Bilingual Q&A 3: How do you get a child who canโt hear or speak Chinese to start learning Chinese?
Without [input], there is no [output].
Don't expect your children to "speak" without a certain amount of "listening". Let your children listen to Chinese more first, and then slowly guide them to speak Chinese.
In the same way, word recognition also comes before writing. It requires the input of "reading" so that in the future, it can be "used to use words" to output and express oneself.
- Be sure to give the spoken language "warm-up" time first, and avoid reading at the beginning.
Use common phrases in daily life, or common phrases in the classroom, etc., repeated every day, so that children can often hear them in the "natural environment".
For example: brushing teeth, dressing, eating, washing hands, etc. every day.
For example: you, me, him, family names, etc.
For example: common animal names, etc.
- Use "body language" more to help children understand. Children are very smart and will understand quickly.
- If the child imitates, donโt worry about the childโs pronunciation
You repeat that if a child hears the correct sound, he will produce the correct sound in the future.
- Don't speak dryly.
Through various static and dynamic activities such as singing, children's songs, listening to stories, games, action performances, handicrafts, simple baking or cooking activities, etc., the target language environment is created so that children can learn in a "natural context". After hearing a lot of the language you want to learn, you can complete the natural "input" of the language "by the way".
- Try not to use the child's native language (such as English, French, etc.) to explain.
Expert studies agree that it is best for children to learn a foreign language without translation or explanation from their mother tongue. Children have an innate ability for language learning, which should be put to good use. Use more body language to help them understand, and you can also give more examples to let them understand. If you understand for a moment, don't pay too much attention, but don't develop the habit of relying on native language translation.
- After a large amount of spoken language input, how long will it take before a small or large amount of "output" language (start speaking Chinese) will naturally begin?
This varies from child to child, how much they hear it, and how much time the child spends playing with other Chinese-speaking children.
Generally speaking, "at least" you need to give your children a few months of listening time, and a year is also common.
- After you have some basic listening and speaking skills, you can start "reading" and literacy.
"Fluent" oral language is not "a prerequisite" for children to start reading. The above oral language training process is nothing more than letting children get familiar with this new language and paving the way for future reading and literacy activities. It does not require children to first reach Very high speaking level. With basic and simple oral language skills, parents who can read Chinese can read Chinese storybooks to their children. Lele series books have some reading pens, and children can freely choose to "enter" the words and sentences they hear. This is not only good for Listening is helpful, and it also allows children to naturally transition to the reading process and be exposed to the joy of words.
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