Teaching Chinese at Home

[markfch]

Brenda10:

Hi, 笑猫日记系列 in China are classified as P3 story books (based in dangdang information) and Ms Tamarind's girl starts reading it at P2 (if I'm not wrong). I bought for DD last November (P5) and she was not taking HCL.

Hope the above information is usfeul.

Thanks Brenda, what you provided is very useful.

If it's classified as P3 std in china, then I'll be delighted if ds can read it independently at P3. I bought quite a few 杨红樱 books. They come with HYPY and I'm hoping to get ds to read them at P2.

[Musings]

Hi,


Can anyone advise if there are suitable readers/books in the market which continues to teach Chinese characters for upper primary kids? I do know of 识字千句文 mentioned in another thread.

Seems like the available materials I know, Wo Hui Du, Sage Basic Chinese 500, Si Wu Kuai Du teaches Chinese characters up till say P2/P3 level.

Of course, P1/P2 kids who have mastered all the Chinese characters in Si Wu Kuai Du would be in a very good position to cope even with higher chinese in our schools and will be able to read many story books to increase their word recognition and vocabulary.

But I thought if there are other books/materials which continue to teach more difficult Chinese words in a more systematic way, that would be useful. Don’t think the Chinese textbooks used in our primary schools are sufficient.

[tamarind]

Dear all,

Check out my new blog entry
Progressing from picture books to long novels
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2011/08/progressing-from-picture-books-to-long.html

According to education experts in China, the best way to learn Chinese is to read as good story books extensively. Once children have completed the Si Wu Kuai Du series, they should continue to read interesting books. I have listed many good books in this new page, all available from the library, and I have also included scanned photos of the pages so parents can have an idea of what the book is about. Reading books written by good authors is the most efficient and enjoyable method of learning Chinese. Personally I think that other than the Si Wu Kuai Du series of books, it is not necessary to use any other system to learn Chinese.

Last week when my P2 girl is in Popular bookshop, her Daddy gave her a P6 higher Chinese textbook and asked her to read out loud from the book. Her Daddy was pleasantly surprised that she can read it so fluently and confidently. The fact is that I never use the textbooks to teach her. She has been reading the 笑猫日记 series of books, and now she is reading the wonderful 魔女宅急便 about a 13 year old witch learning to earn a living on her own. This is the only Chinese enrichment she has been getting.

I haven't heard of any other series of books (other than the Si Wu Kuai Du books we are using) that can produce the same results

[laughingcat]

HEY Tamarind, you are back! :rahrah: missing you aldy. :snuggles:


Your latest info is a great help to me as my DS1 has completed the si wu kuai du series and now trying to get him to read other picture books.

BTW your DD is pri 2 right? Wow amazing that she has the Pri 6 level standard in chinese.

[laughingcat]

Hi Musing,


One disadvantage of using 识字千句文 as compared to si wu kuai du, the 识字千句文 does not have reinforcement of 2 or more words matched together for the child to read. If parents are not good in chinese language, you may face this problem. Another disadvantage is that there is no short story pertaining to the use of those words that the child has learned in the earlier chapters. Hope this helps.

As what I always believe in using only one system/method only. The more systems/method you adopt not only complicate the learning but also impede the progress. If one adopts too many system, you will find that getting to the target seems somewhat slow and ended up quite boring not only for you but also the child. That is what I have observed in my friends or cousins’ teaching method.

[Musings]

Hi laughingcat, thanks for advice.


Just to share I bought NYPS's teaching guide on Chinese picture books 绘本教学思 detailing teaching methods using each of the picture books. Also sets out activities we can do with the kid using the picture books. It's great as it introduces various picture books for different primary levels, lower pri, upper pri etc which we can use for reference. Here's the link:

http://www.lingzi.com.sg/book_view_g.php?pid=157

The recommended picture books include 鼠小弟, 你看起来好像很好吃.

[laughingcat]

Hi musings,


Thanks for the recommendation. I am an old gal of NYPS, so I have bought that book as well. Yes it is a good reference. :evil:

[pudgyme]

erm, can i check where can we purchase this book?

Popular bookstore? Am keen to get it too from your positive feedbacks
thanks~~

[Atan]

Musings:

Hi laughingcat, thanks for advice.


Just to share I bought NYPS's teaching guide on Chinese picture books 绘本教学思 detailing teaching methods using each of the picture books. Also sets out activities we can do with the kid using the picture books. It's great as it introduces various picture books for different primary levels, lower pri, upper pri etc which we can use for reference. Here's the link:

http://www.lingzi.com.sg/book_view_g.php?pid=157

The recommended picture books include 鼠小弟, 你看起来好像很好吃.

Hi Musing, thanks for sharing. Is the book sold to NY students? Did not see any circulars about the sale of this book.. Maybe need to check with the CL teacher.

[Musings]

pudgyme:

erm, can i check where can we purchase this book?

Popular bookstore? Am keen to get it too from your positive feedbacks
thanks~~

Atan, my kids not from NYPS but I'm sure the school will have some to sell to their own students?...

I bought the book from Popular - it's only published in March 2011.

You can also buy it online directly from the publisher:

http://www.lingzi.com.sg/book_view_g.php?pid=157

They will deliver to you.

I highly recommend it - very useful and detailed guide on how to fully utilise the picture books to enhance the reading experience.

I have also placed an order for the first picture book guide by NYPS in 2008 乐在绘本中!