Teach Characters Using the Analytical Approach

Lulu DongHunter College

International CLTA-GNY ConferenceMay 15, 2010

Course Description

This course supplements the Elementary Chinese course to guide students to learn the basic strokes and Chinese radical characters through the Chinese calligraphy. Students can learn the traditional Chinese calligraphy writing skills. They will also distinguish and identify the scripts.

textbook

Chao, Der-lin (2008) The New Multimedia Course for Learning Chinese Characters

workbook

Grading

Quizzes 30%

Web-based and written assignments 30%

Mid-term exam 10%

Final exam 15%

Class attendance and participation 15%

Characters Website

www.chineseliteracy.net

1st semester Content

How characters are formed

Basic strokes , stroke order

Radicals

Strategies for learning new characters

1-8 strokes, 9-15 strokes

Traditional and simplified characters

The most frequently used characters

Associate with speaking Chinese class

reading

Write short essay and dialogues

Practice writing characters with oral Chinese

2nd semester

The development of Chinese scripts penmanshipCursive writing style and some special features of writingDevelopment of printing and print fontsCalligraphy stylesEasy mistaken characters and characters with multiple formsHomophones and characters with multiple pronunciations and meaningsHow to use dictionary

Cursive writing style

Newspaper

Calligraphy class

Metropolitan museum visit

Li yan and Bo’s

Feedback from students

Grades: 60% higherOvercome learning fearLow drop-out rate

Characters learning strategies help further learning