A review of technology-enhanced Chinese character teaching and learning in a digital context

The acquisition of Chinese characters has been widely acknowledged as challenging for learners of Chinese as a foreign language (CFL) due to their unique logographic nature and the time and effort involved. However, recent advancements in instructional technologies demonstrate a promising role in facilitating the teaching and learning of Chinese characters. This paper examines studies exploring technology-enhanced character teaching and learning (TECTL) through a systematic literature review of relevant publications produced between 2010 and 2021. The synthesized findings shed insights on the research undertaken in the TECTL field, identifying a focus on characters’ component disassembling, re-assembling, and associations among orthography, semantics, and phonology. In addition, learners’ perceptions toward the use of technology and the benefits of various types of technological tools are also discussed in detail. Implications for TECTL are also put forward for future pedagogical practice and exploration

Investigating Relationships Among Measures of English and Chinese Handwriting Fluency in Early-Elementary Chinese Dual Language Immersion Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between English and Chinese handwriting fluency measures in early-elementary Chinese Dual Language Immersion students. This was done by conducting five handwriting fluency tasks among Chinese Dual Language Immersion students and comparing the findings. First, the findings showed that there was a moderate correlation between the participants\u27 English and Chinese handwriting fluencies and that English fluencies predicted Chinese fluencies. However, the students could write English numbers and letters much faster than Chinese characters. Second, as expected, Chinese DLI participants showed that handwriting fluency improved as grade level increased. Third, third-grade students were not much faster than second-grade students on both English number and English Chinese number tasks. The study informs Chinese DLI programs as it shows that supplemental handwriting instruction is likely necessary to narrow the differences between English and Chinese handwriting fluencies. Instructional amount and quality could be improved to increase Chinese fluency, and English and Chinese partner teachers should collaborate more closely and complement each other\u27s handwriting instructional efforts. In summary, this study identifies significant differences in English and Chinese handwriting fluencies, and further studies may be necessary to consider ways to address these differences

The Instructional Design of Chinese Characters’ Stroke Order Motion Graphics Based on Cognitive Load Theory

This research aims to develop stroke order motion graphics for Chinese characters to solve the problem of memorising Chinese characters’ stroke order in the learning process. This research adopted cognitive load theory and the ADDIE model as an instructional design process guide. Herbart’s four-stage teaching method is used as a guide for the motion graphics presentation module. Based on the characteristics of Malaysian students who learn Chinese as their second language, motion graphics for Chinese characters’ stroke order learning were developed. The expert evaluation was conducted to identify problems, and modifications were done to improve the created prototype. A total of six Chinese characters’ stroke order motion graphics have been successfully developed. The result shows that cognitive load theory provides an effective solution for developing Chinese characters’ stroke order motion graphics. The ADDIE model also offered a significant direction for the instructional design process. In addition, to be more effective in Chinese character stroke order teaching, interface design must consider the relevant teaching effects of cognitive load theory. However, making the prototype in advance can avoid large-scale modifications in the later process. The successful development of the Chinese characters’ stroke order motion graphics allows teaching Chinese character stroke order in Malaysia to be carried out more effectively

Building Intercultural Competence in the Lower Division Chinese Language Classroom: A Lesson Plan Analysis

This portfolio is a compilation of what the author has learned in the field of Chinese as a second language in the Master of Second Language Teaching program at Utah State University. There are three main sections in the portfolio. The first section contains the author’s teaching philosophy statement, with a focus on intercultural competence development and teacher-student rapport. The second section consists of a reflection on a classroom observation. The main paper presents how the author designed a lesson plan and implemented it, as well as her analysis and introspection on a video recording of the lesson. The portfolio ends with a statement of the author’s future goals and plans

Vocabulary-Learning Strategies of Students Learning Chinese as a Foreign Language in an Intensive-Training Setting

