Comments on: Language Learning is Messy I http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm Tips and Strategies for Learning to Speak Mandarin Chinese Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:54:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Ron R. http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3356 Ron R. Mon, 22 Oct 2007 05:29:19 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3356 I study Chinese, but do not teach it. My understanding is that when we read English or pinyin we are accessing and utilizing one side of our brain and that when we read Chinese characters, we are accessing and using the other side (since a character is in essence an image.) English speaking adults generally use English or pinyin in learning Chinese. I believe the mental shifts between the two sides of your brain, when you try to learn this way, slows the learning process down and that Chinese can be learned faster by sounds, repetition and images and characters, which, it seems, is more like the way a child learns, instead of attempting to use one language in one form to learn another language in a different form. I study Chinese, but do not teach it. My understanding is that when we read English or pinyin we are accessing and utilizing one side of our brain and that when we read Chinese characters, we are accessing and using the other side (since a character is in essence an image.) English speaking adults generally use English or pinyin in learning Chinese. I believe the mental shifts between the two sides of your brain, when you try to learn this way, slows the learning process down and that Chinese can be learned faster by sounds, repetition and images and characters, which, it seems, is more like the way a child learns, instead of attempting to use one language in one form to learn another language in a different form.

]]> By: Jenny/Zhang, Zheng http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3337 Jenny/Zhang, Zheng Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:07:26 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3337 Good experience,nice writing. I do like the "childern make mistakes so they learn" part. It is one of the very good ways. But of course, you've got to remember those mistakes and avoid repeating them. It's actually applicable to other languages as well, I think. At least, for me to English. I learn English by making mistakes. It's just so ideal to learn another language if you can be corrected by a native speaker. Good experience,nice writing. I do like the “childern make mistakes so they learn” part. It is one of the very good ways. But of course, you’ve got to remember those mistakes and avoid repeating them. It’s actually applicable to other languages as well, I think. At least, for me to English. I learn English by making mistakes. It’s just so ideal to learn another language if you can be corrected by a native speaker.

]]> By: Jenbunch http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3194 Jenbunch Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:16:38 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3194 Besides, are these posts part of your book? The sequel? You, my friend, have an above-average wit and writing ability. ;) Besides, are these posts part of your book? The sequel? You, my friend, have an above-average wit and writing ability. ;)

]]> By: Franklin http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3189 Franklin Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:37:32 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3189 Thurman, I completely agree with you as evidenced with my own personal experience. Specifically, my progress has increased many fold from several years of self study to meeting my Beijing fiancee 4 years ago. Of late, however, her English has gotten so proficient, that she no longer has the need to depend on my child level Mandarin to communicate. Thurman, I completely agree with you as evidenced with my own personal experience. Specifically, my progress has increased many fold from several years of self study to meeting my Beijing fiancee 4 years ago. Of late, however, her English has gotten so proficient, that she no longer has the need to depend on my child level Mandarin to communicate.

]]> By: Thurman http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3070 Thurman Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:35:16 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-3070 看了你的BLOG, 觉得你们老外还真是挺有趣的. 我朋友讲,如果你想尽快的学习一门语言的话,就找个当地的女朋友. 看了你的BLOG, 觉得你们老外还真是挺有趣的.
我朋友讲,如果你想尽快的学习一门语言的话,就找个当地的女朋友.

]]> By: Cliff http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2688 Cliff Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:11:35 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2688 Very encouraging to a slow learner. xie xie. Very encouraging to a slow learner. xie xie.

]]> By: Chuck D http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2530 Chuck D Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:05:43 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2530 good comments, puts a lot of things into perspective. a time frame is nice to have, but patience is ultimately and understanding or awareness of the points you mentioned are far more important. thanks for the advice CD good comments, puts a lot of things into perspective. a time frame is nice to have, but patience is ultimately and understanding or awareness of the points you mentioned are far more important.

thanks for the advice

CD

]]> By: Learning » Chinese For Kids http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2294 Learning » Chinese For Kids Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:38:17 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2294 [...] came across an article “Language Learning is Messy” today, and I think the analysis on Children’s language learning advantages is quite [...] [...] came across an article “Language Learning is Messy” today, and I think the analysis on Children’s language learning advantages is quite [...]

]]> By: Sophia http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2288 Sophia Thu, 20 Sep 2007 08:31:41 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2288 I am teaching children aged 3-14 Mandarin Chinese (see http://www.Chinese4kids.net)in a German school. I fully agree with you on methods of teaching a foreign language to children. For little ones, 3-5 years old, I found songs, games or activities such as painting, drawing useful. They help the children keep the interest. They learn fast although they seem not to concentrate. Once I was simply playing the song over and over as background music while the children were drawing a picture according to the meaning of the Chinese word, after a session of 20 minutes, I was amazed to realize that most of them could sing the song already! On the other hand, for the older children, they need more material to be able to understand what they learn. They need more explanation and examples. Actually the children above 10 years old can "read" Pinyin. So I am using flashcards to help connect the Chinese words to the Pinyin. Teaching children Chinese should not follow the same strategy. Children at different age can learn better and faster, given right guidance and instruction. I am teaching children aged 3-14 Mandarin Chinese (see http://www.Chinese4kids.net)in a German school. I fully agree with you on methods of teaching a foreign language to children. For little ones, 3-5 years old, I found songs, games or activities such as painting, drawing useful. They help the children keep the interest. They learn fast although they seem not to concentrate. Once I was simply playing the song over and over as background music while the children were drawing a picture according to the meaning of the Chinese word, after a session of 20 minutes, I was amazed to realize that most of them could sing the song already!

On the other hand, for the older children, they need more material to be able to understand what they learn. They need more explanation and examples. Actually the children above 10 years old can “read” Pinyin. So I am using flashcards to help connect the Chinese words to the Pinyin.

Teaching children Chinese should not follow the same strategy. Children at different age can learn better and faster, given right guidance and instruction.

]]> By: Ilse http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2282 Ilse Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:15:47 +0000 http://laowaichinese.net/language-learning-is-messy-i.htm#comment-2282 Great topic and I certainly believe their is much truth in it. I don't have stories about analogies with learning Chinese, but having read your post, it strikes me the way you described is actually the way I picked up most of another language I learned a couple of years ago. Talking to our gardener and watchmen about all the mysterious diseases of our chickens, how to grow vegetables, things that happened in and around the house and about family matters (basically everything that concerned my life as I was stay-at-home-partner). I learned heaps of stuff that wasn't even mentioned in my textbooks (even words my husband, who was fluent in that language, didn't know). Unfortunately, an appartment really isn't a place to rear chickens or grow vegetables... Great topic and I certainly believe their is much truth in it. I don’t have stories about analogies with learning Chinese, but having read your post, it strikes me the way you described is actually the way I picked up most of another language I learned a couple of years ago. Talking to our gardener and watchmen about all the mysterious diseases of our chickens, how to grow vegetables, things that happened in and around the house and about family matters (basically everything that concerned my life as I was stay-at-home-partner). I learned heaps of stuff that wasn’t even mentioned in my textbooks (even words my husband, who was fluent in that language, didn’t know).

Unfortunately, an appartment really isn’t a place to rear chickens or grow vegetables…

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