Not sure why this popped into my head but as a kid, I can’t seem to remember the 注音符号 for hanyu pinyin. Back then, I learn how to read the words first before learning how to read the hanyu pinyin. I hated hanyu pinyin because they are the reason why I never ever get full marks for my Chinese exams !@$!#$@#^@^@$!
So when I was teaching tuition last year, this was how I taught my kids to remember the 注音符号 –
Imagine getting up in the morning,
1. You are sleeping (一) and it’s time to get up.
2. You really don’t want to get up so you pretend to get up by lifting up your legs (/).
3. Your mum is not convinced that you are up so you raised your arm (V) too.
4. Upon seeing this, your mum leaves the room and you can finally put down your legs and stretch your arms (\).
MUAHAHAH! Quite effective I think. The kids ended up laughing and learning something new (:
I also had a problem with remembering which alphabet to put the 注音符号 as a kid. So this is how I taught my kids –
Just write A E I O U at the side. Whichever comes first, just doodle on top of it.
My teacher never told me that okay! I had to figure that out somewhere in P4?
With regards to pronouncing the 4 tones? Easy! I make them ‘write’ the tone with their voice. For example, when pronouncing the 3rd tone, your voice must go down then up ;p It’s hard to explain in words. Pass!
Ahh. I do miss teaching (:
life of a clumsy sotong - as if being a sotong is not bad enough. 