Mandarin Chinese is a widely spoken language, with approximately 1.31 billion speakers across the globe. Many Chinese people move to different countries, which creates a cultural gap for their offspring. One of the best ways to remain closer to their culture is by speaking in their native language. This helps in honing strong language skills and preserving tradition. However, learning a new language is not a piece of cake for young children. Though children are likely to learn quickly, following the path of speaking Chinese for children can be ten times tougher for parents.
If "Help my child learn to speak Mandarin Chinese" tops a parent's new year resolution list, the following 11 tips might be of great help:
1. Engage All Five Senses Of The Child
There is a reason why humans have five senses. These five senses play a great role in strengthening the perceptions and memory of the child. For a child to learn Mandarin Chinese effectively, stimulate all their senses in the process.
If the word "apple" is being taught, show the images of an apple or rather let the child feel, smell, and taste real apples. It will help the child form a strong image of apples in their mind and associate the Mandarin Chinese word being taught.
2. Reward For Revising Well
One of the best parts about making a child learn is that their actions can be regulated with occasional rewards. Reward children with snacks if they can name them in Mandarin Chinese. Ensure to first introduce the words to them and then test them. Implement the same strategy for board games, outings, and day-to-day objects.
Let the rewards pertain to the object they name or identify in Mandarin Chinese. This will help revise what they have learned before and motivate them to keep trying.
3. Change What They See On Tablets And Television
65% of the population are visual learners, making visual learning a constructive method for children. Start with dedicating half an hour of their tablet or television time for Chinese children movies or channels.
Various educational Chinese YouTube channels are fun yet beneficial for children. Slowly, if the child's interest builds, utilize their entire screen time for shows in Chinese. Try making them watch their favorite shows in Chinese. Sometimes the Chinese they learn from their favorite characters is more influential.
4. Read Chinese Bedtime Stories
Bedtime stories are a child’s favorite. Along with their imagination having a gala time, their Mandarin Chinese can also upskill. For this activity, parents must ask themselves: "how do you speak Chinese?" The parents should have a strong command over their language to learn better.
There are many interesting and moral-based books in Chinese. Also take a look at Ace Early Learning’s exhaustive book library. Let the child pick a book they like, read the story to them, translate it into English, and let them repeat the words.
5. Sing And Play In Chinese
Another sure-shot way to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese for children is through singing and playing. Singing is a joyful activity, making learning Mandarin Chinese a playful task instead of compulsion. Singing and dancing on nursery rhymes like "Ba, Ba, Black Sheep" in Mandarin Chinese will boost children's learning abilities. Imaginative play enhances their creativity while introducing new Mandarin Chinese phrases to use in their games. You will find more songs to help in your child’s learning here, on our LingoAce YouTube channel.
6. Repeat, Repeat, Repeat
Repetition is a tactic that parents can use to help children store their Mandarin Chinese learnings in long-term memory. Repeat all the new and old words whenever and wherever possible. Give the child opportunities to think of the word by themselves. Learning to speak Mandarin Chinese for children is a lengthy task, but repetition can strengthen efforts.
7. Draw And Learn
How do you speak Mandarin Chinese without any errors? By writing in Chinese. Studies have shown that using writing as a way of learning is extremely effective. In the case of young children, parents can teach them to draw Chinese characters.
As writing fluently in Mandarin Chinese might require a stronger command over the language, drawing simple one-word characters can be really helpful. Words like "person", "big", etc. have single characters. Try outlining the characters in the objects that children draw.
8. Incorporate Mandarin Chinese Throughout The Day
Like all other languages, Mandarin Chinese has phrases for all kinds of situations. Each day can be a chance to learn new Mandarin Chinese words. Begin the day with "good morning", but in Mandarin Chinese. Ask the child to name the things they are eating.
Teach respectful greetings, basic questions, and words that they can use to call people around them. Even a simple visit to the supermarket can be a learning spree.
9. Understand What Your Child Needs
Every child is different. Different children respond to different activities. If learning methods suggested by other parents do not work, parents should try to use the principle differently to suit their child.
For example, if the activity requires the parent to teach through drawing, but their child learns better through play, parents should choose the latter route.
10. Merge Language And Life
To understand the importance of the language they are learning, they will have to experience it. A language is a part of an individual's social development. Showcasing the language the child is learning through socializing, helps children to understand Chinese better.
Take them to a Chinese restaurant, make them interact with other people who speak Chinese, host Chinese cultural events, etc. These opportunities will be amusing for the children and facilitate their social well-being.
11. Keep Track of The Progress
Parents should have a journal where they write down their child's daily progress. If the child has a tutor, the progress can be shown to the tutor, who will further make efforts to sharpen the areas the child lacks.
Monitoring the progress boosts the child's confidence. Parents can take the child's input on the journaling. They can ask the child about all the new words they learned in the week and write them down to keep a check.
Consistency Is Key For Children To Learn To Speak Chinese
Parents should remember to be patient and consistent. They should let their child learn at their own pace. Try out different methods and activities that attract children to learn. Throughout the learning journey, keep in mind the purpose of teaching Mandarin Chinese. The tradition, culture, and love for the language will make the teaching path of how to speak Mandarin Chinese for children extremely special and worthwhile.
Introduce your child to the Chinese world through uplifting and educational programs here at LingoAce. Each lesson your child takes with us is a product of over 100 hours of curriculum creation, courseware production, mock teaching, teacher training and quality control (QC) rounds.
Experience a redefined Chinese learning first-hand through a free trial lesson with us today.
