How do I find appropriate materials to
help my child learn Mandarin?
There are thousands of materials
available with new products reaching the market every month. Only 10-15 years ago, the opposite was
true. Now you have the benefit and the
burden of sifting through more options than you may be able to evaluate. So, where do you begin? I will suggest general guidelines to help you
decide which textbooks, readers, music, and videos are worth your time. Like many language learners, I have a variety
of products which fall into one of the following categories:
·
Use
for now
·
Save
for later
·
Sell
or give away
As a beginning point, look at your
personal goals and those for your child.
If you have not set short, medium and long term goals, read the first
article in this series, Setting Realistic Goals.
Goal setting will determine whether a language learning resource is
appropriate at this time, suitable for later study or irrelevant to your
learning journey. I recommend a
different set of categories to divide your current library and evaluate future
purchases:
·
Suitable
for short term goals
·
Suitable
for medium term goals
·
Suitable
for long term goals
Not
suitable for my current goals because the product is too easy, I have already
used it and would not need it for review, or this product has no relation to my
goals.
Evaluating for age and developmental level
Are the textbooks, handouts, CDs,
computer programs and homework materials suitable to your goals, your child’s
age and developmental level? Is there a
mismatch such as a college textbook featuring situations and vocabulary a young
child cannot relate to? The opposite is
situation is not necessarily a negative – older students can successfully use
materials designed for younger children or students, but content designed for
preschool children may not be well received by teen students.
For children of any age, look at the
product from their perspective.
·
Does
it feature situations and vocabulary they can relate to?
·
Is
it relevant to their experience?
·
Does
it hold their attention and interest?
Evaluating for language level
Often language classes or products
are divided into:
·
Are
the sentence patterns and vocabulary useful and accessible?
· Are
the sentence patterns too complex for the student’s learning level or at the
appropriate language level?
Is the product accessible outside the classroom?
Evaluate materials in terms of how
you will use them outside the classroom.
If you want to work with a teacher online or pursue self-study, look for
content you can access without the help of a teacher. Does the book, CD, computer program or DVD include
pinyin, characters, a glossary or vocabulary list? Is there an introduction, explanation or
guide to using the material for students or is it directed toward the teacher? Is the material suitable to your level? If you can figure out the meaning from the
pictures or the video, this is a good product.
You don’t need a full translation to use a resource, you just need a
product that facilitates your use. Select
audio/visual material where you comprehend 65-75% or more of the content. If the material is a textbook, does it
include audio or video files you can use to hear as well as read? Avoid purchasing materials that are too
difficult, instead collect resources that are at your level and just
above. Before buying a DVD, watch some
of the content and see how much you or your child can understand. If you have a teacher using multi-media, ask
if they will provide vocabulary lists and resources you can use at home to help
you when watching/listening/using outside of class.
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