My good friends Nick, Scott, and George have released beta testing for Skritter, an online web app that helps you learn Chinese characters by prompting you to write the characters and tones and giving you stroke-level feedback. The program spaces out the characters based on whether you get them right or wrong, so you can learn harder words more often than easier words.
It is free during beta testing, and I've been using it for several hours with my Integrated Chinese 2 textbook. It's really simple to get started - register for an account, then choose the vocab list you're studying, whether it's from Chinese Primer, a New China, Integrated Chinese, or Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK). Note that Skritter is not a Chinese dictionary. You can find really good dictionaries elsewhere online, but no other site helps you with learning how to write Chinese characters.
I highly recommend it not only because I know the dudes (and they are awesome people) and know that they have put tons of work into it, but as a sort-of native speaker who is learning Chinese, I can say that it really helps me memorize the characters and prepare myself for vocab quizzes and such. Enough with reading this blog post - go experience it for yourself!
My panoramas and new macros have been moved to Flickr for better storage/viewing, but you can see a slideshow on the Photography page. All the panoramas should be there, and macros will be added soon, as long as my monthly upload limit hasn't been reached... Enjoy!
Back to school again, this time as a senior! First few weeks have been busy figuring out schedules and finding a balance between academics and post-college business namely grad school search/applications and GREs. I can only say that I'm really grateful for my wonderful thesis advisors who keep me sane and for having started my thesis this past summer.
In terms of grad school, I am looking at MAS at the MIT Media Lab, and HCI Masters program in CMU, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Indiana. I am only sure about applying to the first 3 or 4 right now, and may add on more as I do more research.
I'm taking 3 classes this semester, which is both a blessing and perhaps will come back to haunt me next semester. Or not. I am taking Chinese 203, Christianity in Asia, and Thesis Research. None of my 4 psych classes opened up a spot, so I guess I will have to brave either 2 seminars or a seminar and independent study in psych next semester, which will prevent me from taking Introduction to HCI. The extra time this semester allows me to read more, focus on post-college preparations, and more time to work on my thesis, which is most important to me academically right now. (New updates re:thesis can be found in my Thesis Blog).
I'm still part of the same organizations as last year - WIVCF, Origami Club, and WAC, except senioritis is kicking in just for Origami Club. Planning a dim sum run sometime and definitely a workshop in November, but biweekly meetings just seem like too much for some reason. I signed up for Ultimate Frisbee, then either chickened out or decided I was too busy to practice for 3 days a week.
Some events in the next months:
Nick is visiting for Fall Break
Taking the GREs in late October
Grad school deadlines in December and January
CHI 2009 Boston in April, which I am super-excited about.
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