What does English 1 mean in the new member's profile information?

Question

I've noticed when I check for the first language (or most fluent) there is a line that says 'English 1' on some of them. Is this a new way to see the person's first language on the New SD?

• It means that the site designers for the "new" SD did not appreciate some of the important features of the "old" SD - ian-hill Feb 7, 2012
• Makes it a big harder to give feedback to folks. - katydew Feb 8, 2012

Answer 1

Hi, for all those who don't know, this has been very discouraging to see, it took us months to achieve to get the language proficiency mandatory on the profile when signing in.

Please don't miss this thread.

Look at what gekko said, I guess it won't happen, but it should!!

So, I wish I could vote a hundred times for this fantastic and much wanted advance!

And Chris should probably brace himself for a big, noisy riot if he decides to take it off again!!!

• I'm with Gecko 100% here, it really can affect my tone when I know the persons language level. - MaryMcc Feb 5, 2012

Answer 2

It means that the site designers for the "new" SD did not appreciate some of the important features of the "old" SD

Such as this too.

Answer 3

I'm guessing it's a programming bug, where the "1" gets stuffed in when the profile is saved. I'm sure the user didn't enter it, because the new sign-up page has fields only for username, new password, and email.

Edit: after thinking a bit more about this ...

I see the sign-up form also has a checkbox to sign up for "Word Of The Day E-mail"... I'll bet this sends a "1" when it's checked (the default) and sends a "0" (or nothing) when it's not checked. Back at the spanishdict server, this field is mapped erroneously to the language proficiency field, and that's why you see a "1" there. Meanwhile, the new user is hoping to get his Word Of The Day E-mail and is wondering why he's not getting it...

If you browse to any "recent" user profile you'll see they're all like that.

• Thanks Pesta... informative as always. - katydew Feb 5, 2012
• Also possible is that the choices for language proficiency (beginner, intermediate, advanced, and fluent) are being represented by numbers ranging from 0 to 4 or 0 to 5 (if 0 represents not selected)...and the script is not converting the number... - webdunce Feb 6, 2012
• ...to the appropriate text. - webdunce Feb 6, 2012
• Of course, it seems like it's only ever 0 or 1...so an on/off, true/false variable seems (like the word of the day) seems more likely. - webdunce Feb 6, 2012
• Wait, I'm being stupid...just looked at the new sign up page. There is no drop down for selecting language proficiency. So that's impossible. Only on/off thing is the W O D checkbox...like you said. I bet you are right. :) - webdunce Feb 6, 2012

Answer 4

I've sent feedback on this, they confirmed it was a bug and are working on it.

• yesterday that is. - Gregory84 Feb 5, 2012
• Thanks Gregory. - katydew Feb 5, 2012

Answer 5

To my dismay, the profile info cannot be changed or added at all at this moment, that is a serious set back, we won't even know where the people we are talking to are from or language proficiency etc.

I also reported this to feedback,

Answer 6

I was wondering the same thing, it really helps to know what someone's level is.

• Hey, you have been really busy with your points. Congrats! - katydew Feb 5, 2012

Answer 7

Just bumping this

• Thanks Ian. - katydew Feb 5, 2012

Answer 8

After you set up an account, you can still specify your language proficiences. You just have to click "Edit your profile" on your profile. The numbers "0" and "1" still show up until you do though. However, when I tried to sign up with an account using my other e-mail address, when I clicked "Edit your profile" all of the information from this account showed up on that one. You can see that profile here. I reported all this to feedback.

Answer 9

They want the sign-up page to be super simple and quick.

Why can't that be achieved by setting default values?

We could have a couple of language proficiency fields that are set to an initial value like

Beginner

and the user will likely leave it alone if they can't understand it (and so they probably are a beginner). Or they will disagree and correct it.

It could even have an initial value of

I don't know

which is no worse than it is now, and they can change it when they notice it.

• super simple sign up form = more members sign up = more members = can demand more money from advertisers. - webdunce Feb 6, 2012
• It's possible that just the presence of the extra fields could make the form look more intimidating, especially to non-English speakers, and this may actually discourage sign ups. - webdunce Feb 6, 2012
• Personally, just having a check box that says "Spanish Level" or "Spanish Proficiency" really doesn't make it that faster or more complicated and I don't see it turning away that many people. A couple maybe but... Really? - Jadey7 Feb 6, 2012
• *That slower - Jadey7 Feb 7, 2012

Answer 10

As of now, I see new signed-up members showing their default language proficiency as:

English: 0

Spanish: 0

Better than the old random "1", and blank. But it's not really right yet.

Answer 11

Delete this please