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