Hello Everyone.
In response to this German video addition to the site. I can understand why bauchweh would make a suggestion like that. I do not see a problem with having videos as a learning aid. The thing is, a lot of people learn differently. Some learn from listening and theorizing while others may learn from visualizing and reflecting.
Germanpod101 is excellent and I understand that it maybe expensive to produce such videos for learning. However, to teach a language, a Teacher must understand his/her students well (or in this case the majority of them); and be sensitive to the fact that people have different personal learning styles in order to receive information.
Germanpod101, offer great lessons, but doesn't cater to the visual learners who learn through mainly seeing and who constitutes to around 70% of ALL learners. I personally use Germanpod101 lessons, but I feel that I must resort to other German learning sources in order to be where I want to be in fluency of the language. I am sure that if I were to drill the vocabulary lessons and memorize this and that I would eventually get from zero to some where near fluent; but my learning senses are a bit different, just like many other learners who immerse themselves fully in new experiences and learn the language by actively using it. Some learners are more cautious and they prefer to stand back and watch others experiment with the language. Some are focused on logic and they aim to fit things into rational order.
Germanpod101 is geared to the theorist learners who can only read and listen, but visual learners would have to seek other places to fill that learning gap. Reading and listening are only two parts of learning a language. Learners would have to be able to possess the skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening in order to be well balanced in a language.
I do not think that it is fair to shot away bauchweh's suggestion. I can understand if the moderators of Germanpod101 are defending their beliefs; perhaps being more open to suggestions wouldn't hurt. Maybe it could even generate more learners or maybe the financial burden for funding a couple videos as learning materials could be an easier problem to solve with new ideas and suggestions. When you turn away potential clients' ideas and suggestions, you are causing Germanpod101 to lack those funds needed. They will choose to spend their money where they see fit.
I enjoy Germanpod101 lessons a lot and I find it beneficial to some extent. Learning also depends on the individual's motivation. Learning any language to be fluent takes time and practice with the aid of proper learning materials. Furthermore, why would the founder of Yabla rant about Germanpod101 if they are trying to make money for their own website? That one sure baffles me 'immensely'.
