Funmandarin Chinese

Fun with Pinyin (age 5 - 8)

2009-07-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

Pinyin, more formally Hanyu Pinyin, is the Standard Mandarin romanization system used in Mainland China for teaching school children to read, and it is widely used in teaching materials designed for Westerners who wish to learn Mandarin.

Through out the classes, children will learn the correct pinyin (sound) and tone system through songs, games, stories, body movement, and other hands-on activities. They will recognize more Chinese characters with pinyin system and be able to read and pronounce Chinese the proper way by themselves at the end of the class session.

Dates: September 19 ~ November 21
Time: Saturdays, 1:00 – 2:00 am
Fall session fee: $185 per child
(Class fee includes registration fee and material fees.)
Place: 110 W. Iowa St. Sunnyvale, Ca 94087

Note: This is not a parent participation class. Please remember to submit the Liability Release and Emergency Contact form before dropping off your child to the first class. The maximum class size is 8 students. There is no make-up class.

Please email tracy@funmandarin.com for registration information.

Fun Mandarin I

2009-07-29T11:56:00.000-07:00

Fun Mandarin I is the first level of our formal Mandarin Chinese class for children who have some prior Mandarin language background or knowledge. Children will begin their reading and writing in Chinese in an organized and consistent way.

MeiZhou Chinese books will be used in class. These are a series of Chinese textbooks especially designed for children who live in North America. Their design follows 5C and Pre-AP guidelines. Level I includes one textbook, one exercise book, 2 CD’s, and a booklet of flash cards.

Dates: September 19 ~ December 12**
Time: Saturdays, 10:00 – 11:00 am
Fall session fee: $250 per child
(Class tuition includes registration, material, and all book fees.)
Place: 110 W. Iowa St. Sunnyvale, Ca 94087
** There is no class on 11/28 **

Note: This is not a parent participation class. Please remember to submit the Liability Release and Emergency Contact form before dropping off your child to the first class. The maximum class size is 8 students. There is no make-up class.

Please email tracy@funmandarin.com for registration information.

Young Children's Beginning Mandarin Class

2009-07-29T11:54:00.000-07:00

This is an introductory class for children with little or no foundation in Mandarin Chinese. Students will learn Mandarin through songs, rhymes, finger plays, arts & crafts, body movements, stories, and games.

Dates: September 19 ~ November 21
Time: Saturdays, 10:00 – 10:50 am
Fall session fee: $180 per child
(Class fee includes registration fee and material fees.)
Place: 110 W. Iowa St. Sunnyvale, Ca 94087

Themes:
9/19 Greetings 10/24 Halloween characters
9/26 Fruit 10/31 I am a ...
10/3 Moon Festival 11/7 Stone Soup
10/10 Food 11/1 Winter
10/17 Autumn 11/21 Review

Note: This is not a parent participation class. Please remember to submit the Liability Release and Emergency Contact form before dropping off your child to the first class. The maximum class size is 8 students. There is no make-up class.

Please email tracy@funmandarin.com for registration information.

After School Program

2009-01-05T01:03:00.000-08:00

Children will be immersed in a totally play-based Chinese environment. They will learn to write simple traditional Chinese characters and recognize words and sentences at the beginning level, then gradually practice Chinese speaking and listening skills with teachers and friends.

Children will learn Chinese songs, finger play, games, traditional arts & crafts, ancient poems, and be introduced to some popular children’s literature and folk tales.

Daily Schedule for After School Program

2:00 – 3:00p.m. Rest / Quiet Reading Time-Mandarin books with CD’s
Chinese Table Games-Chess, Bingo, Matching game
Homework Assistance/Individual Work

3:00 – 3:30 p.m. Food Projects/Snack Time-Learning names of food,
manners, and customs in Mandarin. Setting up table,
preparing food, and cleaning up after eating.

3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Circle Time-Songs, finger play, flannel board activities,
music & movement, puppets, books, poems, and stories.

