Life In 19x19

I've recently come back to Go and I've been wanting to improve my game. I am around 8k on KGS, but I don't feel that strong. I started re-reading my beginner books, but I thought I might take a different approach this time.

Guo Juan's http://internetgoschool.com/ is something I've been looking at. Specifically their "complete training program from 30k-7d". However, each lecture is 1 euro and that adds up rather quickly.

Also, I live in the U.S. so I'm not sure how that will work out. Does Paypal do the transfer of money automatically? Also, it will cost even more money for me correct? More like $1.50 ish per lecture?

So, before I invest any money I want to know if the lessons are of high quality and are generally recommended, and if there is any other payment option.

Thanks.

Setting up a paypal account is pretty easy, the charges are all on the receivers side. You only pay 1 euro for each lecture.

Did you try the free ones
http://internetgoschool.com/search.vhtml?free=on

and what did you think?

I think they just started an annual subscription of $100 which gives access to all the lectures.

I recently signed up for their annual membership. It's really wonderful. 1 euro a lecture is a *very* reasonable price, but there is just something philosophically different about having full access. Sit down, browse the lectures, and whatever you take an interest in, you have instant access. The fact that you've already invested in the annual membership encourages you to get your money's worth by keeping a steady pace (maybe 1-2 lectures a week?).

kirkmc wrote:I think they just started an annual subscription of $100 which gives access to all the lectures.

Are you sure it is 100 dollars and not euros? If it was Euros, I would have to pay more than 100 dollars because of exchange rate correct?

Kangaroo22 wrote:

kirkmc wrote:I think they just started an annual subscription of $100 which gives access to all the lectures.

Are you sure it is 100 dollars and not euros? If it was Euros, I would have to pay more than 100 dollars because of exchange rate correct?

You might be right. The price isn't on the main page where it's announced, and you have to have an account to find out how much it costs. (Duh!)

Kangaroo22 wrote:So, before I invest any money I want to know if the lessons are of high quality and are generally recommended

Yes, and yes. I think it's safe to say that Guo Juan is the best European Go teacher out there, and her lectures are always very top quality. Unlike some professionals, her English is also very easy to understand.

I also like the Mingjiu lectures (also available on the site). He gives very practical advice for common situations.

I have the annual membership and I think it is money well invested. You might also consider the group lessons that Guo Juan offers. They recently started a semester. The next one won't start until after Summer is well over, so you will have plenty of time to think about it.

Terri

I also highly recommend the audio lectures, and I'm around your level. Definitely try the free lectures, they're a good litmus. Just imagine the paid lectures being like those, only with you able to pick the topic.

Chew Terr wrote:I also highly recommend the audio lectures, and I'm around your level. Definitely try the free lectures, they're a good litmus. Just imagine the paid lectures being like those, only with you able to pick the topic.

Been a while since I've listened to any of these, but I listened to quite a few of the free ones. Another recommendation to check those out (they're free! why not?! ).

And good to hear people saying the rest are very much like those. Very tempted now to go back and buy some of the others. Thanks.

Guo Juan is an excellent teacher, I've attended quite a few of her KGS lectures.
For some reason the free lectures on her site don't seem to work for me, though.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

Christos wrote:Guo Juan is an excellent teacher, I've attended quite a few of her KGS lectures.
For some reason the free lectures on her site don't seem to work for me, though.
Is anyone else experiencing this problem?

Negative, works fine for me (Firefox 3.6.3).

I am a regular customer of guo juans audio lessons but to be honest I dont have the feeling that I was able to improve much because of them.
Nowadays I still buy some audiolectures (about 5 in a month) mostly gamereviews and use them to sleep. I think there is no better way to fix my insomnia (doesnt meant as an offense, her explanations and speech have some kind of "flow" that really enables me to fall super-fast asleep).

The reason why I wasnt able to improve is not because her lessons are bad or something, but just listening to someones advice wont scarf them into your mind, I believe you need to feel for yourself why a move is bad or only this joseki is possible and playing the otherone is not good etc.