Following a discussion with the community, ChinesePod has developed and implemented a new Private Message (PM) system which leverages users’ existing email accounts to deliver and store messages. Whereas before messages were all stored on ChinesePod and users had to go there to read them, now the messages themselves (not just a notification) exist as emails. Because the messages are sent through ChinesePod, users’ email addresses are not disclosed.
The obvious advantage of this system is centralization of messages. If you use an email system like Gmail, it’s easy to find any of your past PMs by searching, or to set up labels and filters to keep all your PMs nice and tidy in one place. Here is an example of how the PMs thread nicely in Gmail:
The two main reasons we made this change are to (1) give users all the management controls of email, and (2) reduce issues of online PM maintenance so that our development team can focus on lesson management and other tools instead.
The most important factor, of course, is the user experience. Community is, and always has been, central to the ChinesePod experience. Some ChinesePod users have experienced difficulties receiving PMs. Others prefer to interact with other ChinesePod users solely on the ChinesePod site. Still others say it’s exactly what they want. We would love to hear from as many different users as possible so that we can accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of the new PM system and make changes where necessary.
The easiest way to test it out is to (1) click on the little mail icon in the header and try emailing your PM archive to yourself, and then (2) click on a friend’s user avatar or username, then click on “send message” in the left sidebar. (Be sure to CC yourself.)
Thank you!
Sarah (Praxis) on 
Nancy on 
Paulinurus on 
Fanhaiyan41969 on 
Francisco on 
4 Comments
I prefer the old way of sending PM’s and having to check my email constantly is anoying, Big problem with notification: there is no way to even know when someone has sent you a PM because there is NO notification on Chinese Pod indicating one, I think the method before was perfectly fine but it appears maybe someone on Chinese Pod prefers Gmail over PM thru Chinese Pod since that seems to be the only email system that works with the new system. What should be available is the option to use either but taking one completely working method away is stupid!!!!
ChinesePod is truly amazing – although I have to admit I’ve been slightly bad with my lessons this week I’d be completely lost without you guys. I’m not sure how many of your crew also works behind the scenes but I also want to thank them as well. I’d definitely go insane trying to order food without using the mandarin that you have taught me. Please keep it up!
John,
I can understand some of your issues, though I preferred it the old way.
What I am sad about is that I had kept old PMs from some users like Martinillo who are now off site because of their content. That content is lost now. I guess I should have copied the info then . . .
John,
You removed the email-private message icon from your header.