《三十六个字》- 一个很容易让学生产生兴趣的教学资源

《三十六个字》



这是一个非常棒的教学资源。它用动画的形式让学习者很容易理解汉字的起源。如果老师能善加使用，相信会很容易让学生产生兴趣和学习的动机。

We definitely need more innovative ways of teaching

This is an inspiring YouTube video and useful teaching resource. Although A-Fu says that the pronunciation is challenging, he has spoken well.  Many people, including some Chinese teachers, say that Chinese is a 'difficult' language. I do not agree. 

There are many reasons why one can master a foreign/second language. Apart from the elements of the language itself (such as pronunciation, grammar, sentence structure, etc.), interest, motivation, learning environment, learning methods, and even understanding of
the culture, are key to the success of learning a foreign/second language. Simply saying that Chinese is difficult to learn is not true, and it doesn’t solve the problem either. After all, it is a relative concept. In Spanish, for example, the pronunciation is easy for Chinese learners, because its words are composed of 'syllables'. However, the Spanish grammar is very complicated. Relatively speaking, Chinese characters for many 'foreigners' are hard, but the pronunciation is not difficult. Moreover, the grammar is very flexible and simple. So, I think, when promoting Chinese as a second language (CSL), we should treat speaking/listening and reading/writing separately. After all, they are different skills. A learner who can say 'xie xie' may not need to be able to read or write '谢谢’.

With Chinese becoming more globalised, we definitely need more innovative ways of teaching. 


                     

《边唱边学》Book 2-6 下雨

《下雨》很适合Weather这个主题。除了单词（如，下雨、雨伞、衣服）以外，还有一些实用的句型，比如 “雨下来了”、“借给他用吧”、“衣服湿了”。这些不容易讲解的句型都可以在自然、流顺的旋律中学会。对于较小的孩子来说，这是一种学习语言很自然的方法。在我个人的教学过程中，不管是十一年级的初学者，九年级的二语学生，还是有华语背景的小学生，都很容易就朗朗上口。再通过《边唱边学》学生用书的练习，学生很快就能够把握这些单词、句型的应用，从而创造出自己的词句。

太极拳加上中国音乐也可以这么美！

太极拳就像扯铃一样，是中国文化实践的精华。人们一直以为太极拳是老年人的运动，但这个视频让我们理解到“太极拳也可以这么美”。很多西方人想学中文，因为他们爱上了中国功夫，他们或许说不上几句中文，但对于李小龙、成龙或者‘叶问’倒蛮熟悉的。如果学生能够因为喜欢上中国人的文化，而开始学习中文，那中文老师的工作就轻松多了。

太极拳加上中国音乐也可以这么美！

扯铃 - 让学生们见识中国传统游戏的奥妙，间接爱上中文

要推广中文教育，鼓励学生学习中文，这应该是一个不错的资源吧！让孩子们见识中国传统游戏的奥妙。很多人爱上中文是因为李小龙的功夫，或是中国菜。‘扯铃’提供了另一种学习的动机 (motivation)。很多孩子因为爱上日本的‘动画’，或是韩国的K-pop, 而开始学习日文或韩文。所以，我深信如果孩子们爱上了某一个中国文化元素，如中文歌曲、电视节目或传统艺术，他们自然会想要学习这个语言。

对不起，没关系

An excellent teaching YouTube to teach 对不起，没关系。

         
                                              (From 影片分享站）

人民日报公布一批易错字 - 中文教与学的好资源

学习语言本来就是为了沟通，“发音是否完全准确”本不应该成为沟通的阻碍。能够说一口道地的中文当然很好，但看看我们这些所谓的 ‘Native speakers’，又有多少人讲的像新闻播音员那么精确呢？

然而，中文是一个非常讲究情境的语言，“我是”与“卧室”，“睡觉”与“水饺”，如果分不清楚重音的话，就比较容易闹笑话。人民日报公布的这些易错字不仅对学习者有帮助，对于像我这样半路出家的中文老师，也是一个学习的好机会。

人民日报公布一批易错字

10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Mandarin Chinese (from The Chairman's Bao)

For teachers and students of Mandarin, this article may help you understand more about the language that you are teaching or learning.

10 Interesting Facts and Figures about Mandarin Chinese

Bilingualism is good for you. But monoglots needn't despair - by David Shariatmadari

Totally agree with the writer: the study of language has hugely enriched my life. I would like to share this satisfaction with people who are interested in teaching or learning languages.

Bilingualism is good for you. But monoglots needn't despair - by David Shariatmadari