Our kids should have been taught this earlier!

We know that Chinese E-dictionary is a great companion for one to learn Chinese language. Since 2007, students are allowed to use MOE and SEAB approved CL electronic handheld dictionaries in composition examinations, both school-based examinations and national examinations.

Below is a list of MOE-approved dictionaries. Last updated 7^th April 2017 (source: MOE)

However, are these devices really helpful for our kids to learn Chinese? Or are these devices holding them back in learning?

Well, the answer is both ‘YES’ and ‘NO’.

Benefits of E-dictionary

1.   Faster speed

Firstly, many lab tests conducted have shown that indeed Chinese E-dictionary is capable for us to search for a word in a double-quick time (of course, with the correct input method) as compared to hardcopy dictionary.

2.   Light-weight and portable

Secondly, it is more portable and compact, presumably easier for our kids to bring to school everyday for lessons, hence, learning new Chinese characters everyday, even on the go.

3.   Handwriting input method

Thirdly, as Chinese characters are not phonetic in nature, it is difficult and time-consuming for us to look up a particular Chinese character should we are not able to pronounce the word.

With the latest technology of using a stylus or even touch screen direct handwriting input method, E-dictionary have surpassed the traditional methods of counting the number of strokes or laboriously looking up for a word according to its radicals.

4.   Listen to the correct pronunciation

Moreover, with the earphones plugged-in, we can also listen to the multiple pronunciations of a polyphonic Chinese character, minimising the chances of mispronouncing the word. For example, 音乐yue， 快乐le； 行人xing, 银行hang.

Cons of E-dictionary

1.   Over-complacency

Teachers have found out that our students Chinese characters word recognition and writing have deteriorated over the year. This could be partly due to the fact that students are allowed to bring in Chinese E-dictionary into the exams hall, leading them to feel complacent and over-confident that there is no need to remember how to write, except only for 听写.

2.   Not familiar with Hanyu Pinyin

Well, it may seem rather easy to look up for words using Hanyu Pinyin input method, but there are a few problems here. 
First, some words end with front nasal finals, for e.g 心 xin，拼pin，林lin; whereas some words end with back nasal finals, for e.g 星 xing，平ping and 铃ling。

Second, the differences between Dental sibilants z, c, s and Retroflexes zh, ch, sh, r. As many of us do not differentiate between these two groups of initials when we speak, it is even harder or even impossible when we try to search for words without typing the proper hanyu pinyin.

For eg,

If you want to looking for the word, 生气 'sheng qi'，which means angry or lively, depending on the context, but we type in 'shen qi'，the dictionary will show us 神奇(amazing)， or 神气(arrogant)。

Likewise, if you want to look up for the word 厕所 'ce suo'， which means toilet, but you type 'che suo', most probably you will get 车锁 (car lock).

All these explain why our kids’ composition are sometimes irrational and illogical.

How to solve these problems?

Firstly, we have lesser Chinese characters with front nasal endings and dental sibilants initials. Hence, the smart way is to spend some time to remember by heart (or by hard) commonly words that have front nasal endings and dental sibilants.

See below table for examples.

Front nasal endings	Dental Sibilant initials
xin：新心信欣辛馨	zi：子自字紫姿
jin: 金进今近斤仅	ci：次此词刺慈赐
qin：亲琴勤芹侵禽	si：四死斯思丝司
yin: 因银音印阴引	zen：怎
pin：品拼频贫聘	zeng：增赠憎
lin：林临淋邻吝拎	ceng：曾层
	sen：森
	seng：僧

Secondly，we must know the concept of 字 (Chinese character per se) and 词 (Chinese word/ vocabulary)

A 字can also be a 词 as long as it fulfills these 3 criteria:

1.   It has a form

2.   It has a sound

3.   It has a meaning on its own

Eg. 人

Though it is a Chinese character, it fulfills the three criteria of a Chinese word, so it is a 词。

Leveraging on this concept, we are now able to search for a Chinese character with greater accuracy and in a double-quick time.

For example, if I want to search for the word 知道 zhi dao，I simply type in the two initials of the word ‘z’ and ‘d’, and the answer will be out with a click. As oppose to the traditional method, if I key in wrongly, instead of ‘zhi dao’, I type ‘zidao’, I will get 自导(self-directed), slower and less or zero accuracy.

This method that we have not been taught is especially useful when we want to look up for Chinese idioms.

For example, 目瞪口呆 'mu deng kou dai', (eyes wide-opened, jaw-dropped), we simply type ‘mdkd’.

To overcome the problem of over-reliant on E-dictionary, we need to help our kids remember many Chinese characters, so that they need not spend precious time looking up for Chinese characters. Do read up my other post on ‘How to remember many Chinese characters with a breeze’.

