Newcomer-friendly topics

[roddy]

I'm trying to put together a list of no more than five topics that I can direct new members to immediately they sign up. These should be topics that they can post in, in order to encourage early contributions, and hopefully increase the rate at which we convert sign-ups to regulars. 

 

So these topics need to be ones that a large number of people will be able to contribute to, while obviously relevant to our overall theme of stuff that begins with Chin-.

 

What I've found: 

 

Why I'm interested in Chinese

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/42602-introduction-why-im-interested-in-chinese/

Might want to start a new topic for this, as that one's very much about Jeremy, but something along those lines. 

 

most embarassing moment

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/61-most-embarrassing-moment-while-learning-chinese/

 

pronunciation samples

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/19910-post-a-sample-of-your-pronunciation-here/

The bar for this might be a bit high - it requires recording and uploading. In front of strangers. 

 

random new word of the day

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/14374-random-new-word-of-the-day/

 

aims and objectives, definitely

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/42705-the-2014-aims-and-objectives-progress-thread/

 

Why are you living in China 

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/43413-why-are-you-living-in-china/

should maybe edit to "or why would you like to..."

 

Any other ideas? Don't have to be existing topics, we can start new ones. Could do with some more 'living in China' rather than 'learning Chinese' ones. 

 

I think I may also shortly post something up asking for a bit of help in encouraging newcomers to stick around. We might be able to do better on retaining people.

[Lu]

Perhaps the 'tell us about your accomodation in China' one?

[abcdefg]

Perhaps something along the lines of "language for daily getting along in China" or "meeting daily needs in China." What I have in mind is something basic and practical that could start with "Survival Chinese" and go a little beyond that. Something to help newcomers, or newcomers-to-be, get their feet on the ground and reduce culture shock.

 

I can remember the feeling of triumph the first time I was able to go into a restaurant and order a bowl of noodles or cup of tea. I can remember how great it felt to be able to ask which bus went to the airport and what time did it leave.

 

Maybe call it "Survivors Corner" or something catchy like that. It could include both give and take; both asking for help with problems encountered and offering solutions that worked in real life.

 

I would guess that a substantial percentage of people who sign up have done so because they either plan to go to China, want to go to China, or have come to China. This would appeal more to them than to strictly academic learners.

[roddy]

Lu, while that might be of interest to most, I'm hoping to find ideas where the largest number of people can post. Only about 40% of our traffic is actually in China. 

 

Similarly with abcdefg's idea - newcomers to the site aren't necessarily newcomers to China or Chinese. 

 

Now I feel all negativey. 

[Lu]

That was specifically a reply to your request for more 'living in China' threads... I was thinking that virtually everyone in China, no matter what level their Chinese or how adjusted they are, can post there.

Ah well. Perhaps the 'What are you reading' or 'What was the last Chinese movie you watched' threads? There is also an 'Introduce yourself' thread, although it's not much used. And there is a 'What other languages do we speak' one.

[roddy]

I probably wasn't clear, or am being over ambitious. But I guess I'm thinking of topics about living in China that people could participate in even before they get here - hence making the "why are you living in China" "what are you living / why do you want to live in China"

 

"What are you reading" is quite often non-Chinese books, I think? I don't look in there very often, but that's a possibility. Chinese movie one is good. The Introduce Yourself topic's a good one, we should use that more. What other languages do we speak - possible also. 

 

Thanks!

[Yorin]

 

pronunciation samples

http://www.chinese-f...unciation-here/

The bar for this might be a bit high - it requires recording and uploading. In front of strangers.

 

Just switch the order of the links on that list, put the "Pronounciation samples" link before the "Most embarassing moment" link.   

[roddy]

Right, I decided to start a new topic for why people are learning Chinese. It's here, and if you'd all like to go and post in it that'd be great...

http://www.chinese-forums.com/index.php?/topic/43982-why-chinese/