Baby Learns Chinese: Video Series

Baby Learns Chinese

http://www.babylearnschinese.com/ptg09/default.aspx

Yama Chan and Kama Luk (Director)

Chinese for Kids Ltd

December 1, 2007

45 minutes

Preschool

Language development is at its height during early formative years (age 0-6). Many parents seek digital sources for their babies and toddlers to expose them to foreign languages early on. This has become part of some parents literacy program. As digital lines have made international communication easier and the world a 'smaller place,' knowing multiple languages is not only an advantage but sometimes is necessary. Baby Learns Chinese is a DVD series with flashcards that creates a "happy, stimulating and encouraging environment for children to learn to speak and read Chinese." 

Overall, it is a good product for introducing a very young child to Mandarin. The DVD consists of the vocabulary based on topics such as: parts of the body, counting, colors and shapes, fruits, food, farm animals, wild animals, sports, what to wear, about the house, transportation, and professions, etc. Each word is repeated multiple times in the voice of an adult and children (boys and girls). This assists in sound sensitivity. Native speakers say the pronunciation is good. In between segment nursery rhyme music plays  which assists in teaching children a more natural form of language based on the vocabulary. It also makes it more enjoyable for a young child. It may also heighten the learning if the child can learn through song.

The vocabulary is also introduced in various linguistic forms this should assist with future learning. The Chinese character is introduced with its corresponding Zhuyin pronunciation symbols (bopomofo), pinyin, and also English. This use of Zhuyin is important because without these symbols the characters are soundless. (Learning Mandarin requires tons of memorization. Unfamiliar characters can not be 'sounded out' like English. Without Zhuyin, unfamiliar characters are challenging even for native speakers. Either you know the character or you look it up and recognize the sound/word. Or, learn it.) Repetition to assists in the learning process. 

Visually, a group of children usually introduces the vocabulary and links the word to the object. This makes it easier for a young child to associate with the content matter. Following the introduction of the word, various images or representations are used for each word. For example, in the 'body' segment of the first disc, children point to the part of the body, then multiple photographs follow (sometimes including other species), and illustrations are also used. This become a visual dialogue where nose is represented by many shapes, forms, and symbols. This is helpful in teaching babies and toddlers that there are many ways of communicating. It is also stimulating without being overstimulating. 

This series was produced in America. Chinese Americans immigrants use this as one digital source to teach their children Mandarin. Interesting, we were browsing the media shelves in NeiHui (Taipei Public Library) and checked it out hoping to expose Stanley to more Mandarin Chinese. The fact that it made it all the way over here speaks for the series. It might be also used for the reverse situation here; to teach Chinese children English spelling.