phtthp:

start with 四五快读 first.


because 识字千句文 contents very dry. Not easy to teach, unless you can make it lively & enjoyable through singing songs, singing nursery rhyme, etc. if you want yr child learn 识字千句文, why not let him attend the Community club where got professional teacher teach kids the light hearted & fun way via singing nursery rhymes? I think there's a cc at Henderson starting a class soon / or jus started for 识字千句文. You can call up cc to inquire.

since yr child P3 now, but because you not sure which book to start him with - i suggest you bring yr son down to NIE library one day.

NIE library has the complete set of 7 books (volume 1 to 7). You bring your son there, flip thru book1 - test him. Ask him to read aloud some passages inside. See how much he can read fluently from book1.

if he can, repeat with book2. If he encounters difficulty with book2, means he need to start from book2. This way, you'll know which book to buy for him, in case you have difficulty borrowing them out from NIE library.

NIE library search opac is:-
http://libris.nie.edu.sg/

SWKD books are found on level 3, open shelf section.
the call number for 四五快读 (Si Wu Kuai Du) is
LB1139.5.L35 Y36 - volume 1 to 7.

before you go down NIE library, call up first - check if library is open.
once you enter if admin staff ask you - what you doing here ? just ask politely - may i fill up a form for temporary usage to visit your library to browse some books ? Normally they'll allow outsiders to do so, after you fill up the form. Bring along your NETs topped up card in case you need to zap some pages from SWKD.

tamarind:

24hr-mum:

i saw popular (nex) have some of the 四五快读 books. did ur books finish ALL 7 BOOKS? how long did it take? do u mean read thru all the phrases there? some rather chim. how is it different from just reading Chinese readers and story books and keep reading them to recognise the words?

The 7th book of Si Wu Kuai Du is for reference only, we only need to teach from the first 6 books. My girl completed all 6 books in less than 3 months when she just started P1. My boy took about one year to complete. Both my kids are reading long Chinese novels fluently and with very good understanding by P1 :

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2011/06/reading-long-chinese-novels-by-7-years.html

Each lesson teaches new words, and how to use the words in phrases, and also includes sentences or short stories using the words.

Note that it is essential for parents to read and understand the first 30 pages of book 1. Many parents simply skip these pages, and just point and read the words which is not the correct method of using the books. I only recommend these books to parents who are good in Chinese and are able to understand the instructions. For parents who are not good in Chinese (cannot read Chinese newspapers), I suggest using Ji Chu Han Zi instead : http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2009/12/basic-chinese-500.html

The book suggests 18 games that parents can use to teach new words. After playing a game, the child reads a short paragraph or story using the the words that he has learned. He builds up his confidence in reading because he knows how to read every word in the story. This approach is similar to the Peter and Jane series of books but in a way more efficient through the use of games.

You can also teach from Chinese story books only, but you will have to diligently read story books to your child from birth to 6 years old everyday in order for the child to be able to read long novels by P1 (some kids may take even longer). If a child is already over 6 years old and has not been reading Chinese books, it is going to be very tough to get him to read. You can show him a book and if he does not know 80% of the words, he is going to be very discouraged and will reject reading the book.

The Si Wu Kuai Du is a system for training children to read independently in a short period of time. After a child has completed the 6 books, he will be able to read about 80% of the words in any story book and this is enough for the child to enjoy th book. Of course parents have to continue to read books with children so that they learn more new words.

tamarind:

......For those parents who are thinking of using only 识字千句文 without reading any story book, then it is not going to be helpful.

tamarind:

Brenda10:

[quote=\"tamarind\"] The best way to learn Chinese is always by reading the words in sentences and stories, and children must be trained to read good story books everyday. This is so much more fun and enjoyable compared to memorizing meaningless words. In fact, both my kids often laugh when they read from wonderful Chinese story books.

Hi Tamarind,

Agreed.

