A friend introduced me to ChinesePod, a website that offers free Mandarin Chinese lessons online. You have the option of listening to each daily lesson online or downloading the podcast to your iPod for later listening. Each lesson offers a conversation between a Chinese and English speaker. The lessons seem suited for an intermediate or advanced beginner who is looking for an easy way to pick up some vocabulary or phrases. I don’t think a true novice will be able to follow the lessons at all. Also, some features, such as viewing a PDF transcript of the podcast, requires a paid subscription.