For many Chinese children growing up abroad, Pinyin is a barrier to learning Chinese. Parents are worried that if their children don’t learn Pinyin, their pronunciation will suffer and it will hinder their ability to expand their vocabulary.On the other hand, they are also afraid that if children learn Pinyin too early, they will become dependent on it and have difficulty recognizing characters?
Because of the digital age, Pinyin is also key to typing Chinese characters on the computer and on your phone. Without understanding pinyin, children will not be able to look up information and resources in Chinese.
The importance of learning Pinyin is clear. But how can Chinese children growing up overseas learn it more efficiently? Particularly, given that growing up in a non-Chinese language environment can lead to a lack of motivation.
Tip 1. Don’t teach Pinyin all at once. Teach it with new vocabulary.
At present, the most common way to teach Pinyin is all at once . Most classes and textbooks teach Pinyin separately and focus on correct correcting pronunciation and repetition. With this teaching method, children can’t master Pinyin and its more practical applications, such as spelling and reading new words. It also tends to lead to unsatisfactory results. Instead, teach your child pinyin through new vocabulary. In this way, they are able to learn pronunciation along with new words.
Tip 2. Practice makes perfect.
It is difficult for c children to get enough support after their Chinese class. Many parents wonder:“My child mastered Pinyin in class. Why have he/she forgotten it now that they are home?” The acquisition and mastery of a language requires a lot of practice. Children need native speakers an/or a professional teacher to correct their pronunciation and help them review during the learning process. Otherwise, it may look like they learned Pinyin, but they simply memorized without the capability of using it in the real world.
Tip 3. How they learn Pinyin makes all the difference.
Children can also confuse Chinese Pinyin with the local language. This is particularly a problem between the English alphabet and Chinese Pinyin. Many parents often wonder whether which system should their child learn first or if they should learn both at the same time? If so, will they not learn well at both ends?
AtLingoAce, we attach great importance to teaching Pinyin, particularly paying more attention to practical learning and addressing unique issues faced by children overseas.We also design rich content that helps children learn Pinyin in an interactive way and enhances the overall language environment.
The LingoAce Curriculum Difference
We provide different pinyin learning methods for different types of learners. For children from Chinese-speaking households, Pinyin is taught by leveraging the entire home environment and focuses on reviewing and honing in on key difficulties. For children who have no basic knowledge, Pinyin is incorporated at each level, so they can learn systematically.
No matter what kind of learner the student is, learning Pinyin is integrated with the main lessons and themes, as well as topics that interest the individual child. LingoAce has designed different language input and output forms based on the advantages of online learning. Children learn through interactive courses and games, which promote repetition and comprehension. For example, we teach tones through dance, which allows children to deepen their memorization through associating specific body movements.
Focusing onpractical applications of Pinyin
In the process of learning Pinyin, LingoAce teachers emphasize the practical use of Pinyin, so children learn essential language for their daily lives. In this way, children see the value of Pinyin and understand how it helps them learn Chinese. Essentially, learning Pinyin is combined with learning important Chinese characters, allowing children to complete many exercises of Pinyin.
Correcting pronunciation is key In the process of learning Pinyin, it is also important that their teacher corrects their pronunciation. AtLingoAce, every teacher has passed the national Mandarin Chinese proficiency test, which ensures that their pronunciation is standard. In terms of pronunciation standards, we have a strict selection so that children can learn the most authentic Mandarin Chinese pronunciation.
Using technology to practice anytime and anywhere
After each class, the teacher will assign listening and speaking homework. The homework is scored by AI and provides students with instant feedback. In this way, children can practice on their own between lessons.
Learning Pinyin is indeed challenging for children growing up overseas. With
excellent teachers, rich learning content, and high-frequency practice, children can also master Pinyin and learn Chinese.