Is better to learn Chinese by reading the words in sentences and stores, like the follwoing sentences dd learn through either CL show or books:

树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不在
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒
周郎妙计安天下，陪了夫人又折兵

Brenda10:

tamarind:

The best way to learn Chinese is always by reading the words in sentences and stories, and children must be trained to read good story books everyday. This is so much more fun and enjoyable compared to memorizing meaningless words. In fact, both my kids often laugh when they read from wonderful Chinese story books.

Hi Tamarind,

Agreed.

Is better to learn Chinese by reading the words in sentences and stores, like the follwoing sentences dd learn through either CL show or books:

树欲静而风不止，子欲养而亲不在
冰冻三尺，非一日之寒
周郎妙计安天下，陪了夫人又折兵

laughingcat:

tamarind:

If all the pages in the entire book contain individual words with no relation to each other, then I do not advise parents to use these books.


Chinese words must be learned in sentences, and are best learned when read in story books. This is because the same word can have different pronunciation and mean different things will used in different phrases/sentences.

Look at the following examples, the numbers in brackets are the tones :
数(4)字 数(3)落
漂(1)着 漂(3)白 漂(4)亮

Even if a child can remember all the individual words in the 识字千句文, he/she is not going to know how to use them. It is also going to be very boring to just memorize individual words. It is much better to teach using a good Chinese story book that is fun and enjoyable.

AGREED! After my boys have completed the 四五快读 books. I proceed with this 识字千句文 books even though my boys are reading picture books. I must said that it is rather difficult to use if parents are not well verse in mandarin. Because you really need to match 2 words or more or form sentences on your own. It is really not easy. If you asked me, i would prefer 四五快读 books because I am a lazy mum.

Now no choice as i have started using the 识字千句文 and now cannot stop.

tamarind:

The best way to learn Chinese is always by reading the words in sentences and stories, and children must be trained to read good story books everyday. This is so much more fun and enjoyable compared to memorizing meaningless words. In fact, both my kids often laugh when they read from wonderful Chinese story books.

24hr-mum:

i saw popular (nex) have some of the 四五快读 books. did ur books finish ALL 7 BOOKS? how long did it take? do u mean read thru all the phrases there? some rather chim. how is it different from just reading Chinese readers and story books and keep reading them to recognise the words?

tankee:

tamarind:

If all the pages in the entire book contain individual words with no relation to each other, then I do not advise parents to use these books.


Chinese words must be learned in sentences, and are best learned when read in story books. This is because the same word can have different pronunciation and mean different things will used in different phrases/sentences.

Look at the following examples, the numbers in brackets are the tones :
数(4)字 数(3)落
漂(1)着 漂(3)白 漂(4)亮

Even if a child can remember all the individual words in the 识字千句文, he/she is not going to know how to use them. It is also going to be very boring to just memorize individual words. It is much better to teach using a good Chinese story book that is fun and enjoyable.

see http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?p=135112#p135112 for sample page

According to their theory, the purpose is recognise the words & able to read it, so as to make it easier when learning how to use them in the future.

somewhat a little bit similar to English phonics, able to read but don't know the meaning.

tamarind:

If all the pages in the entire book contain individual words with no relation to each other, then I do not advise parents to use these books.


Chinese words must be learned in sentences, and are best learned when read in story books. This is because the same word can have different pronunciation and mean different things will used in different phrases/sentences.

Look at the following examples, the numbers in brackets are the tones :
数(4)字 数(3)落
漂(1)着 漂(3)白 漂(4)亮

Even if a child can remember all the individual words in the 识字千句文, he/she is not going to know how to use them. It is also going to be very boring to just memorize individual words. It is much better to teach using a good Chinese story book that is fun and enjoyable.

tamarind:

If all the pages in the entire book contain individual words with no relation to each other, then I do not advise parents to use these books.


Chinese words must be learned in sentences, and are best learned when read in story books. This is because the same word can have different pronunciation and mean different things will used in different phrases/sentences.

