Effective And Fun Approaches To Teaching Chinese Characters

Katherine Yang

Kristin School

Chinese Programme at Kristin Chinese Programme at Kristin SchoolSchool

Started in 1998Started in 1998 Compulsory in Junior School from Kindy Compulsory in Junior School from Kindy

to Year 6to Year 6 2 X 45min over 7 days cycle2 X 45min over 7 days cycle Kindy to Year 2 focusing on speaking and Kindy to Year 2 focusing on speaking and

listening skillslistening skills Year 3 – Yr 6 focusing on 4 language Year 3 – Yr 6 focusing on 4 language

skills skills

Characteristics of Characteristics of children’s Second children’s Second language learninglanguage learning

Full of curiosity Full of curiosity Full of imaginationFull of imagination Full of creativities Full of creativities Enjoying competitionsEnjoying competitions Risk takers Risk takers Short Concentration span Short Concentration span

1. Teaching Chinese characters 1. Teaching Chinese characters through telling storiesthrough telling stories

Storytelling is the oldest form of Storytelling is the oldest form of education. education.

Stories are the way we store Stories are the way we store information in the brain. information in the brain.

Stories/explanations go straight Stories/explanations go straight to the heart. to the heart.

Story forStory for 日，月，山，水日，月，山，水

The Hunter And His BBQ Invitation LetterThe Hunter And His BBQ Invitation Letter

Once upon a time, a hunter living in a little village at Once upon a time, a hunter living in a little village at the foot of a big mountain hunted a pig which was the foot of a big mountain hunted a pig which was the most beautiful food at that time, and baked it the most beautiful food at that time, and baked it on a pile of fire. But because it was so big and had on a pile of fire. But because it was so big and had so much meat, the hunter’s family couldn’t finish it so much meat, the hunter’s family couldn’t finish it by themselves and they got no where to keep it as by themselves and they got no where to keep it as there was no refrigerator at that time. So he there was no refrigerator at that time. So he decided to invite his friends and relatives to share decided to invite his friends and relatives to share the meat. But how to send the message around? He the meat. But how to send the message around? He had no telephone, no mobile phone, no computer, had no telephone, no mobile phone, no computer, nothing. nothing. (At this stage I will ask the children to help him to find a way to (At this stage I will ask the children to help him to find a way to send the message and always they tell me that he should write a letter and send the message and always they tell me that he should write a letter and post it to his friends and relatives.)post it to his friends and relatives.)

When he started writing an invitation letter, he found When he started writing an invitation letter, he found that he had no idea of what writing was. So he drew that he had no idea of what writing was. So he drew pictures on a piece of bark of a tree. His friends and pictures on a piece of bark of a tree. His friends and relatives got the message and had a feast in his relatives got the message and had a feast in his house. house.

The letter:The letter:

When the sun comes down and the When the sun comes down and the moon goes up, please come to my moon goes up, please come to my house to have a BBQ with us. My house to have a BBQ with us. My house is located at the food of a big house is located at the food of a big mountain and there is a little river mountain and there is a little river flowing before it.flowing before it.

Later on, people found drawing pictures Later on, people found drawing pictures took too much time, so they simplified took too much time, so they simplified these pictures to characters - ri becomes these pictures to characters - ri becomes 日日 , yue becomes , yue becomes 月月，， mountain mountain becomes becomes 山山 and water becomes and water becomes 水水。。

A story doesn't have to be true A story doesn't have to be true and it doesn't have to be very and it doesn't have to be very long either. Sometimes it just long either. Sometimes it just needs a few sentences to wrap needs a few sentences to wrap

up the concept.up the concept. 家家 : Where should we keep the pig? : Where should we keep the pig?

国国 : The king and his kingdom : The king and his kingdom 茶茶 : Who should go and pick up the : Who should go and pick up the

leaves?leaves?酒酒 : A vintager and his big jar: A vintager and his big jar看 看 ：： I can see! I can see! I can see! I can see!

2. Promoting students interest in 2. Promoting students interest in Chinese characters by the media Chinese characters by the media

of drawing picturesof drawing pictures Writing Chinese characters can be Writing Chinese characters can be

boring to children as they are made of boring to children as they are made of abstract strokes which don’t really abstract strokes which don’t really make sense to them. However with make sense to them. However with the media of drawing and colouring, the media of drawing and colouring, students put vivid life into those students put vivid life into those abstract characters.abstract characters.

Examples of character writing from Examples of character writing from Year 2 children’Year 2 children’

Examples of character writing Examples of character writing from Year 4 children’from Year 4 children’

3. Expanding Chinese vocabulary by 3. Expanding Chinese vocabulary by playing block building with Chinese playing block building with Chinese characterscharacters

Chinese characters are the most expressive and Chinese characters are the most expressive and informative language. informative language.

Each character is an information block which can be Each character is an information block which can be used flexibly with another character to make up used flexibly with another character to make up new words, phrases and sentences. new words, phrases and sentences.

