This lack of true interactivity, which one expects from today's language learning software, is one of the main shortcomings of Power Chinese . An annoying feature of the translation exercises is that when an incorrect sentence has been corrected by the user, a correct response will often be met with the message that some words are missing from the sentence. The software is also inflexible in the position of timewords and other adverbials which will be accepted. Similar inflexibility is encountered when there is more than one way of translating a given sentence. Occasionally quite difficult sentences are introduced in the translation exercises before the required structure has been introduced.
Cultural context is provided in a number of ways.
Purely language learning material is broken up by screens containing information relating to Chinese culture and society and to the history and structure of the Chinese language. Forms of address are introduced, but are limited to xiansheng , xiaojie and the prefix lao . No mention is made to differences in usage between mainland and overseas Chinese. Strangely, in view of the importance of the family in Chinese culture and society, there is no reference whatsoever to terms for family members. Dialogues, contained at intervals throughout the program, in addition to their intrinsic linguistic worth, also provide the learner with valuable cultural insights, often in a humorous context, in such areas as social customs, gender roles and the use of Chinese names.