Teaching Chinese at Home

[Brenda10]

tamarind:

Brenda,

I absolutely agree with you.
I find that the author usually tries to explain the meaning of difficult phrases in context of the story, so kids can understand even when reading on their own.

You're right. DD had read all by herself except sometimes she checked with me some of the words.

[phankao]

tamarind:

phankao:

[quote=\"tamarind\"]

That is why I recommend the 四五快读 books. 四五 means for 4 and 5 years old. I only managed to get these books when my kids were 5 and 6 years old, that is why I started late. These books teach new words in every lesson, then repeat these words in subsequent lessons. We will know whether the child really remembers the words.
.

Can I preview these siwukuaidu books anywhere? I do see them on an online store http://www.sgshinekids.com/22235201162455535835.html, but can't flip through and look at the books physically.

I just want to see if am missing anything. haha. My 2yo can already read quite well, but certainly not xiaomao stories, lah! LOL.

You can see some photos in my blog :
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2009/12/teaching-chinese-at-home.html[/quote]Yah, I saw your blog on that many times already over the past year. It's not in bookstores here to preview?

[phankao]

tamarind:

phankao:

My boy likes chinese classic stories better. And stories with human interest.

Then the choices will be very limited. There are very few Chinese classics.
If we want our kids to be good in Chinese, they must read large number of books. Reading just a few books are not good enough.

Ok, I took out some of the books he has been reading. I didn't take the ones in his schoolbag, and i think there are some more hiding in the shelves.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5286/5352043864_8c2d7be52a.jpg\">
No, they are not recommended for most children. Just that my boy seems to have an affinity to these types of stories even though we are a very English-speaking family since my hubs can't speak/read Chinese and I did poorly in chinese and even failed my oral.

Anyway, out of no influence from us, Chinese storybooks were the first books he could read at 4years old. He couldn't read english on entering pri 1, no matter how we tried to teach. ;(

And in pri 1, he asked me for money for bookfair in school, and these are the books he buys, much to my surprise(?!) - i found these in the bookshelves this evening - very nostalgic.
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5129/5352044214_f6ac74d8e3.jpg\">

Yeah, I try to introduce other types of stories, but well, that's him.

[phankao]

smurf:

Hi Tamarind,


Seeking your advise.

I just bought a subscription of PAN ASIA publishing books. They have different category. I bought the 25 Chinese books kind. And each month, they will send you a chinese book. It cost about $158 for 25 copies.

What do you think their books? :?

They also have other Chinese books, but I didn't buy them. Not sure if they are good though.

I happened upon this PanAsia books today at the mall. I bought this set bc I thot they were all within my 2yo's reading ability with the exception of several new words.
http://www.shop.panasiabooks.com/product_info.php?products_id=249&osCsid=cfa0be1d413409c52bad09d13d66729d

Wah, but the concepts quite *cheem*. haha. We went through this \"fei ji\"(aeroplane) storybook tonight and while he was rapt with attention the whole story (which was way too long), I'm not sure he understood it bc it went into the water cycle as well as air pollution! So many concepts in one storybook. Must approach with caution. haha. I guess an older kid will have an easier time grasping the complexity of the story.

[smurf]

Hi Tamarind,


Hmm, it's from the same company, but I meant these:

http://www.shop.panasiabooks.com/index.php?cPath=2&osCsid=525d5954d18bad0b0360da0ba670aa2e

Hi Phankao,

You mean your 2 year old can recognize chinese words?
:shock:
U must have taught him well!

[phankao]

smurf:

Hi Phankao,

You mean your 2 year old can recognize chinese words?
:shock:
U must have taught him well!

Yes, my 2yo can read quite well. Vocabulary should be beyond p1 level already, since i notice he could manage all those p1 word cards.

I didn't really teach him. All thanks to flashcard dvds, he could read both chinese & english before 1yo.And we've just continued reading and reading more and more. Before this baby, my chinese was at quite a horrible standard, but I've learnt together with him and have improved. haha! But i still need to check dictionary !

[smurf]

Erm, just to check, he can read words, but does he understand the story?


Why I ask this is because My boy can read long English chapter book, But I noticed that he does not understand the story. When I ask him question about the story, he couldn't answer me and he is 6 already. Needless to say, his Chinese is worse than English.

Your 2 year old is smart! Can say what DVDs are u using? I also wanna buy...hee...

[phankao]

smurf:

Erm, just to check, he can read words, but does he understand the story?


Why I ask this is because My boy can read long English chapter book, But I noticed that he does not understand the story. When I ask him question about the story, he couldn't answer me and he is 6 already. Needless to say, his Chinese is worse than English.

Your 2 year old is smart! Can say what DVDs are u using? I also wanna buy...hee...

Yes, most stories he can understand. Generally we don't read stories that are too long. But yes, some stories can be too complicated for him to understand - like the \"aeroplane\" story I was commenting on earlier up on this thread of discussion.

Wei, Chinese is not like English - english he can read just phonetically and possibly not know the meaning of the word at all, but Chinese must know the words, leh.

Used WinktoLearn for Chinese and English, and also babycanread for english. Your boy too old for these already. Nowadays so convenient - last time don't have, must do the manual way, so troublesome.

[smurf]

No lah, i wanted to give to my 2.5 year old one...

[phankao]

smurf:

No lah, i wanted to give to my 2.5 year old one...

oh, ok. Not sure if 2.5yo would kuai kuai sit for 2mins to watch 1 lesson?