Languages and literacy
My first Chinese characters
Write six Chinese characters with the stated stroke order, say or recognise their pinyin and use them in two-character combinations.
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Primary Mandarin Lead
Xia Lin
I plan distinct Primary Mandarin pathways and check register alongside grammar, asking whether a fluent phrase is appropriate to its audience, relationship and situation as well as accurate.
Explore the collectionA little about me
I lead Primary Mandarin across First Language, Second Language and Beginner pathways. They are different subjects with their own aims, not one course arranged by speed. Planning begins by knowing which pathway a learner is following and what kind of Mandarin they are working towards.
Register is a particular concern for me. A sentence may read fluently and still be wrong for the relationship or situation in which it is used. That kind of error can be easy to miss if we check only whether the grammar is correct. I want students to consider not just what a phrase means, but whether it is appropriate in context.
The three pathways need materials that respect their distinct starting points and expectations. A prompt designed for one group may not suit another simply because both are learning Mandarin. I look for clear learning aims and examples that help me notice whether language is accurate and well judged for its audience.
How I approach a lesson
Choose examples and expectations for the learner’s specific Mandarin pathway.
Check register and audience as well as grammatical accuracy.
Do not treat First Language, Second Language and Beginner as levels on one track.
Templates I'd use with my class
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.