Return of cassette technology
One of the classes I enjoy the least is our listening class (听力). If you recall, my class is an absolute beginner class. After enjoying more than a year in China, my experience makes the initial classes terribly boring for me. Indeed I was warned by my Nanchang teachers that the first couple months would probably be very dull review while my classmates learnt about the 4 tones™ and other key principles of Mandarin Chinese. Logically I recognize that attending these classes is still beneficial for me, but the economist in me says the net-benefits of doing anything else (even studying at home) are much higher—especially now that our unheated classroom feels like an icebox despite how many layers of clothing one might wear.
Weeks ago the class agreed that the cassette tape used in class was impossible to hear. Garbled by the cheap cassette player, we were all confounded when extremely simple exercises were rendered unintelligible. The school agreed they would buy a CD for RMB$140 and then copy it for each of the students; thus, it would cost RMB$20 each and please don’t bother to ask about copyrights. I’ve had my copy of this disk for a couple weeks, but I’ve never used it. Imagine my surprise when I pop it into my computer and find out where my money went. Someone had recorded the cassette version into a series of MP3’s and put it onto a data-CD. Each track starts with the unmistakable sound of the gears pulling blank tape over the magnetic reader before the now-doubly-degraded audio begins.
At least we can understand the recording and use it to study at home; although, I still don’t understand why our teacher isn’t capable of reading the exercises from her book in our class, because she still uses the cassette and we still can’t understand so well. Another good reason to stay home.
December 5th, 2006 at 9:29 am
what did you wanted for 20 RMB
December 5th, 2006 at 9:59 am
Ha ha! It’s true, but I would have preferred to not buy it at all.
When I gave them my money I thought we were buying a legitimate CD to use in class. I didn’t like the idea of buying equipment for the school that the school should buy with it’s own money &mash; especially considering how much they collect in tuition fees; however, I misunderstood what was happening. I wouldn’t need the CD at home anyway if the teacher would use a CD in class (instead of the useless cassette) or just read the book and let us follow her pronunciation.
I’m not the only one who misunderstood. I’ve heard classmates make similar complaints. Some have considered asking for their money to be returned. They made us share the cost of a new legitimate CD, but paid someone to record the existing cassette into MP3’s. Not only is it a waste of money, but it barely improves the sound quality. Sound quality was the original problem.
This whole episode is so ridiculous, but it certainly isn’t worth making trouble over. It’s just another story to laugh about.
December 6th, 2006 at 4:36 am
hey Justin, thanks for linking to nanchang life. I’ve linked back to you via sunny nanchang (www.sunnynanchang.blogsource.com).
I agree the whole CD/tape thing is ridiculous but i disagree that it’s not worth making trouble over. Sure it’s only 20 yuan but it’s the principle that matters. If they keep on getting away with cutting corners then things’ll never change and the poor sods who follow in your shoes will only get it worse. Think of it as a good deed on behalf of future students.