Pleco rules the roost when it comes to mobile dictionaries, and is accordingly very popular at institutions like National Taiwan University’s Language Center. At its heart are dictionaries tailored for students of Chinese, which include useful examples set in context. The input method system is also both Pinyin-friendly and tolerant of mistakes when entering phrases. The devil is in the details, though, and the most important detail for me includes the search history that remembers the previous 30 items — fantastic when you are reviewing a conversation from earlier in the day — and single-touch switching between simple and traditional characters; a boon when visiting China.
Several different versions are available, depending on which dictionaries you select to include in the installation, but beginners will probably not need the premium-level dictionaries.
Downloads:
ChinesePod, chinesepod.com
ChinesePod provides a daily downloadable podcast MP3 file that can be loaded onto your iPod or MP3 player. Its 20-minute duration makes it perfect for an MRT commute. Presenters Ken Caroll and Jenny Zhu avoid the dull standard textbooks and instead deliver content that is witty and relevant, whether it is arguing with a taxi driver or discussing the Olympics. Different levels are available, and in addition to a basic free podcast, they also offer subscription-based access to their premium services, which include podcast transcripts and access to discussion forums where users are able to ask for help or exchange advice.
New technologies cannot deliver immediate mastery of the Chinese language, but as part of a routine that includes formal tutoring and informal conversation with native speakers, they can provide increased relevance and the motivational kick we all occasionally need.
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