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Useful Expressions in Chinese Learning and Training

We know that words are the foundation for Chinese language learners to study Chinese. However, the purpose of learning a certain language is to put it into practical usage. So, we should practice more to say the complete sentences correctly.

The imperative sentence is an important point in Chinese language and often used in our daily conversation. So, in order to assist students learn to speak Chinese, we can practice by the game “following the orders”.

Every two students cooperate with each other to play the game. One sends the instructions and the other follows the orders, which should be simple enough to complete. The sentences below are easy for students study in China to follow. “请把书打开”, “翻到第14页”, “读第四行”, “请用左手摸一下你的右耳朵”, “请把你的钱包放在我的书包里”, etc.

This game is designed for the purpose of practicing the imperative sentence. Students have learnedChinese culture must know that China is a state of ceremonies. We can educate them to use some polite words when practicing the imperative sentence. For example, “请、麻烦你、可以……吗?”, Then another student can answer like “当然可以、行” when performing.

In Chinese language, there are many words with just tiny differences in pronunciation or appearances. To develop the sensitiveness to those words, teachers of Chinese school in China often demand students make a prompt answer to the giving materials.

Let’s see how overseas students learn Mandarin in China by this way with the help of the teachers. Teacher prepares some written materials for students, then the teacher reads the sentences with some tiny change and the students are supposed to find the differences as soon as possible when they realize. Students should interrupt teacher by using “对不起,应该是……”, “对不起,打断你一下,这儿写的是……”, etc.

Here are some examples as reference. What’s in the material is “山本今年四十岁”, but teacher says “三本今年十四岁”. For the sentence “此处设有雅座”, teacher can say it as “此处没有雅座”. One easier sentence could be “他三点就回来了” similar with “他三点才会来了”.

What the teacher should pay attention to is the control of the reading speed. Too fast speed will make it difficult for students to find the differences while the slow speed can’t help students to learn Mandarin. Teachers also can write the false sentences for the purpose of deepening students’ impression by discussing.

The precondition of speaking correctly is to listen carefully and precisely. So we can practice learning Mandarin Chinese by repeating the sentences in accordance with the brief and simple pictures.

Teacher first prepares some brief pictures then says some sentences according to the contents of the pictures. After finishing one sentence, teacher should pause for a while for students to judge whether it is right or not. Students should repeat it if it is right but correct it if wrong. Here is an example for students who learn Chinese in China. For the picture with a train, teacher could say “阿里坐货车去北京” for students to correct into “阿里坐火车去北京”.

In our daily talk, we often use some functional items such as expressing and responding to thanks or apology, asking the way and time. To help them use those expressions proficiently, students learn Chinese language in China can practice by matching the cards.

Two groups of cards are prepared with the corresponding contents. For instance, if there is a card in the first group expressing thanks, it should be a card of responding in the other group. When the game begins, each student in team one chooses one card from group A and team two chooses from group B. Then, they will find the student whose contents of the cards can match with that of his own cards and read them out.

If learners aboard can practice strictly by following the methods mentioned above, they will gain the ability of using the expressions into their daily conversation after acquiring the Chinese words.

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