Do you listen to the Teaching Company?

[Dori]

Does anyone here listen to (or watch) the college-level courses done by the Teaching Company (http://www.teach12.com)? If so, which ones? Also, what's your opinion of them?

I just purchased "Jewish Intellectual History: 16th Century to the 20th Century." I already own:

"The Philosophy of Religion"
"Classics of Russian Literature"
"The History of the English Language"

My favorite course is "The Philosophy of Religion," but my favorite lecturer does "The History of the English Language."

If you're interested in finding more about this, download this free sample lecture:

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/EllingtonLecture2008.aspx
Enjoy!

[SleepyWitch]

I've never heard of this before. sounds interesting. but you have to pay? :(
is there any public radio/TV equivalent that's for free?

[Dori]

I've never heard of this before. sounds interesting. but you have to pay? :(
is there any public radio/TV equivalent that's for free?

Yes, you have to pay, but it's completely worth it.

I'm not sure that there is a TV/Radio equivalent. You can look into LearnOutLoud.com (http://www.learnoutloud.com/Podcast-Directory), which is free (as far as I know), and still provides educational materials. But, the Teaching Company is worth trying at least once. :)

[Virgil]

Does anyone here listen to (or watch) the college-level courses done by the Teaching Company (http://www.teach12.com)? If so, which ones? Also, what's your opinion of them?

I just purchased "Jewish Intellectual History: 16th Century to the 20th Century." I already own:

"The Philosophy of Religion"
"Classics of Russian Literature"
"The History of the English Language"

My favorite course is "The Philosophy of Religion," but my favorite lecturer does "The History of the English Language."

If you're interested in finding more about this, download this free sample lecture:

http://www.teach12.com/ttcx/EllingtonLecture2008.aspx
Enjoy!

I have lots of Teaching Company lecture series. I consider it my extended college education.

[Dori]

I have lots of Teaching Company lecture series. I consider it my extended college education.

Any recommendations?

[stlukesguild]

Its too bad they don't offer college credits as they seemingly offer a far broader array of studies than do many colleges.

[Virgil]

Any recommendations?

I love the ancient history lectures. I really like the classical music lectures. With some exceptions I'm not overwhelmed with the literature classes. For the most part I'm not overwhelmed by the lirerature lectures.

[Shalot]

This looks really interesting. There are a couple of those that I really would be interested in getting. I noticed that there was a shopping cart at the top so I guess you pay for each topic? I've been burned in the past buying online academic materials so I am just wondering if this is a good business. Does anyone have any billing complaints, rude customer service issues?

What's good about it?

[Virgil]

This looks really interesting. There are a couple of those that I really would be interested in getting. I noticed that there was a shopping cart at the top so I guess you pay for each topic? I've been burned in the past buying online academic materials so I am just wondering if this is a good business. Does anyone have any billing complaints, rude customer service issues?

What's good about it?

None. They are very helpful and kind and replace anything that is faulty. And they take your word for it. I've had cassette tapes replaced. Now I just go for the down load format. Make sure you buy the lectures on sale. All lectures go on sale during the course of a year.

[Dori]

This looks really interesting. There are a couple of those that I really would be interested in getting. I noticed that there was a shopping cart at the top so I guess you pay for each topic? I've been burned in the past buying online academic materials so I am just wondering if this is a good business. Does anyone have any billing complaints, rude customer service issues?

What's good about it?

It's basically a way to further one's education after college, although I'm using it as preparation for college. The professors are excellent, by the way.

I just buy the audio download. If you buy the download you simply have to go to your account and there's a section called "My Downloads" or something like that. After you purchase the lecture series you can download to your computer whenever and as many times as you want.


None. They are very helpful and kind and replace anything that is faulty. And they take your word for it. I've had cassette tapes replaced. Now I just go for the down load format. Make sure you buy the lectures on sale. All lectures go on sale during the course of a year.

Yeah, always buy them on sale. The prices usually are (for the Audio Download format):

36 Lecture Course ~ $50
24 Lecture Course ~ $35
12 Lecture Course ~ $15

I don't usually buy any of them with more than 36 lectures.


Its too bad they don't offer college credits as they seemingly offer a far broader array of studies than do many colleges.

I would prefer not getting college credit and just learning for the sake of learning. ;)

[Virgil]

Oh Dori, the linguistic classes (there are two of them, one is The History of The English language and the other The Story of Human Language) are both excellent. Oh and the Shakespeare lectures are very good too.

