Buondì.
This week I’m back to teaching, which pays the mortgage.
But I’ve also been working on the club website.
You’ll recall that I asked for comments and suggestions?
The response was very postive!
As each email arrived, I copied the comments so I could pick out the most obvious changes to make.
And this morning I analysed all the information you gave me and wrote it up here below:
Changes already made
I’ve simplified the menus and made sure that the icons match the order and destinations of the text menu.
Most ‘level’ content has been added to the appropriate ‘level’ page, which can be found by clicking on the Level Test icon or link.
We’ve retained the alphabetical lists, too, so you can search for grammar, vocabulary or listening by topic!
I’ve modified things so the site looks less cluttered, taking away, for example, the ‘breadcrumbs’ and other things which seemed unnecessary.
Hurrah, fewer popovers from now on!
I adjusted the settings on the irritating box from ‘once a day’ to ‘once every seven days’.
This is for a trial period. Let’s see what happens…
By the way, I’m aware that on mobile devices the popover is hard to switch off. That should be less of a problem if the wretched thing shows infrequently.
In the verb conjugation index, ‘andare’ is of course NOT regular.
That’s been corrected, and I now have a young guy working on reviewing what else needs to be done.
You suggested ‘jump to the letter’ links and looking for obvious ommissions (no ‘volere’?) Other ideas, corrections or suggestions would be gratefully received.
Changes still to do
There were multiple votes to change the font colour to a darker shade of grey.
I worked on this yesterday but couldn’t figure out how to change the colour without changing the code, which is long and complex.
I haven’t given up, though!
I’ll also be looking at how to jig things around to address the ‘too much white on the homepage’ issue, perhaps with a darker border or background.
A ‘latest’ box was suggested for the homepage (containing content, offers, links). We’ll be thinking about it. The page sidebars need reviewing, so maybe that would be one way.
And here’s the biggie – the organisation and numbering of the content on all six level pages!
Yes, I can see it makes sense.
But it’s a HUGE job, and I’m not sure where to start… Ideas, please!
Following on from the above, consistent linking from one exercise to the next would obviously be useful.
And also following on from the organisation, numbering and linking of content, I’ve promised to make ‘checklists’that you can used to record your progress with each level.
Haven’t forgotten!
Some pages open unnecessarily in new windows. I’ve started on that, but it needs a close look.
The shop was badly affected by the design changes and now needs emergency surgery.
I’m toying with the idea of eliminating it all together and using the much more attractive easyreaders.org instead.
What do you think?
Another common suggestion was to use the Italian names for tenses as well as, or instead of, the English names.
We’ll see.
Changes I probably won’t make
You asked for explanations of the advanced grammar topics to be in Italian.
There are lots of ‘Italian’ websites run by Italians that do this better than I ever could.
Plus, Google and co. would get very confused if I started writing in multiple languages…
So that’s probably a ‘no’.
Ditto, some of you suggested that I write emails in Italian.
If I did that, I’d have to get each one checked by a trusted native speaker.
But in our house, first thing on a Monday morning, it’s not easy to find one of those in a good mood!
And anyway, there are many, many sites IN ITALIAN out there.
If you need reading practice, why not go find an Italian blog or site on a topic that interests you (cooking, sport, languages, politics, whatever) and read that?
Again with the languages, several people asked that we translate all tenses of all verbs in the verb conjugation table.
You’re aware, I presume, that English has many more tenses than Italian?
That when the same tense DOES exist in both languages, it may be used differently?
And that, in any case, Italians don’t much use some of the tenses that they DO have?
I rest my case.
That said, perhaps I could do an article on the two tense systems one day, highlighting the points of similarity and difference.
Remind me.
+++
Go check out the progress I’ve made so far.
Material for your level can be found on the Level Test page (scroll down) or linked to from the top of the alphabetical index pages:
Grammar | Listening | Vocabulary
The Verbs and Dialogues pages are ‘stand alone’ for the moment.
Feedback and suggestions are welcome.
Just reply to any email you receive from me, or find the address in the footer of every page on the site.
A venerdì.