Questions

katmadire
July 26, 2007, 04:31 AM posted in General Discussion

Being new here I was wondering if anyone here has had this help a young teen/child to learn a language? My oldest child wants to learn Chinese/ due to a tv show/movie and I found this while she is away at camp. I am learnign a little bit but have issues learning other languages.. I have a hard enough time with just english..LOL.. So I thought I would ask everyone or anyone that will read this. She is truly wanting to learn chinese and specificly Mandarin. She knows a few words already but realyl wants to learn.

 

thank you for any responses back.

Profile picture
Lantian
July 26, 2007, 04:51 AM

I don't have any experience with kids, but this format seems to me pretty well suited to them. Does your child have an iPod mp3 player and/or use iTunes. If so, then it's perfect and I think she'll learn a lot, and have a lot of fun doing it.

Profile picture
eileen
July 27, 2007, 01:27 AM

Hi Katmadire, Actually, we have kids who are learning with CPod - the primary example would be Will from the UK. He started his own blog/podcast too: http://weili.podbean.com/ I think if your child wants to learn the language, encourage them to listen to the podcasts (screen the podcasts 1st before letting them listen). Kids pick up things quite quickly, especially when they are interested in it. :-)

Profile picture
henning
July 26, 2007, 05:49 AM

Frank. it is a girl - a strong indicator that it was not Firefly. ;)

Profile picture
rich
July 26, 2007, 06:48 AM

Start her off with the Head-and-Shoulders and Two Tiger lessons! I'm not quite sure what you were asking us to do for you. Say if CPod is right or not? Doubt we can give any more help than here in these discussions, and I doubt they are going to be helpful/fun for a child. We are all over the world, and such teaching needs to be face-to-face. This reminds me of a scam on the Internet I experienced last year. Not saying this is _you_ as your post seems real and doubt it would happen here, but last summer I posted on a LOCAL online classified ad website that I was willing to tutor Chinese to adult and children. After that, about every two days, I got a different email from a different name, but all with the following similarities: "My son/daughter in Britain/France/ wants to learn Chinese from you. We are willing to send them to YOUR city with their nanny. We want them to learn Chinese and so we are willing to pay you a large amount for your tutoring time. Please send us your phone number and address to where we can send your pay." So for the fun of it, I put an ad out saying I would teach the tuba (like I can play the tuba), and sure enough, I got the same emails (thankfully to an email address I only used for that site) of children willing to be sent here to learn to play the tuba from me in Boise, Idaho (Bozo, Idahell)! Wackos. Anyone else experience this kind of scam? I looked around, and many other people were getting it too - piano teachers, floral arrangers, art teachers....but I couldn't really figure out how a phone number and address would do much scamming harm... what could they do with that? Call and harass me?

Profile picture
maxiewawa
July 26, 2007, 10:17 AM

It's great that she's interested in learning Chinese. Would that tv show be 24 by any chance? If you're interested, you could send her to my house. I also play tuba, piano, floral arranging, and art.

Profile picture
frank
July 26, 2007, 05:18 AM

I couldn't agree more with Lantian. CPod rocks. That TV show wouldn't happen to be Firefly, would it? :-)

Profile picture
happyli
July 26, 2007, 11:35 AM

I agree with you,Kennyk ! And i think it will be a great fun for them to use it in practical situations.

Profile picture
bazza
July 26, 2007, 11:52 AM

Is that Season 6 of 24 you're referring maxiewawa? I have to wait until November for the dvd release before I can see that one.

Profile picture
rich
July 26, 2007, 03:31 PM

I haven't even seen 24 yet. I feel so far behind. Yeah, I agree with you guys. Need to have more fun when learning a language, especially kids. I would seriously look into any schools in your area to find a place that teaches Chinese. They are more and more common now. Ironicly, after posting my above message (but doubt in relationship to it) I received 3 different personal emails sent through Cpod of Chinese wanting me to help them improve their English and gave me QQ #s. Make it stop!

Profile picture
excuter
July 26, 2007, 03:55 PM

they could use www.englishpod.com dui bu dui ne? As for the learning advice asked at the beginning of this post: you (and she of course) should practice newbie lessons for the next weeks (at best together but also for your self) and then use the practice plan (transscripts are always a good help too). (I realy need to upgrade...) :-)

Profile picture
KennyK
July 26, 2007, 10:37 AM

usually kids respond to learning best when it's fun and receive lots of encouragement, but the best methods usually depends on the age. One thing i know, is that kids absorb language like sponges, especially if given the chance to use it in practical situations.