Learning Chinese (Primary/Preschool)

[tamarind]

Gosh. I cannot imagine how anyone can be hurt by a little sarcasm like that.

I have seen a lot worst in this forum.

I guess I am being insensitive to parents who must make their kids memorize things which are not unnecessary, instead of trying to understand what are the more effective methods of learning Chinese.

Just to clarify to other parents, I do think that the 笑猫日记 series of books are far superior to model compositions which are paid by parents to be published. There are a total of 13 books in this series, each chapter is packed with good phrases and vocabulary, and most importantly, the content is interesting to kids. These books are widely read by upper primary kids in China, and the level of difficulty is definitely higher than our P6 syllabus.

[Chenonceau]

tamarind:

Gosh. I cannot imagine how anyone can be hurt by a little sarcasm like that.

You misunderstand. Sarcasm is designed as a verbal strike. It is a verbal strategy meant to hurt. Whether it actually does hurt or not is entirely a different issue.

I am puzzled by your need to use sarcasm... not hurt. Notice that I didn't even see the sarcasm. I merely thought that you had perhaps changed your position as the thread developed (or would advise memorizing under certain conditions) and asked to clarify.

No, I am not hurt. I still do sincerely think you make valuable contribution to this forum, and still greatly rely on your recommendations of reading material and such else. And continue to hope that we can have friendly dialogue (sans sarcasm)... I apologise if I have written anything that spurs you to the use of sarcasm. Normally I use sarcasm only when I am upset. So, if I have upset you, then I am quite quite sorry indeed.

[lee2004]

chinese word is difference with english word, right?


How to remember and understand chinese words faster?

plz check

http://shuowen.supfree.net/

and other website about chinese learning :

http://edumall.sg
http://xuele.edumall.sg
http://www.lead.com.sg

help you understand english words.

[Passerby]

Hi Chenonceau


Just wanted to let you know that I have always enjoyed reading all your posts, they come across as very well balanced & well thought through. Your POV are always well put and argued, without being strident or abrasive, and they come across as very mature views, without being the "end all & be all", always appreciating that everyone has different considerations & priorities.

Most of all you are truly a very gracious lady, whom many have lots to learn from, myself included. I do hope to continue having the privilege of reading your POV on the varied subjects that you have an interest in. Thank you.

[cimman]

I think memorization strategy is definitely a useful strategy to have if you’re able to motivate your child to work on it. For the short term, it is very effective in meeting it’s objectives.


In the long term, nothing beats reading voraciously, of course.

Chenonceau’s strategy is not just memory work without understanding the passages, but memorization with understanding of the phrases. With a sufficient vocabulary base developed through memorization and understanding, the child should progress to self reading at the later stages.

To motivate a child to memorize consistently on a daily basis is not easy, in fact, it’s downright difficult. To be able to do so successfully, is a testament to her perseverance and her motivation techniques.

A lot of people view memorization as bad. In fact, there are a number of brain training programs that does just that. Memorization increases the number of synapes in the brain and this improves intelligence and focus. It gives the brain a good workout.

I remember when I was in Secondary school, I had to memorize Shakespeare for literature even though it’s meaning was Greek to me. However, through memorization, I finally understood it’s meaning.
So memorization for languages does have it’s place.

Something out of topic, but have you noticed movies where caucasion actors speaks Mandarin ? from their accent and the way they run through their words, you’ll know they don’t know a word of what they’re mouthing, and yet, they managed to memorize the script. Yet, in the movies, they are often protrayed as a foreigner who is an expert in the Chinese language. That always cracks me up. Now that’s memorization without understanding.

[Vevey]

Passerby:

Hi Chenonceau


Just wanted to let you know that I have always enjoyed reading all your posts, they come across as very well balanced & well thought through. Your POV are always well put and argued, without being strident or abrasive, and they come across as very mature views, without being the \"end all & be all\", always appreciating that everyone has different considerations & priorities.

Most of all you are truly a very gracious lady, whom many have lots to learn from, myself included. I do hope to continue having the privilege of reading your POV on the varied subjects that you have an interest in. Thank you.

Yes, I 2nd that, even though I had ONLY chanced upon Chenonceau's posts in the other 2 threads abt motivation & disappointment in kids etc only 1-2 hr ago. I'm her instant fan! :lol:

Let's continue to share & learn from each other here!

[laughingcat]

Hi Chenonceau and Tamarind,


I must applaud to both of you. :rahrah: This is the kind of healthy debates that most parents would like to see in the forum. It is definitely useful for everyone to share different views. :grphug: :goodpost:

I am deeply appreciative your sharing and I would like to see both of you to share more as well, and not withholding your thoughts and views.

