Teaching Justin to speak Mandarin at home comes as a challenge to me. I grew up in an English speaking home. Although I passed my Chinese with good grades, I did not speak much Mandarin until I started my first job. That was the time when my spoken Mandarin improved significantly. Even then, hubby says I still speak Mandarin with a funny accent.
As much as I am aware of my limitations, I will still endeavor to teach both of them as far as I can go. I started coaching Justin beginning of this year but it was difficult because of the limited resources in Japan. Thanks to Hui Li, who recommended me some books and even bought them from Singapore for me!! I have received the books, thank you so much! The "Basic Chinese 500" series is well-illustrated with the chinese words, hanyu pinyin and English translation. Just what I need.
At the moment, my aim is for Justin to recognise Chinese characters. His peers back at home are already writing sentences like 我的家有五个人 and 这是一张桌子。 However, my focus is to teach him to read first rather than to write.
I made a surprise discovery when I asked him to read one of the Pelangi series books "你看到我吗?". All this while I have been reading to him and teaching him some simple words here and there. Today, I started reading the first page, and then he continued on the whole story (with some help). The video clip shows Justin reading the book.
As much as I am aware of my limitations, I will still endeavor to teach both of them as far as I can go. I started coaching Justin beginning of this year but it was difficult because of the limited resources in Japan. Thanks to Hui Li, who recommended me some books and even bought them from Singapore for me!! I have received the books, thank you so much! The "Basic Chinese 500" series is well-illustrated with the chinese words, hanyu pinyin and English translation. Just what I need.
At the moment, my aim is for Justin to recognise Chinese characters. His peers back at home are already writing sentences like 我的家有五个人 and 这是一张桌子。 However, my focus is to teach him to read first rather than to write.
I made a surprise discovery when I asked him to read one of the Pelangi series books "你看到我吗?". All this while I have been reading to him and teaching him some simple words here and there. Today, I started reading the first page, and then he continued on the whole story (with some help). The video clip shows Justin reading the book.
Can you guess how he managed to read it? He used hanyu pinyin!! I am surprised because I haven't formally taught him yet. I think he used phonics from his English reading, as well as the tone marks which he learnt at HESS International Kindergarten in Taipei. I am pretty amazed he was able to put them together.
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