Look at the following examples, the numbers in brackets are the tones :
数(4)字 数(3)落
漂(1)着 漂(3)白 漂(4)亮

Even if a child can remember all the individual words in the 识字千句文, he/she is not going to know how to use them. It is also going to be very boring to just memorize individual words. It is much better to teach using a good Chinese story book that is fun and enjoyable.

phtthp:

a)


at community centres, this ONE year duration course conducted help to prepare kids aged N2 – K2 onwards (4 – 6 yrs old) to recognise Chinese words up to both Primary 1 AND Primary 2 Chinese.

Smiling Star send China teachers all over various cc to teach.

the name of this course taught at cc is called:-
‘Speedy Chinese Characters Recognition’.

the 4 books (volume 1 to 4) used by China teachers to teach kids at cc are called 识字千句文

you may watch video to see how kids the learn:-
http://www.smilingstar.com.sg/speedyrec.htm

list of cc conducting include:-

-\tCi Yuan cc
-\tTampines Central cc
-\tSembawang cc
-\tHenderson cc

http://one.pa.gov.sg/CRMSPortal/CRMSPortal.portal?_nfpb=true&_windowLabel=CRMSPortal_1&_urlType=render&_mode=view&CRMSPortal_1_action=CMFShowClasses&_pageLabel=CRMSPortal_page_1&actionIndex=searchClassList&idProduct=14246114&CWT=

costs ?
cheapest is at Ci Yuan cc.
costs $130 per Term (3 months of 12 lessons) … approx $10 per lesson.

due to rising popularity, commercial schools starting up new centres to teach, but more expensive - although they use the same set of teaching material to teach kids (ie. the same set of 4 books, volume 1 to 4) …

commercial schools charge around $120 per month, ie. approx $30 per lesson, vs. only $10 per lesson at community centre(s).


b) what is syllabus about ?

it is a Chinese enrichment program which comprises of 4 books of 3500 characters – that are commonly used words found in 80% of major newspapers and magazines in China. The survey is a result from a research carried out in China to find out most commonly used words in major media publications in China.

these 3500 characters are also in line with our MOE’s plan for all Singapore students to master them, by the time they reach Secondary 4.

the characters in each book have been meaningfully arranged, to facilitate learning interesting and easily understood.

the program enjoys mulit-faceted approach to teach. The lessons are conducted using music, animation, flashcards, games, video, speech and drama etc – to make the learning fun, engaging and interesting.

there are Total 4 books.
open up the first book (volume 1). Turn to page 1.

for P1 /2 child - target only those chinese word characters in RED color.

concentrate only RED color words – because meant for P1 / 2.

if a child can finish recognising all the RED color coded words in 4 books per year (ie. 1 book per Term), means the child is comfortable with Chinese. He would have more or less attainted Singapore Primary 2 Chinese standard.

meanwhile ignore other color words, because they are meant for higher level:-

black color words - for P3 /4
blue color words - for P5 /6

green color words - for Sec 1 / 2
purple color words - for Sec 3 / 4

it comes with a book + CD, for your child to revise.

for parent - if you do homework dutifully, revise with your child constantly to help recognize words, your child’s Chinese will improve !

c) how popular / useful in Primary schools ?

i)\tQihua primary school now using 识字千句文 as the Key methodology to teach P1 kids recognise Chinese words:-

http://www.qihuapri.moe.edu.sg/cos/o.x?c=/wbn/pagetree&func=view&rid=1043296


ii)\tworryparent (KSP) feedback and observed that 识字千句文is taught at Xing Nan primary, and is good:-

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php&p=214930


iii)\tTao Nan using it to teach P1 kids during Chinese lessons (refer slide 22):-

http://www.taonan.moe.edu.sg/attachments/123_P1%20Parents%20Briefing-04%20Jan%202010%20%28Chinese%29.ppt#284,22,Slide


iv)\tNanyang primary asks service provider Yuquan
to come down, teach enrichment Chinese to Nanyang kids:-

快速识字 Speedy Words Recognition

http://www.nyps.moe.edu.sg/nyps_after_school_enrichment/yuquan/zijing.pdf