4:00 – 4:30 p.m. English Homework Assistance
Other Mandarin language skill activities / worksheets
Calligraphy Practice-Basic strokes with pencil or brush

4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Outdoor Activities – gardening, jump ropes, water / sand
table, balls, or Chinese traditional toys

5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Arts & Crafts-Varies according to weekly themes
Math & Science-Age-appropriate levels taught in Mandarin
Chinese educational computer software / DVD

**We are available to pick-up your child at school.

Please contact tracy@funmandarin.com for further information.

Morning Preschool Program (age 3-5)

2009-01-05T00:55:00.000-08:00

This is an introductory class for children who are between the age three and five with little or no foundation in Mandarin Chinese. Students will learn Mandarin through songs, rhymes, finger plays, arts & crafts, body movements, stories, and games.

All our activities are age appropriate and hands-on with safe materials. Chinese curriculum is accompanied with limited English translation in order to provide children an overall bilingual environment.

Daily Schedule
(AM ONLY)

9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Arrival and sign-in
Manipulate activities (puzzles, blocks, sorting…)

10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
Circle time / theme activities
Songs, stories, finger plays, music and body movements

10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Snacks and table manners

10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Out door (gardening, painting, water / sand table…)

11:05 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Table activities (art & crafts, cooking, math & science…)

To register:
Please contact tracy@funmandarin.com for the registration form and related information.

Practicing your tones online

2008-10-13T15:43:00.000-07:00

As I was searching online for teaching materials for my lesson plans, I found a website where anyone can exercise and practice Mandarin tones as many times as desired. I think it is a very good tool even you don't know any Mandarin. This tool can give you a good idea of the 4 tones in speaking Mandarin, and show you how Chinese people SING their language so beautifully.

The 1st tone is marked with a line ("a" + "^-" = "ā"). This is a high, even, and constant tone.
The 2nd tone is marked with a rising line ("a" + "´" = "á"). This is a rising tone that grows stronger.
The 3rd tone is marked with a hook ("a" + "^v" = "ă"). This tone is first falling and fading, then rising and growing strong.
The 4th tone is marked with a falling line ("a" + "`" = "à"). This is a quickly falling and fading tone. Try to make it strong, hard, and fast.

Tone drill: http://www.shufawest.us/language/tonedrill.html

If you are interested in learning pinyin, Wikipedia online has a lot of information for you.

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin

2008 Beijing Olympics Official Theme Song Lyrics

2008-08-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

我和你（中文歌詞）
wǒ hé nǐ

我和你，心連心，

wǒ hé nǐ ，xīn lián xīn ，

同住地球村。

tóng zhù dìqiú cūn 。

為夢想，千里行，

wèi mèngxiǎng ，qiān lǐ xíng

相會在北京。

xiāng huì zài Běijīng 。

來吧，朋友，伸出你的手。

lái ba ，péngyou ，shēnchū nǐ de shǒu 。

我和你，心連心，永遠是一家人。

wǒ hé nǐ ，xīn lián xīn ，yǒngyuǎn shì yī jiārén 。

You and me （English Lyrics）
From one world, We are family
Travel dreams, thouands miles, meeting in Beijing
Come together,Put your hand in mine
You and me From one world, we are family

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLIpcNhmPWQ&feature=related

Welcome to my blog!

2008-08-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

歡迎大家來到我的部落格!

This is the site where I will communicate with my students, exchange information with parents and teachers, share my teaching experiences and thoughts, and hopefully provide Mandarin Chinese language learning resources for everyone.

Mandarin Chinese is getting really popular lately due to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, as well as other reasons like the blooming economy in China, increasing number of adopted children from China, second and third generation Chinese Americans, and, of course, the many other people who have become interested in Chinese culture. No matter the reason, it is clear that learning Mandarin Chinese has become the trend for people around the world now.

I am glad that I am riding the train of Mandarin fever! So let's work together to discover this beautiful language with its rich and ancient history and culture.

For those who recognize Chinese characters, you can learn a bit about the written and spoken Mandarin language on MTV, from the 2008 Beijing Olympics Official Theme Song performed by Liu Huan & Sarah Brightman.