Compared with the research on vocabulary-learning strategies in the field of teaching English as a second or a foreign language, the research on the strategy use of Chinese-as-a-foreign-language (CFL) students, especially CFL students in an intensive-training setting, is scarce. The relationship between CFL students’ vocabulary-learning-strategy use and their learning outcomes remains underresearched. Therefore, this mixed-methods study was conducted to investigate the strategy use of CFL students in learning Chinese vocabulary words in an intensive language program and its relationship to students’ learning outcomes. A total of 137 beginning to advanced students enrolled in the program participated in the study. The strategy use of the students was measured by a 50-item questionnaire, and students’ learning outcomes were measured by their end-of-semester II Proficiency Progress Test, which includes a listening and a reading test. Interviews with nine participants of different grade-point-averages (GPAs; high, middle, and low) were conducted to gain a better understanding of the strategy use for more-successful and less-successful students. Descriptive data analysis revealed that the students in this study used 20 strategies commonly in their vocabulary learning. Of the 20 strategies, most of them were cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies, and the majority of the commonly-used cognitive strategies were orthographic-knowledge-based strategies. The qualitative findings indicated that students with higher GPAs used more strategies and that certain patterns of strategy use differentiated more-successful students from less-successful students. Pearson product-moment correlation analyses revealed that several strategies involving learning and using vocabulary words in an authentic context had a positive and statistically significant association with students’ listening scores and reading scores, whereas several strategies focusing on decontextualized memorization of vocabulary words had a negative and statistically significant association with students’ listening scores. Two orthographic-knowledge-based strategies were found to be correlated positively with students’ reading scores. The findings of the study suggest that orthographic-knowledge-based strategies and metacognitive strategies such as selective attention are essential for CFL students in vocabulary learning. Strategies involving learning and using Chinese vocabulary words in an authentic context are important for CFL students to develop higher language proficiency. Research and pedagogical implications are drawn based on the findings

What do Teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language Believe about Teaching Chinese Literacy to English Speakers?

This study was motivated by a recognition of the difficulties of teaching literacy in Chinese as a foreign language (CFL). CFL teachers deliberate over pedagogy, content sequencing, goals for literacy learning, and the use of authentic materials. These issues are complicated by the long history of Chinese literacy practices and the cultural significance of the writing system. The teachers bring rich personal histories and expertise, shaped by this cultural background, to their teaching. The study aims to gain a better understanding of teacher cognition on teaching Chinese literacy, to inform the discussion on improving CFL literacy instruction. The participants are five teachers raised and educated in China who are currently teaching in U.S. K-12 schools. This qualitative study employs semi-structured interviews, triangulated with lesson plans and classroom observations. The conceptual framework is based on Borg’s model (2003) of four sources of language teacher cognition—schooling, professional coursework, classroom practice, and school contexts—extended to incorporate the role of surrounding cultures of learning, as conceptualized by Jin and Cortazzi (2006). The analysis of the data foregrounds the stories told by the participants, examined using a modification of Labov’s scheme. VAB (Values, Attitudes, and Beliefs) Coding is used to identify common themes among the participants. The themes are then examined within the wider perspective of CFL literacy teaching in the United States. The findings are further examined through the lens of “Sponsors of Literacy” (Brandt, 1998), to view CFL teaching from a socio-eoconomic perspective. The data in this study suggest that CFL teachers believe in the importance of teaching fundamental, bottom-up skills in Chinese literacy. The teachers are also committed to nurturing an appreciation for Chinese literacy, including the writing system, among their students. They draw on the traditional Chinese model of an expert, caring teacher to meet the needs of their students. This means modifying the traditional Chinese model of bottom-up literacy teaching. These modifications sometimes include student-centered learning and top-down reading strategies. The findings suggest that future efforts in CFL pedagogy research, teacher training, and curriculum development take into consideration the cultural and personal backgrounds of the teachers

L2 Chinese Reading Comprehension among Beginning-Level, K-12 Learners: A Literature Review

This review focuses on beginning-level, K-12, L1 English learners, and considers their reading comprehension of texts written in Chinese characters and literacy development. Instructional approaches, materials design, and teaching and learning strategies related to reading texts in Chinese characters in these settings are reviewed. This review includes both empirical studies and think pieces that appeal to prior empirical work in L2 Chinese reading to understand what Chinese as a Second Language scholars research, discuss, and advocate about reading comprehension for L2 learners mainly at beginning levels of K-12 education. This literature review therefore includes a variety of source materials: empirical research, research-informed advocacy and think pieces, and action research studies by Chinese language instructors. The article concludes with observations about the state of research and current recommendations in Chinese as a second language reading comprehension

Chinese character learning with the aid of an ICT website among Mandarin Second Additional Language learners in South Africa: a case study

