Learning Hanyu Pinyin

[tamarind]

All primary schools are teaching hanyu pinyin at P1 first. But nowadays most kids start to learn Chinese years before they enter P1, either from nursery/kindergarten or enrichment classes. In Berries Chinese enrichment class, kids learn to read only Chinese characters from 3 to 5 years old, hanyu pinyin is only taught at K2. This is the correct method of teaching. If you teach a child hanyu pinyin at 3 years old, before he knows any Chinese characters, that will be a very big mistake. He is going to reject reading any Chinese books without hanyu pinyin.


As for those kids who never learn Chinese before they enter P1, they have even more difficulty in primary school because of the way Chinese is taught.

All the P1 and P2 textbooks have hanyu pinyin under every word. Try taking away hanyu pinyin, and the child cannot read Chinese at all ! Then by P3, kids are required to write Chinese composition, how do you expect them to know how to write all those words ? That’s why many kids grow up hating Chinese.

Kids learn best between 3 and 6 years old, this is the time when we should try to teach them to recognize as many Chinese characters as possible. Hanyu pinyin is totally not necessary and not helpful at all. My P1 girl can now read any Chinese story book without hanyu pinyin fluently, she learned to recognize hundreds of Chinese characters before she know hanyu pinyin.

The only way to do well in Chinese, is to read as many Chinese story books (without hanyu pinyin) as possible.

My girl knows phonics very well, hanyu pinyin was very easy for her.

[jesschan]

Yes, I totally agree with Tamarind. It is better to learn phonics first before teaching hanyu pinyin. And since P1 Chinese syllabus starts with hanyu pinyin, it is important for the kid to learn phonics in preschool.


And it also important to learn some basic Chinese characters because in P1, they will usually show a picture or some characters and the kid is expected to put down the corresponding hanyu pinyin. For instance, if they show a picture of fish or the character "yu", the kid must be able write down the hanyu pinyin independently.

[tamarind]

jesschan:

Yes, I totally agree with Tamarind. It is better to learn phonics first before teaching hanyu pinyin. And since P1 Chinese syllabus starts with hanyu pinyin, it is important for the kid to learn phonics in preschool.


And it also important to learn some basic Chinese characters because in P1, they will usually show a picture or some characters and the kid is expected to put down the corresponding hanyu pinyin. For instance, if they show a picture of fish or the character \"yu\", the kid must be able write down the hanyu pinyin independently.

Thanks jesschan for sharing

Hanyu pinyin is only taught at the beginning of P1, after that kids will be expected to read and write in Chinese characters.

[JHJC]

Buds

yes... long time no see...hope all are well with you
my new job as full time mummy is keeping me very busy

Learning Phonics has been a breeze for my children. And i am so thankful i started them young. I was very tempted to do so for HYPY. Tamarind is right, in the long run, its knowing the characters that is more critical.

Thanks all for sharing.
Its really helpful.

[buds]

I'm sure you're up to your hands full.

Being SAHM doesn't mean you cannot
ask for help. We're a shout-out away
in case you need us.. take care.

You're on the right track then with the
thread topic. Yes, characters first then
HYPY. HYPY is romanised so for that u
already have Phonics for back up..

[mamemo]

Generally my DS is pretty ok with HYPY, however he tends to mix up these:


1) ou and uo
2) ui and iu
3) ei and ie
4) ai and ia

How to help him to remember ? tried many ways, like drawing a picture to associate with the sounds or ask him to think of his name (cos his name has a "ui" sound), but he still mixes them up.

Any parents here can share how do you help your child to remember the above sounds ?

Thanks !

[smurf]

[Moderator's note: Topics merged]


Just want to know, for certain words, the 音调 is this sound , but when 拼with another word, the 音调 change.

For example:

The word: 不

不怕 bu(2) pa(4)

But, individually, it's read as bu(4) pa(4)

So, (2) is correct, or (4) is correct? :?

[tamarind]

Hi smurf,

There are some rules :

http://www.learnchineseeveryday.com/2009/07/25/pinyin-tutorial-change-of-tones/
In Chinese it happens that sometimes we change the Tones of certain Pinyin syllable to improve the clarity or ease pronunciation difficulties, here are some general rules:

When two 3rd tones come together, the first tone changes into the 2nd (but its tone mark remains unchanged), e.g. “你好 nǐ hǎo” (How are you) is actually pronounced as “ní hǎo”.
When a syllable in the 3rd tone precedes a syllable in the 1st, 2nd, 4th or neutral tone, it is pronounced in the half 3rd tone, that is, the tone only falls but doesn’t rise, e.g. “你们 nǐ men”.


Change of Tones of “不” and “一”
“不 bù” is pronounced in the 2nd tone (bú) when it is put before a syllable in the 4th tone or a syllable in the neutral tone developed from 4th tone, e.g. “不谢 bú xiè” (Don’t mention it), “不是 bú shì” (No, it isn’t). But “不” is still pronounced in the 4th tone (bù) when it precedes a syllable in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd tone, e.g. “不新 bù xīn” (not new), “不来 bù lái” (not come), “不好 bù hǎo” (not good).

“一 yī” is pronounced in the 2nd tone (yí) when it precedes a syllable in the 4th tone or a syllable in the neutral tone developed from the 4th tone, e.g. “一块 yí kuài” (a block/bar), “一个 yí gè” (a piece). But “一” is pronounced in the 4th tone (yì) when it precedes a syllable in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd tone, e.g. “一天 yì tiān” (a day), “一年 yì nián” (a year), “一起 yì qǐ ” (together).

[smurf]

Thanks Tamarind!


I was hoping that you replied... :lol:

[smurf]

During exam, the original tone is deem correct or the changed tone is correct? :?