Incorporate Picture Books Into Your Mandarin Lesson

Flavia Lin Author

4 effective ways to incorporate picture books into Chinese Mandarin learning.

As a private Mandarin tutor, I frequently notice a common issue among my students - when kids rely solely on textbooks for learning, it can make the process less engaging and not as enjoyable for them.

That's the reason I use physical picture books during our sessions. These books bring a fun twist to our routine! For instance, when we encounter unfamiliar Chinese characters, we use bopomofo to decode the pronunciation, and the kids absolutely LOVE this aspect! I think it's because they take pride in figuring out the pronunciation of new words independently. As a result, learning new words and reading turns into an exciting adventure.

If you are looking for a fresh approach to your teaching routine, try adding picture books to your sessions! Here are my 4 steps for incorporating picture books into my private tutoring sessions

1. Create a monthly reading list
   Select books that capture their interest and align with their reading level, always adjust the list as they make progress.
   
2. Take turns reading each page 
   With this approach, students get to practice speaking, listening, and reading all at once!
   
3. Connect content to personal experiences
   You can make the content more memorable and relatable by asking questions and encouraging them to share their thoughts about how it relates to their own experiences.
   
4. Focus on 3-5 new vocabulary words per book
   Guide them through each word's pronunciation, review the definitions, and build sentences in different contexts. This could effectively enhance their language skills!

Learning a language is a lifelong adventure; embrace the journey and savor it every step of the way! Happy learning!

Categories: : My Teaching Life