The teaching of Mandarin as a Second Additional Language (SAL) in South African schools was only introduced in 2016. The year 2018 saw the first Mandarin as SAL National Senior Certificate examination. Little research has been done on the teaching and learning of Mandarin as a SAL subject at the high school level in South Africa. Character learning and teaching are some of the most challenging aspects of this language teaching and learning. This research sought to investigate how beginner Mandarin SAL learners can be supported by a particular Information Communication Technology (ICT) website, www.archchinese.com (Arch Chinese), in their character learning. Learners’ ability to memorise Chinese characters is of utmost importance for their success in this language learning, especially for matriculants. To support the main research goal, this study set out to investigate the requirements for Chinese character learning, the role the website Arch Chinese plays in learners’ character learning and Mandarin SAL learners’ experience of using Arch Chinese as a learning tool. This research was conducted in the form of a case study within the interpretative paradigm. It adopted a questionnaire and document analysis for data collection to gain insight into the research topic. To get answers to the research questions posed above, the study analysed the Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) Mandarin SAL documents from Grade 4–12, the Independent Examination Board (IEB) Mandarin Subject Assessment Guidelines (SAGs), and a textbook for beginners, Learn Chinese with me: Student’s book 1 in relation to character learning. The features and functions of the website, Arch Chinese, were also evaluated and Mandarin SAL learners’ answers to a questionnaire on their use of the website Arch Chinese were analysed. The study found that character teaching and learning has not been given enough attention in the curriculum. It was only covered in the Intermediate Phase but was seldom mentioned in the Senior and Further Education and Training Phases in the curriculum. The CAPS Mandarin SAL documents do not consider the special characteristics of the Mandarin language, as this curriculum was based on the CAPS English Generic SAL document. As a result, the assessment requirements on writing (character count requirement in particular) were not realistic. The teaching approaches promoted in the curriculum and the teaching time do not correspond well with the teaching and learning of this language. Moreover, this study found that there was no vocabulary list prescribed in the curriculum and therefore a gap exists between the curriculum on paper and the curriculum in practice. The analysis of the IEB SAGs found that the assessments were suitable for the level of Mandarin SAL learners. This is because the IEB considered the characteristics of the Mandarin language, which is non-cognate, to the alphabet-based languages that respondents in this research spoke or were familiar with. At the same time, the analysis of the website and the learners’ questionnaire found that learners held a positive attitude towards their use of the website and that it proved to help facilitate Mandarin SAL learners in their character learning. This study ends with recommendations for teachers, policy makers, the IEB, and character-learning websites.Thesis (MEd) -- Faculty of Education, Education, 202

Mandarin Chinese Teacher Education Issues and solutions

Mandarin Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world, and in a rapidly globalizing environment, speaking it is an increasingly important skill for young people in the UK. 'Mandarin Chinese Teacher Education' stems from the work of the UCL Institute of Education Confucius Institute, which supports the development of Mandarin Chinese as a language on offer in schools as part of the mainstream curriculum. This edited collection brings together researchers, teachers involved in action research and student-teachers, in an effort to address the current lack of literature specifically aimed at supporting Chinese language teachers. It features: • practical ideas for teachers of Chinese to implement in their own classrooms • evaluation of differing strategies and approaches unique to teaching Chinese • examples of using action research to help teachers reflect on their own practice while informing practice across the discipline. The book will be useful for PGCE Mandarin students, teacher trainers and those involved in the development of Mandarin Chinese in schools across the UK and further afield

