Teaching Chinese at Home

[tamarind]

phankao:

tamarind:

I have many of these stories in my home library too. These type of books are easily available from dangdang.com, and I think they have a better variety than any bookshop in Singapore.

Yeah, of course dangdang.com would have them. I don't find in bookstores here too, but am happy that the 2nd-hand bookstall tends to have, and the books would cost like S$2 each.

dangdang.com also has a much wider selection than any second hand bookshops in Singapore

[tamarind]

phankao:

tamarind:

Parents should try to read this page from the Si Wu Kuai Du series before they buy the books.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_w1nyHWTEh94/SzQMM0_2kGI/AAAAAAAABas/fiu6YIcA5gk/s1600-h/b2.JPG

Ok, my chinese is really bad, so i might understand this wrongly. I read through the above. I know about 70% of the words only I'm afraid. Does it just say that parents have to set aside time to go through the books systematically regularly and revise at least 7 to 8 times frequently for memory of the characters to be assimilated?

Are the words in the siwukuaidu very difficult that those of us who are poor in Chinese won't be able to manage?

So far, what I summarised about is what I've been doing with my 2yo since he showed recognition of chinese (and english) words at 10mths old. Altho' not using that series, lah. Actually, my chinese improved in the process. However, I must say that for the 2yo, the characters set in his head, but I still need to check my online dictionary for the more difficult words! But yes, must go through the frequently. What is not seen regularly gets forgotten after a long time of absence, so i do tend to be rather vigilant for Chinese reading. For English, he discovered how to read phonetically by himself, so that's the main difference with Chinese - he can read and not exactly \"forget\", like for Chinese characters.

Since you are already teaching your child and seeing very good results, then there is no need to use the Si Wu Kuai Du books. If you continue for many more years, your child will be able to read long novels.

The Si Wu Kuai Du books are suitable for kids age 4 to 5 years old, by the time they finish book 6, they will be able to read about 80% of the words in the newspapers (assuming they remember every word that they have learned). If parents use the correct methods, most kids should be able to finish the 6 books within 2 years. That is why the words \"Kuai Du\" or \"fast read\". It is excellent for parents like me who have little time to teach my kids.

The words that are taught in the Si Wu Kuai Du books are roughly equivalent to our P4/P5 standard. The important thing is not whether parents can read these words or not, but whether parents can fully understand the instructions written in the first 30 pages. The page in my link actually says many more important things than what you have summarized.

[smurf]

Nevermind lah, at least I can read the books now, instead of waiting...and I'm not sure of the source from website...but if I have citibank credit card, I would wanna order from DD. They are cheaper and more variety.


Any idea what is the shipping duration? If I order now, when can the books reach me? :?

[dimsum]

smurf:

Nevermind lah, at least I can read the books now, instead of waiting...and I'm not sure of the source from website...but if I have citibank credit card, I would wanna order from DD. They are cheaper and more variety.


Any idea what is the shipping duration? If I order now, when can the books reach me? :?

around 8 weeks. My end Nov shipment hasn't arrived yet.

[dimsum]

Thanks to tamarind, my 4yo boy completed the 6 books. He took about 1 year. And because of all the ravings about berries on this forum, I signed him up for one K1 term this year to satisfy my curiosity. After his 1st lesson, he brought back the term1 reading and activity book. Oh dear, it was too easy. I probably will stop after 2 terms.

So conclusion: siwukuaidu is CHEAP and Good! Daily 10-15min learning (or 3-4x a week) is much more effective than a once a week lesson.

[tamarind]

dimsum:

Thanks to tamarind, my 4yo boy completed the 6 books. He took about 1 year. And because of all the ravings about berries on this forum, I signed him up for one K1 term this year to satisfy my curiosity. After his 1st lesson, he brought back the term1 reading and activity book. Oh dear, it was too easy. I probably will stop after 2 terms.

So conclusion: siwukuaidu is CHEAP and Good! Daily 10-15min learning (or 3-4x a week) is much more effective than a once a week lesson.

Hi dimsum,
Your boy is impressive ! Berries K2 may be easy for him too Have you started to teach him hanyu pinyin yet ?

Yes one of the best thing about Si Wu Kuai Du is that it is so cheap ! I think it is the cheapest set of learning materials around, and yet it teaches so much more than others.

[tamarind]

smurf:

Nevermind lah, at least I can read the books now, instead of waiting...and I'm not sure of the source from website...but if I have citibank credit card, I would wanna order from DD. They are cheaper and more variety.

If you are planning to get a new credit card, get the DBS Amex card instead. Citibank credit card gives a lot of problems when ordering at dangdang.

[smurf]

I'm not working lah...how to apply for credit card?

[smurf]

dimsum:

smurf:

Nevermind lah, at least I can read the books now, instead of waiting...and I'm not sure of the source from website...but if I have citibank credit card, I would wanna order from DD. They are cheaper and more variety.


Any idea what is the shipping duration? If I order now, when can the books reach me? :?

around 8 weeks. My end Nov shipment hasn't arrived yet.

8 wks?? That means around two mths?? Gosh...even if by sea also not so slow...haha...

[Brenda10]

smurf:

8 wks?? That means around two mths?? Gosh...even if by sea also not so slow...haha...

If can wait then is ok. If time is the important factor then no choice to get it from the local. My 2 cents thought