|
|
 |
Black and Hispanic Kids Speak Fluent Chinese
It's an after school program in NYC that has 800 students enrolled called the Global Language Project.
Nice video I just found on the program.
Good points from their why pagee:
- 21 of the top 25 industrialized countries begin the study of world
languages in grades K-5, while the majority of U.S. students begin
studying a second language at age 14. (U.S. Committee on Economic
Development)
- 80% of students in Europe speak at least two languages.
- Of the over 55 million students in U.S. public schools, only 50,000
students study Mandarin Chinese - a language spoken by over 1 billion
people worldwide.
- Only 14% of U.S. students consider themselves bilingual.
Newspaper article that got me researching:
Black and Hispanic Kids Speak Fluent Chinese - Dallas Weekly Labels: after school, learn chinese
Learning Chinese Through Songs and Stories
Thinking of Home Makes It Harder to Learn a Foreign Language
I wonder if this means it actually makes sense, in Taiwan to learn English from a White Person? I always thought it was more important the person / teacher, rather than where they are from. There is a group in Taiwan, I blogged about it, that is against discrimination for English Teachers who are non White, in Taiwan.
The article is about how the mind, when reminded of home, is harder for learning a foreign language. This is probably why full immersion is such a great teaching method. And if you go to a foreign country, you can usually Learn a Foreign Language such as Chinese, much faster.
Thinking of Home Makes It Harder to Learn a Foreign Language - Wired
Labels: immigrating, learn chinese
Chinese Language Day at Zoo
Chop, fry, eat: Learning to cook Chinese in China
Learning Chinese since age 5
Good article - if I understand correctly, he is saying China is a civilization state, verses the traditional Nation State that hs emerged in Europe.
A Point Of View: Making sense of China - BBC
China's growing importance on the world stage means that the West needs
to start speaking its language, says economist Martin Jacques.Labels: Chinese Culture, learn chinese
Most Difficult Languages To Learn
I agree, tones is for me what makes for me, Learning Chinese hard
Most Difficult Languages to Learn per Literacy News:
#1 Arabic
#2 Japanese
#3 Russian
#4 Chinese
As with Japanese, difficulties also arise in terms of speaking Chinese, with different tones creating different meanings.
#9 English
Maybe a surprising choice given its ubiquity, and the popularity of
english language course types around the world, English is difficult
because of the lack of hard and fast grammatical rules and local
variations that emerge the longer you learn the language.Labels: learn chinese, Learn Chinese Advice
Dual-language lessons growing in popularity
L.A.'s Mayor Villaraigosa in China
Mandarin has the edge in Europe’s classrooms
Failing to learn Chinese: Trying too hard
No, she's foreign!
Cute post about Learning a Foreign Language, and what was an embarrassing moment. The comments are a great read!
No, she's foreign! - The Economist
My favorite comments:
Favorite thing in China.
Lots of young children (which for some reason speak Chinese much more clearly than adults) will see a foreigner and immediately yell, "外國人！“ ( waiguoren literally "other country person")
At which point, the only thing to do is look back and respond "中國人！" (zhongguoren Chinese person)
Everyone laughs.
Labels: learn chinese
Houston Chinese Radio
Interesting:
"Well, last time went to the International Festival, we had a booth. We found out there's a lot of Caucasian, Africa-American or other races come and talk with us. They listen to us. They were in the process of learning Chinese or their wives are Chinese and actually hear us."
Chinese Radio Targets Expats And Those Learning Mandarin - KUHF.fm Labels: learn chinese
Chinese Teachers on a US Mission
Chinese teachers are on a U.S. mission - LA Times
Dozens of teachers from China are in Los Angeles to prepare for the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to teach Mandarin in American schools.
And the culture class of American Culture, and Chinese Culture in what works in the classroom... Labels: learn chinese
Teaching Chinese at a retirement home?
Chinese language classes growing in popularity in American schools
Learning a Language From an Expert, on the Web
Learning Chinese languages makes you musical?
Top 10 Reasons not to Learn Chinese
Top Ten Excuses for not Learning Chinese - We are native speakers, but our kids refuse to speak Chinese! They refuse to speak to us in Chinese, and want McDonalds to eat!
Some Children, unfortunately, who have native speaking Chinese parents, refuse to learn Chinese. This is often done in the teenager years as a method of defiance and establish their power as they become adults. With defiance issues at that age, consider sending them to a full immersion environment. Our daughter was starting to speak Chinese with English Grammar, which frustrated my wife. The more frustrated my wife became, the less my daughter spoke Chinese. My daughter got to spend a summer with cousins in Taiwan, and nobody would speak English to her. Within a day, she was even speaking some Taiwanese, not to mention the Mandarin Chinese.
- I am so worried about my kids Learning English and Learning Chinese will hurt their English.
The truth is scientific studies have shown that children have an amazing ability to learn more than one language, such as Chinese. If you are a native born speaker, have one parent speak only English and the other Chinese. This way the kids are forced to learn and speak both. My wife speaks Mandarin Chinese to our daughter and I English, and it's worked out great. We have not had the issue of having her mix up the English and Chinese. Their is so much English in the US, especially when they start school, that not getting enough English is not an issue. I have seen students who only speak Chinese at home, start public school and become the best in their class at English and want to become a writer. They are also taking Chinese as their foreign language in High School. Kids have an amazing ability to Learn a foreign language, as long as they are given the opportunity.
- It's easier to just speak English to their kids. Why rock the boat and they are doing so well academically anyway!
Kids have an ability to quickly learn a second language without an accent that adults don't. There are so many adults I have met who are learning Chinese in College. It would have been a great favor if their parents had them learn Chinese when they were younger.
- Learning Chinese is a waste of time and is too hard!
Some US born Children and even their native parents believe this. There are many reasons on why to Learn to Speak Chinese. Studies have shown that being truly bilingual can help a child develop their brain in new ways and make it easier to learn other languages. As well as understanding the Chinese cultures better, such as why the number 8 is a lucky number in Mandarin, and 4 is not.
- It's not fun like other studies in the US!
Usually kids have this belief. And it takes time away from their other studies and video games. Usually parents think their children have better things to do, and everybody knows English anyway around the world!
- Learning Chinese Characters is too hard.
There is Learning Chinese Software and some great books that make learning Chinese characters easier.
- Neither my wife or I speak Chinese! There is no native speaker at home.
Many parents are finding online tutors to help them. They are also hiring tutors to visit them. Some parents are even learning Chinese with their kids. Many curriculum and other Learning Chinese tools are specifically designed for non native language learners of Chinese.
- I am worried about my kids hating my guts when they grow older for forcing them to Learn Chinese.
It's important to work with your kids so they are not being forced to Learn Chinese, but actually enjoy learning it. Picking the right curriculum that matches their learning style is very important.
- I don't have Time! We have Piano, Soccer, and more!
Time management is always a challenge with young kids. Prioritization and asking your self, and I doing the right work. Creating a weekly schedule and a dedicated time for Learning Chinese helps. Doing a time sheet for a few weeks to see where you time goes can also help. By starting a foreign language early, you will actually be helping your child in high school to give them more time, instead of learning a foreign language from scratch.
- I have no idea where to buy Learning Chinese Materials from!
I can help there. ChildBook.com has a full range of Learning Chinese materials. And lots of free advice and tips are available!
Labels: learn chinese, Why Learn Chinese
Another Confucius Institute - University of Buffalo
|
|