Year 3Year 3

日，月，山，水，大，小，人日，月，山，水，大，小，人

大山，小山，大水，二月五日，三月八大山，小山，大水，二月五日，三月八日，日日月月，大月，小月，大人，小日，日日月月，大月，小月，大人，小人 人

火，上，下，中，国火，上，下，中，国 火山，上山，下山，山上，山下，大国，小火山，上山，下山，山上，山下，大国，小

国，大火，小火，上火，水上，水下国，大火，小火，上火，水上，水下

Year 4Year 4牛，马，羊，鱼，鸟，鸡牛，马，羊，鱼，鸟，鸡

大牛，小牛，水牛大牛，小牛，水牛 大 马，小马，木马，上马，下马大 马，小马，木马，上马，下马 大 羊，小羊，山羊大 羊，小羊，山羊 大鱼，小鱼，飞鱼，木鱼大鱼，小鱼，飞鱼，木鱼 大鸟，小鸟，水鸟大鸟，小鸟，水鸟 大 鸡，小 鸡，山 鸡， 火 鸡大 鸡，小 鸡，山 鸡， 火 鸡

Year 5Year 5 头：头：

大头，小头，大头，小头， 木头木头 , , 木头人木头人 , , 人头，人头， 上头，下头，上头，下头， 口头，手头口头，手头 田头，火头，，山头，田头，火头，，山头，

高高 高大高大 高明高明 高山高山 高人高人 高手高手 高中高中 高中生高中生

网网 网 球网 球 上网上网 下网下网 电网电网 水网水网 鱼网鱼网

Year 6Year 6天天

天上天上 天下天下 春天春天 秋天秋天 冬天冬天 夏天夏天 今天今天 明天明天

风天风天 雨天雨天 好天好天 五天五天 七天七天 几天几天

Putting character blocks Putting character blocks

together to make sentencestogether to make sentences 小马上山，小羊下山。小马上山，小羊下山。小牛下水小牛下水，，小鸟上天小鸟上天。。山上有小羊，山下有大牛。山上有小羊，山下有大牛。水中有小鱼，天上有小鸟。水中有小鱼，天上有小鸟。水牛大，山羊小。水牛大，山羊小。大水牛下水，小山羊上火车。小马上飞机。大水牛下水，小山羊上火车。小马上飞机。中国有中国人。中国有大山。中国有中国人。中国有大山。天上有一只小鸟。山上有一只小羊。天上有一只小鸟。山上有一只小羊。

Block building approach:Block building approach:

Links those unrelated and isolated Links those unrelated and isolated characters together to make up new characters together to make up new words and phraseswords and phrases

gives students a feeling of achievement gives students a feeling of achievement and success. and success.

boosts students’ confidence in learning boosts students’ confidence in learning Chinese characters Chinese characters

demonstrates vividly how Chinese phrases demonstrates vividly how Chinese phrases and sentences are formed.and sentences are formed.

4. Input Chinese characters by 4. Input Chinese characters by building up studetns’ own building up studetns’ own 说文解说文解字字 - - the interpretations of words and charactersthe interpretations of words and characters

Traditional approach to teaching Chinese charactersTraditional approach to teaching Chinese characters the teacher controls everything and explains the teacher controls everything and explains

everything everything students listen and copying the characters and students listen and copying the characters and

practice hundreds of times practice hundreds of times

It is highly inefficient It is highly inefficient The teacher does all the thinking and all the The teacher does all the thinking and all the

talking. talking. The teacher soon gets tired because she is doing The teacher soon gets tired because she is doing

all the work. all the work. the students get bored because they are inactive. the students get bored because they are inactive.

The more active the students are, The more active the students are, the more learning can take place.the more learning can take place.

What does this Chinese character What does this Chinese character look like? (for Year 3 & 4 children)look like? (for Year 3 & 4 children)

What does this Chinese character What does this Chinese character look like and why? (for Year 5 & 6 look like and why? (for Year 5 & 6 children)children)

Explanations from Yr 4 childrenExplanations from Yr 4 children 爸 爸 cross bones on a pirate flagcross bones on a pirate flag 弟弟 a snake curling up a tree with a snake curling up a tree with

tongue hissing outtongue hissing out 哥 哥 an apartment with two big an apartment with two big

windowswindows 妹妹 a person standing by a a person standing by a

Christmas treeChristmas tree 姐 姐 a person ready to climb a a person ready to climb a

ladderladder 有 有 a cross on a churcha cross on a church 家 家 aliens in “tuminitar”, a aliens in “tuminitar”, a

mosquitomosquito

Explanations from Yr 6 childrenExplanations from Yr 6 children

是是 It looks like a tree house It looks like a tree house

because it has a slide, a ladder because it has a slide, a ladder and a little house on top.and a little house on top.

