chinese faster.

Chinese Pod

Chinese Pod is the clear leader. They have literally hundreds of podcasts that users can download for free. They also have a rapidly expanding variety of vocabulary trainers, games, and other learning materials available to paying subscribers. They’ve divided their lessons into five levels. Below are links to a few of each.

  1. Newbie - Intro 1: Good morning (mp3)
  2. Newbie - Intro 2: What’s your name? (mp3)
  3. Newbie - Intro 3: Where are you from? (mp3)
  4. Newbie - Intro 4: Do you like China? (mp3)
  5. Newbie - Intro 5: Do you have a menu? (mp3)
  1. Elementary - Mild Swearing (mp3)
  2. Elementary - The Traffic Jam (mp3)
  3. Elementary - Which country are you from? (mp3)
  4. Elementary - Discussing Eating (mp3)
  5. Elementary - Finding an Apartment (mp3)
  1. Intermediate - You look exhausted! (mp3)
  2. Intermediate - Weather, Man (mp3)
  3. Intermediate - City Comparison (mp3)
  4. Intermediate - Chinese Celebrity: Bruce Lee (mp3)
  5. Intermediate - China’s Supergirl (mp3)
  1. Upper Intermediate - Opening a Meeting (mp3)
  2. Upper Intermediate - New Year’s Resolutions (mp3)
  3. Upper Intermediate - Intellectual Property Lawsuits (mp3)
  4. Upper Intermediate - Exchange Rates (mp3)
  5. Upper Intermediate - Black Market Gun Deal (mp3)
  1. Advanced - 日本恐怖片 (mp3)
  2. Advanced - 谁当家? (mp3)
  3. Advanced - 韩流 (mp3)
  4. Advanced - 人性本善 (mp3)
  5. Advanced - 姓名的起源 (mp3)

iMandarin Pod

Run by the leading Chinese educational development center in Tianjin, this site is notable in that it offers both podcasts and PDF learning guides for free.

  1. Winter Vacation （放寒假） (mp3) (pdf)
  2. New Year’s Eve Dinner （年夜饭) (mp3) (pdf)
  3. Buy Clothes (买唐装) (mp3) (pdf)
  4. I want to be a Volunteer （我也要做志愿者） (mp3) (pdf)
  5. Firecracker (放鞭炮) (mp3) (pdf)

Learning Mandarin Podcast

The Learning Mandarin Podcast is the work of a single devoted teacher at the MSL Center.

  1. Podcast 1 (mp3)
  2. Interview Maya (mp3)
  3. Tim and Wantanee (mp3)
  4. Interview with Junko (mp3)
  5. interview with Paolo (mp3)