Agreed that there are 2 sides of the coins. There is no such thing as 1 method fixed for all. Some works for short term and while some works for long term. Likewise some method work for immediate effect and while some method only shows result after long term.

So a big cheers to both Lao Da for your great sharings. :celebrate:

[pixiedust]

Passerby:

Hi Chenonceau


Just wanted to let you know that I have always enjoyed reading all your posts, they come across as very well balanced & well thought through. Your POV are always well put and argued, without being strident or abrasive, and they come across as very mature views.
, without being the \"end all & be all\", always appreciating that everyone has different considerations & priorities.

Most of all you are truly a very gracious lady, whom many have lots to learn from, myself included. I do hope to continue having the privilege of reading your POV on the varied subjects that you have an interest in. Thank you.

:goodpost: I wholeheartedly AGREE with passerby above.

Chenonceau, thanks for your time in sharing your thoughts and approach on this thread.
Hope to continue seeing you around.

Chenonceau:

.... Employ the faculty of critical and nuanced thinking. As parents, we owe it to our kids to do enough due diligence. Cannot just follow expert advice in blind faith.....

:goodpost:

[rosemummy]

Just my 2 cents. There’s no right or wrong way. It depends on your priority, what you want to achieve and the amount of time you are able to devote to it. Different techniques is needed at different stage. During the time I was in school, many of my friends resorted to memorising model essays. Many got their children to do that as parents. They got distinctions for their Chinese without having to unduly sacrifice time for other subjects.


I do not like to get my child to memorise in order to regurgitate. In US colleges, you get a zero immediately if you had lifted just 1 sentence somewhere without credit. But I do think that there’s room for it for second or foreign languages. I got her to memorise sentences for her Chinese compo, but not for anything else. And she had As in her Chinese for both PSLE and O levels, without spending an inordinate amount of time on it, freeing her to learn other languages which had definitely enriched her life more than just excelling in Chinese (and English) would.

Memorising does have an important role in learning. The Koreans are made to do a lot of memorising from young. For example, they’re not allowed to use calculators and have to memorise the values of all the log. According to my daughter, the Koreans students almost always top the college in Maths. All her Korean friends speak at least 5 languages. 1 Korean boy, who’s her senior, is fluent in 7 languages. They did a lot of rote learning but they’re no less creative.

[metz]

Chenonceau:

tamarind:

I find it even more strange that someone who cannot even read anything in Chinese, can write such so much about how to learn Chinese.

Ah yes... you are right. I don't know Chinese. That is fact indeed.

Hi Chenonceau,

Your effort in helping your son in Chinese, despite your own handicap in the subject, is indeed applaudable! His results and growing interest in Chinese is the very evidence that you are heading in the right direction. Not everybody has the opportunity to help or teach her child in areas that she herself is lacking in. Hence, the stark differences in views. However, there are many other parents who are on the same boat as you. Even for myself, I have learnt something from your posts on learning Chinese. So, please do continue with your sharing, which I believe will benefit many parents in the same plight. (I know zilch about French, but I can probably work on a thesis on how to learn French with kids. And oh yes, memory work is also part of our learning too. )

:offtopic: Btw, would you mind sharing with me how you mastered the 'r' and 'u' (as in rue) sounds in French? I just can't get these two sounds right...

笑猫日记 is a rather popular series by the China author 杨红樱.I was recommended this series by a sales staff Maha Yu Yi when my son was in K2. (Unfortunately we didn't get the books because there was no stock then.) I just took a quick look on joyo.com and I found the difficulty levels of this series varies.
http://www.amazon.cn/%E6%A8%B1%E6%A1%83%E6%B2%9F%E7%9A%84%E6%98%A5%E5%A4%A9-%E6%9D%A8%E7%BA%A2%E6%A8%B1/dp/B0028QGQWK/ref=pd_sim_b_2

http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%AC%91%E7%8C%AB%E6%97%A5%E8%AE%B0-%E7%90%83%E7%90%83%E8%80%81%E8%80%81%E9%BC%A0-%E6%9D%A8%E7%BA%A2%E6%A8%B1/dp/B003QCJU5U/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1301534087&sr=1-1

The above series would serve as a good supplementary for my children to acquire new Chinese words (with the electronic dictionary and my help, of course). So, I'm not sure if this series would be a little too simple for your son, since he has been absorbing a large dosage of good Chinese phrases the last few months. Alternatively, you may want to check out other series by the same author such as男生日记 or 非常校园系列. Unlike笑猫日记, they seem to cater more to the older children. (Another series I have in mind is 皮皮鲁. I have this feeling it would entice my son to continue reading the entire book himself.)

Erm, I mean, that is, if your son is keen in Chinese storybooks.