It looks like a f sliding down a It looks like a f sliding down a slide wearing a hat because slide wearing a hat because 人人 is like a slide, f is the f and is like a slide, f is the f and 日日 is the hat.is the hat.

车车 It looks like a number 4 stuck in a It looks like a number 4 stuck in a

buildingbuilding It looks like a number 4 looking It looks like a number 4 looking

out of a windowout of a window It looks like a number 4 laying on It looks like a number 4 laying on

the road going to get run overthe road going to get run over It looks like It looks like number 4 with one number 4 with one

line above and one belowline above and one below

火火

It looks like an evil face.It looks like an evil face. It looks like a person It looks like a person

screaming and shouting fire screaming and shouting fire with arms up.with arms up.

It looks like a person jumping It looks like a person jumping and going crazy.and going crazy.

5. Teaching complicated 5. Teaching complicated Chinese characters by letting Chinese characters by letting

students make discoveriesstudents make discoveriesHow many characters can you find in this character?How many characters can you find in this character?

This question can always turn the boring abstract This question can always turn the boring abstract and complicated character into an interesting and and complicated character into an interesting and exciting maze or puzzle before their eyes. exciting maze or puzzle before their eyes.

Their curiosity switches their mind to searching for Their curiosity switches their mind to searching for characters they have learned before and motivates characters they have learned before and motivates them to look at the characters in every detail to find them to look at the characters in every detail to find as many hidden characters as they can. as many hidden characters as they can.

The result is reading and writing those characters The result is reading and writing those characters become an interesting and challenging game of become an interesting and challenging game of making discoveries. making discoveries.

they not only review the characters they have learnt they not only review the characters they have learnt but also examine the characters with great attention but also examine the characters with great attention and remember them by heart more effectively and and remember them by heart more effectively and vividly. vividly.

How many characters can How many characters can you find in this character?you find in this character?

是是 : : 日，一，人， 日，一，人， T, T, 果果 : : 十，田，木十，田，木 卖：十，大，头，买，人，一卖：十，大，头，买，人，一 春：三，人， 大 春：三，人， 大 , , 日，日， 茶：人，木，小茶：人，木，小 胖：月，半，二，十胖：月，半，二，十

6. Teaching Chinese radicals by 6. Teaching Chinese radicals by playing Making a Guess playing Making a Guess gamegame

All Chinese characters have a radical or All Chinese characters have a radical or are a radial in it self. are a radial in it self.

There are 214 radicals today but some There are 214 radicals today but some of them are under debate to be of them are under debate to be removed. removed.

Radicals is used to tell something about Radicals is used to tell something about the meaning of the character, the meaning of the character, 女 女 is the is the character for "woman". It is also the character for "woman". It is also the radical for many female things:  radical for many female things:  妈，妈，姐，妹，姨，姑，奶，姥，娘，妻，妾姐，妹，姨，姑，奶，姥，娘，妻，妾

It is also used to look up a character in a It is also used to look up a character in a dictionary. dictionary.

木：木： wood, treewood, tree 本本 杀杀 乐乐 朵朵 枭枭 焚焚 森林森林 呆呆 柏柏

宀宀 : : roof,coverroof,cover 家 家 安安 灾灾 牢牢 宠宠 富富

女：女： woman, femalewoman, female

好好 安安 妈妈 奶奶 姐姐 妹妹

火火：： firefire

灭灭 灰灰 灯灯 炎炎 灸灸 炉炉 烫烫 荧荧

Nursary rhymeNursary rhyme

日 月 明，鱼 羊 鲜 日 月 明，鱼 羊 鲜 ..

小 土 尘，小 大 尖 小 土 尘，小 大 尖 ..

一 火 灭，田 力 男 一 火 灭，田 力 男 ..

人 木 休， 手 目 看 人 木 休， 手 目 看 ..

二 木 林，三 木 森 二 木 林，三 木 森 ..

二 人 从，三 人 众。 二 人 从，三 人 众。

日 日 + + 月 月 = ______= ______ ，鱼 ，鱼 + + 羊 羊 = ______.= ______.

小 小 + + 土 土 = ______= ______ ，小 ，小 + + 大 大 = ______.= ______.

一 一 + + 火 火 = ______= ______ ，田 ，田 + + 力 力 = ______.= ______.

人 人 + + 木 木 = ______= ______ ， 手 ， 手 + + 目 目 = ______.= ______.

二 二 + + 木 木 = ______= ______ ，三 ，三 + + 木 木 = ______.= ______.

二 二 + + 人 人 = ______= ______ ，三 ，三 + + 人 人 = = ____________。。

These interpretationsThese interpretations

help students visualize the help students visualize the meanings of the characters meanings of the characters

helps students understand helps students understand radicals and how meaning is radicals and how meaning is conveyed in these characters.conveyed in these characters.

make learning fun and enjoyable.make learning fun and enjoyable.

Thank you allThank you all

谢谢大家 谢谢大家