chinese langauge requirements

[Guest guest]

There were about four or five students studying Chinese at my school,

as an American instructor was available. It was listed as an

elective. Our school has maybe thirty people in the second year

level, less in the third. Most students seem to feel overwhelmed

already, as many of you who teach have noted

[Guest guest]

Gabrielle,

 

> There were about four or five students studying Chinese at my

school,

> as an American instructor was available. It was listed as an

> elective. Our school has maybe thirty people in the second year

> level, less in the third. Most students seem to feel overwhelmed

> already, as many of you who teach have noted

 

I believe that one of the prime factors

in the widespread sense of overwhelm is

that fact that students are virtually

forced to study words that they either

don't understand well or they don't

understand at all.

 

As Dan Bensky recently noted, it is

far easier to learn Chinese medicine

after even only a basic introduction

to the language. Of course, more is

better when it comes to knowledge

and understanding. But the key thing

is to take the first steps. If one

then discovers that it's not for them,

so much the better. And if you find the

study of the language rewarding, you've

just begun a lifelong career. I know

individuals in China who have been

studying the language for decades

and still feel like they've only

scratched the surface.

 

In my experience, even a few hours

spent going over the basics of the

languag and a few of the most basic

terms brings about a marked improvement

in students' comprehension of their

studies. And this really helps counteract

the sense of overwhelm that you mention.

 

Ken

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

 

--- dragon90405 <yulong wrote:

> In my experience, even a few hours

> spent going over the basics of the

> language and a few of the most basic

> terms brings about a marked improvement

> in students' comprehension of their

> studies. And this really helps counteract

> the sense of overwhelm that you mention.

 

In the schools where I have taught, even the

pronunciation of pinyin is not taught in any

particular class, so I always try to include a handout

about what is pinyin and you do you pronounce it.

 

I also write tone marks on the pinyin whenever

possible, and someone always asks, what is that? So I

get to explain that part of the language. I also try

to write the characters on the board on include them

in the handouts for new concepts. Then they see that

at least one teacher of European descent finds the

characters important.

 

I discuss how the translations and textbooks may use

different English terms for the same Chinese term, and

tell them that the Chinese is the ultimate guide.

 

Small things like this help the students orient toward

the language and hopefully help them realize that the

language is not impossible.

 

Lorraine

 

=====

Lorraine Wilcox L.Ac.

 

 

 

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