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Supporting Chinese studies for non-Mandarin speaking parents |
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By Gloria Wu |
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For non-Mandarin speaking parents, the task of supporting your child’s Chinese studies can be daunting at times. While non-Mandarin speakers may not be able to help directly with homework, there are many other ways that you can assist your child with their Chinese. Here are some ideas on how you can support your child’s learning process: Flashcards are a good way of reviewing Chinese characters learned in class. In my experience, the Chinese teachers are always happy to help you go through the flashcards to pick out the ones that are most relevant to your child’s level. The Xin Ya (New Asia) publishing group offers flashcards using traditional Chinese characters. These can be found in the Children’s section of the Cosmo bookstore at 30 Johnston Road, Wanchai. Make sure you ask before buying whether the text is simplified or traditional. The IMS Chinese curriculum is based on traditional Chinese characters. Hong Kong is one giant series of flashcards! When you are out with your child, ask them to look at the signs around them and to pick out characters that they recognize. Get them to tell you what they mean and to use their index finger to write the character in the palm of your hand. Better Chinese: The Casa classes use the Better Chinese series of books. If you would like to purchase a set for your child to read at home or provide them with other supplementary materials, please visit www.betterchinese.com. Television If you subscribe to the children’s channels on Now Broadband, push the audio button on your remote control and set it to Audio 3. This way your children can enjoy their favorite programmes in Putunghua. Disney Playhouse, which offers programming for younger children, uses simple language and is therefore ideal for beginner levels. (Note: Not all programmes are available in Putunghua.) Videos If you are traveling overseas or prefer videos / DVDs to television, Forever Entertainment Company in the Yung Yip Building of 234 Wanchai Road offers a variety of children’s cartoons in Putunghua. Next month: Website recommendations to support Chinese learning. |