[Petrarch's Love]

I've listened to one of the Teaching Company lectures on Ancient Egypt, which was great. Over Christmas break recently I tried one of the Barnes and Noble "Portable Professor" audio lectures on fantasy literature, which I really enjoyed (and was a real deal on sale). I have this feeling I may end up addicted to audio lectures someday in the future, but of course during my student years I've had more than my fill of lecturing professors for the most part. :p I did find the lit. course useful, though, not only from the point of view of building my knowledge and bibliography on fantasy lit., but in terms of giving me ideas for planning and structuring my own courses and lectures. I'm thinking of possibly checking out a few more lit. lectures just to get more teaching ideas, and there are so many other subjects outside my field I'd like to learn more about, especially in the sciences. I like the idea of downloading the ones through the Teaching Company. Good to know.

[Dori]

Oh Dori, the linguistic classes (there are two of them, one is The History of The English language and the other The Story of Human Language) are both excellent. Oh and the Shakespeare lectures are very good too.

Actually, the first lecture I listened to from the Teaching Company was a free lecture I received from The Story of the Human Language. It got me interested to say the least. :D The first full course I bought was the History of the English Language. The professor who did these lectures is my favorite of all the courses I've purchased. :)

i haven't yet looked into the Shakespeare ones, but I've been meaning to.

[aeroport]

Oh and the Shakespeare lectures are very good too.

I've been very pleased with Prof Sacchio's Shakespeare lectures as well (though I can't say the DVD is more helpful than the CD version would be). I also have Childers's "A History of Hitler's Empire" (excellent!), "Joyce's Ulysses" with James Heffernan (pretty good) and "Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition", with several literature profs. The last is very long, and one might say it is too broad to be very deep. It's a decent introduction, but it gives only half an hour to each literary figure (except for one or two, such as Shakespeare, who get two lectures), so I really wouldn't recommend it. Other than that, my experience with the TC has been great. One should be prepared to get a catalog every week or two, though, once one orders something.

[Virgil]

I've been very pleased with Prof Sacchio's Shakespeare lectures as well
Yes, that's what I'm referring to. He's very good. And he's an actor too.


(though I can't say the DVD is more helpful than the CD version would be).
Except for the art lectures, I do not think the dvd/video formats are worth the extra expense.


"Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition", with several literature profs. The last is very long, and one might say it is too broad to be very deep. It's a decent introduction, but it gives only half an hour to each literary figure (except for one or two, such as Shakespeare, who get two lectures), so I really wouldn't recommend it.
Yes, I think you encapsulated exactly why I don't like the broad literature courses. The ones that are specific to a person or a movement are much better and enjoyable.

[Dori]

[...] "Great Authors of the Western Literary Tradition", with several literature profs. The last is very long, and one might say it is too broad to be very deep. It's a decent introduction, but it gives only half an hour to each literary figure (except for one or two, such as Shakespeare, who get two lectures), so I really wouldn't recommend it. [...]

I bought the "Classics of Russian Literature" lecture series which was a decent introduction to Russian Literature. I didn't think it was too broad (it spent 5-6 lectures on Dostoevsky, the same for Tolstoy, 3 or so for Pushkin, and probably at least two on others). I have been contemplating buying a broader course, but now I don't think I will.

[aeroport]

I bought the "Classics of Russian Literature" lecture series which was a decent introduction to Russian Literature. I didn't think it was too broad (it spent 5-6 lectures on Dostoevsky, the same for Tolstoy, 3 or so for Pushkin, and probably at least two on others). I have been contemplating buying a broader course, but now I don't think I will.

Ooh, that sounds nice. I've thought about getting the Russian one. Perhaps I will; it sounds much better than the longer one.

[Ryduce]

That is a very cool site,thanks for posting it.

I wish I could purchase some of those,but it is a little bit expensive for my funds.

I'm just a broke college student.

[Dori]

That is a very cool site,thanks for posting it.

I wish I could purchase some of those,but it is a little bit expensive for my funds.

I'm just a broke college student.

No problem. ;)

As for the money situation: have you ever tried randomly asking people for money (in small amounts so as not to be suspicious)? You'd be surprised at how well it works. I made $3 today. :lol: I'm a horrible person. :D

[Ryduce]

No problem. ;)

As for the money situation: have you ever tried randomly asking people for money (in small amounts so as not to be suspicious)? You'd be surprised at how well it works. I made $3 today. :lol: I'm a horrible person. :D

I tried that when I was about 15 at the mall,and all I got was awkward stares.

[dramasnot6]

I used to watch the Shakespeare lectures religiously. Peter Saccio rocks my world.

[Dori]

I tried that when I was about 15 at the mall,and all I got was awkward stares.

Oh, well I narrow my audience to those I know (and the people hanging around them at the time). :D