I've been mulling over the whole iPod Flashcard thing.
I have a couple of ideas.
1.Text
iFlash outputs text for the notes feature on the iPod. You could probably do it yourself in a text editor. The text on the iPod won't be very large.
All well and good and nice small files but wouldn't it be good to go further?
2. Audio Flashcards
-- I like to use my iPod on the move and prefer my MBP when more static. So I rarely read anything on my iPod; it's just on play in my bag or its pouch. --
I've made audio vocabulary lists with my own voice but I'm not overly fond of my voice in recordings and my pronunciation isn't the best model.
But why not do it with jPod101 lessons?
Edit out the vocabulary.
Put Sakura-san's sweet and perfect Japanese on one track and Peter-san's New Yawk twang on the other
. Now by unplugging an earphone I can test myself on English or Japanese meanings of vocabulary or have a drill by leaving both in.
If I save each word pair as a single track I can use shuffle to randomise the words so I don't get familiar with a particular order. Also I doubt I can listen to a list of more than 20 to 30 words at once.
3. Audio Flashcard plus.
To get the text in there.
On a word by word basis add a picture and make it into a podcast or movie. Again I think the play order can be randomised and it makes it easier to make custom lists.
The pictures could be an actual picture of the item. (I'd like to have only Japanese if possible so it's a bit more immersive.) a picture with the kanji and kana as large as possible. Maybe the English.
If I get sophisticated the kana could be animated like a karaoke track to sync with the break it down version of the word.
4. Other thoughts.
For straightforward Flashcards photos might be the way to go. Just make cards of the correct size in Photoshop or Elements and export them to the iPod.
I have come across a commercial vocabulary list that gives the English to one ear while at the same time giving Japanese to both ears. This is meant to be a subliminal technique that speeds up learning apparently. I don't know if it works but it's an interesting idea if you're making your own recordings.
Finally.
I think it's good to make your own learning materials. Just while making them you learn things.
I don't think the jPod team would object to anyone re-editing the programs FOR THIER OWN USE. (I could be wrong)
Which brings me to a
proposal .
I think audio flash cards would be a great addition to jPod101. Maybe as part of the Premium content. Possibly as a weekly file instead of a daily one.
I'm going to test out my ideas by this weekend and see how much work is involved.
(proposal)
I am willing to explore the idea of me doing these minor re-edits for jPod101 if they want. I think the daily mp3 file is of good enough quality.
I do think that anything like this should be an "official" file hosted by jPod101 and not a range of files by users spread over sites elsewhere. (and then there's copyright issues as well)
(different proposal)
(or someone might have a Japanese friend willing to do the large amount of recording needed on a regular basis, then they could publish their own vocab podcasts. Anybody Japanese in London wanting to do this can contact me and maybe we could come up with some projects together...)
, will know the pros and cons and problems encountered with japanese characters.
so I can't check them out. I tried Win based iPod Flash cards, which uses notes as flashcards, not very suitable because of the small size, I would prefer a larger font size, so your flashcard photo is a nice idea.