Error analysis of the written Chinese of Finnish university students

Tässä Pro gradu -tutkielmassa tarkastellaan suomalaisten Kiinan kieltä opiskelevien yliopisto-opiskelijoiden kielivirheitä heidän kiinan kirjoitelmissaan. Tässä tutkielmassa Kiinan kielellä viitataan Kiinan kansantasavallan viralliseen kieleen, sen puhuttuun standardimuotoon ja yksinkertaistettuja merkkejä käyttävään kirjoitusjärjestelmään. Kiinan kielen kirjoitusjärjestelmä on opiskelijoille erityisen haastava erityispiirteidensä takia ja siksi lukemaan ja kirjoittamaan oppiminen kiinaksi kestää kauemmin kuin vastaavien taitojen saavuttaminen Suomessa yleisimmin opiskelluissa indoeurooppalaisissa kielissä. Kiinan lukemisen ja kirjoittamisen tukemiseksi on kehitetty Pinyin -tarkekirjoitusjärjestelmä, joka helpottaa Kiinan kielen tuottamista ja ymmärtämistä. Varsinaisen lukutaidon saavuttamiseksi on kuitenkin opeteltava tunnistamaan tuhansia kirjoitusmerkkejä ja niiden eri yhdistelmiä. Tutkimuksen tarkoitus on selvittää millaiset virheet ovat tyypillisiä suomea äidinkielenään puhuville opiskelijoille ja mitkä Kiinan kielen ominaisuudet ja rakenteet ovat heille erityisen haasteellisia. Tutkielma pohtii syitä korpuksessa esiintyvien virheiden taustalla niiden esiintymisympäristön, ortografian ja välikielen kautta. Suomea äidinkielenä puhuvien Kiinan kielen opiskelijoiden Kiinan kielen oppimisesta ei vielä tiedetä paljoa ja tämän tutkielman tarkoitus on kartoittaa niitä kiinan kieliopin ja sanaston solmukohtia, joiden kanssa opiskelijat erityisesti joutuvat ponnistelemaan. Tutkimuksen viitekehyksenä käytetään virheanalyysin ja välikielen teorioita ja tutkitaan kielenoppijan ja tämän virheiden välistä suhdetta. Tutkielmassa on sovellettu Selinkerin (1972) ja Corderin (1966) luomaa virheanalyysin viitekehystä Kiinan kielen kontekstissa. Tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan kielitaidon kahta eri osa-aluetta, sanastoa ja syntaksia, sekä niissä esiintyviä virheitä. Leksikon analyysin pohjana on käytetty Nationin ja Hunstonin (2013) mallia. Syntaksin analyysiin tukea on haettu Corderin viitekehyksestä ja Lun (1994) mallista Kiinan kielen syntaksivirheiden analysointiin. Tutkimuksen aineistona käytettiin pääosin ensimmäisen vuoden yliopisto-opiskelijoiden kotitehtävinä kirjoittamia esseitä ja lyhyitä käännöstehtäviä. Osa opiskelijoista oli Kiinan kielen pääaineopiskelijoita ja tutkimukseen osallistui yhteensä 14 opiskelijaa. Osalla opiskelijoista oli jo aikaisempia kiinanopintoja, kun taas osalla ei ollut Kiinan kielestä juuri mitään aikaisempaa kokemusta. Opiskelijat olivat eri ikäisiä ja osasivat eri kieliä. Osalla opiskelijoista oli kotikielenään suomen lisäksi vielä jokin toinenkin tai kolmas kieli. Tutkimuksen aineistona käytettiin 28 opiskelijoiden kirjoittamaa esseetä ja samaa määrää lyhyitä käännöstehtäviä. Aineisto kerättiin keväällä 2019. Opiskelijoiden tekstit olivat pituudeltaan noin 200-320 merkkiä ja suurin osa opiskelijoista kirjoitti samoista aiheista. Osa teksteistä oli käsinkirjoitettuja, kun taas osa oli kirjoitettu tietokoneella. Opiskelijoiden virheet laskettiin ja analysoitiin niiden kieliopillisten ominaisuuksien mukaan. Luokittelun perusteena käytettiin erilaisia jaotteluja, eikä kirjoitus- ja lyöntivirheitä laskettu mukaan. Tutkimuksessa selviää, että suomea puhuvat opiskelijat kamppailevat melko lailla samojen rakenteiden kanssa kuin muitakin kieliä äidinkielinään puhuvat kiinanopiskelijat. Erityisen vaikeita ovat rakenteet, jotka ovat uniikkeja Kiinan kielelle tai rakenteet, joita ei varsinaisesti löydy suomenkielessä. Selvästi suomenkielestä johtuvaa kielivaihtoa löytyi aineistosta vähän, mutta koska Kiinaa opiskellaan Suomessa pitkälti englannin kielen kautta, esiin tuli joitakin mitä luultavimmin englanninkielestä siirtyneitä yksityiskohtia. Opiskelijat tekivät joitakin varsinaisia leksikkovirheitä. Opiskelijat tekivät huomattavasti enemmän syntaksiin kuin sanastoon liittyviä virheitä. Virheitä oli kokonaisuudessaan niukalti, mutta niiden perusteella saattoi tehdä johtopäätökisä opiskelijoiden virheiden laadusta ja syistä. Tutkielma antaa viitteitä suomea puhuvien kiinanopiskelijoiden tyypillisimmistä virheistä ja välikielestä, sekä käyttökelpoisen pohjan ja hyödyllistä tietoa jatkotutkimuksen, opetuksen ja oppikirjamateriaalien kehittämisen käyttöön