The author is the co-founder of Punggol Chinese Tuition by FUNtastic Chinese

Why is Chinese Compo Making Our Kids Freaking Out

“一个风和日丽的下午，小明……” this is what a typical introduction of a Chinese composition written by a primary kid would look like. Any Chinese teacher in Singapore would agree that this is the most common introduction seen in Compositions, and “小明” has indeed survived over many decades, even generations. But wait, is there only one way to start a compo? Definitely not.

Why is Chinese Composition Making our Kids Freaking Out?
With at least 8 to 10 Chinese Composition to fulfill each year, and syllabus to rush, many a times, teachers usually briefly describe the pictures, explain the requirements, either asking students to complete within the curriculum time, if not bringing home to complete the work, leaving students clueless what to write, or scratching their head.

Many students have difficulties in writing a composition, shivers run down their spines when we talk about writing composition. Even teachers would have a hard time marking, being bombarded by many “Xiao Mings” and almost every piece of writing is about the same, which possibly explain why students often receive their scripts from their teachers only after weeks.

Composition writing should begin with drafting a planner, which many students think that it is redundant as the planner is not being graded. However, as the saying goes, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”, one should spend at least 5 to 10 minutes to do the planning, deciding the characters in the story, either first person pronoun or third person pronoun, the theme of the story, development of the story twist, solution etc.

Introduction:
There are various ways to start a composition, weather, time, dialogue, sound, flashback, environment, characters, songs, describing a scenary etc.

Describing a person:
Our characters in the composition should not be a “stickman”, we should create all our characters with flesh and blood, by applying various techniques to describe, such as using speech, feelings, thoughts etc.

Cohesiveness:
A common problem that we often see in students’ composition, especially picture composition, is that all 6 pictures are not gel together properly. Every paragraph seems like a short story. The problem lies in the lack of Transitional devices in the paragraph. Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one paragraph to another.

Twist
In order for a composition to stand out, the twist is important. Good twist helps to propel the story to climax, adding in the element of surprise, avoiding predictability is the key to entice readers to read your story to the end.

3 Things to avoid in writing composition
1. “Ring……”the alarm clock rang, I realised it was just a dream.
2. Super-natural or scenes that we read in Fantasy stories
3. Ghost stories (though most people enjoy reading it)

A meal is not complete without dessert. A composition’s conclusion is equally important. This is the point where teachers grade our writing. Again, we can apply different writing techniques, rhetorical devices and strategies to impress our examiners.

Writing need not be a chore, if you want your child to enjoy writing, let the creativity juice flowing, think out of the box, excel in writing, or to overthrow “Xiao Mings” as the lead character, join our Chinese Mastership by Punggol Chinese Tuition.

These are some of the FUNtastic work of our students.

Benefits of Learning Chinese Calligraphy

Benefits of Learning Chinese Calligraphy

1. Long-term memory

Have you ever wondered why your child forgets the previous Chinese spelling once the test is over? Do you wish your child can remember all the Chinese characters that they have been taught?

Studies have shown that learning Chinese calligraphy helps one to retain the Chinese characters in the brain and make it a long-term memory. Chinese Calligraphy helps one to understand the structure and aesthetic of the characters, thus making them much easier to learn. By consciously using the proper stroke order, again and again it reinforces the structure of the character in our brain through associations, forming a network which classify them accordingly.

2. Training one to write faster and neater.

Many a times, students often complain that they cannot finish the last part of the comprehension or the conclusion of a Chinese composition simply because “not enough time”. However, delving deeper, their “not enough time” is because of writing too slow, due to the many strokes of Chinese characters and lack of practise. By practising Chinese Calligraphy, it will train you to write faster, neater and with more accuracy, ensuring marks will not be lost due to writing error. When one writes faster, he or she will have more time to complete their work and check their answers, which results in a higher quality piece of work.

3. Cognitive Development of a child

Experts have pointed out that learning Chinese Calligraphy has positive effects on the cognitive development in the learners. Calligraphy requires a high level of concentration and patience. Practicing Chinese Calligraphy helps children to concentrate better, increase their attention span and learn better in schools. Lab tests have further confirmed that practicing Chinese Calligraphy helps to reduce stress. There was a significant dipped in their heart rates, reduced muscle tension, changing in breathing pattern.

To help your child reap the benefits of learning Chinese Calligraphy, you may enroll your child in our Chinese Calligraphy Course, 9889 8261.

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Free Latest Model Touchscreen E-dictionary

Our Referral Programme is back! This time Punggol Chinese Tuition is giving away a latest SEAB and MOE approved 4.3 inch touchscreen Chinese Electronic Dictionary (worth $89.90) which features a full screen handwriting input function that surpassed the other 2 models.

Simply refer a friend to our programmes, and redeem a free Electronic Dictionary for every successful sign up. (Valid till 25th December 2017) Ts &Cs apply.

Probably The Best Gift For Your Child This Xmas!