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Effective Tips for Learning Mandarin for High School Students
How to learn Mandarin varies greatly, it can be done autodidactically or through courses and educational institutions. For those of you who are in high school and want to learn Mandarin. Here are effective tips for learning Mandarin for high school students:
These are effective tips for learning Mandarin for high school students
1. Get to Know Pinyin First
The first tip for learning Mandarin is to recognize Pinyin first. Literally, pinyin means sound spelling or Roman writing for how to read Mandarin letters. Pinyin has been developing since 1950.
Then, it was officially made for international use in 1982. The People’s Republic of China also approved the use of pinyin in 1985 after going through many revision processes.
2. Understand Mandarin Tones
One of the unique things about Mandarin is that there are tones that determine the meaning of a word. The same word can have different meanings depending on the tone of pronunciation. In general, there are 4 tones in Mandarin, namely rising tones, curved tones, flat tones and falling tones.
For some people, understanding this tone is quite difficult, so it is not uncommon for even people who are fluent in Mandarin to still make mistakes in using the right tone.
3. Start Memorizing Easy Words
The next tip for learning Mandarin is to start memorizing easy words, but also various other foreign languages. The learning process can be easier if you start with everyday words, such as drink, sleep, eat, etc.
You can make simple notes about every new word you learn every day. Try to immediately search for and memorize the words you encounter in your daily life.
4. Memorizing Numbers and How to Count
For high school students who are studying Mandarin because they will be traveling or continuing their studies in China, they must master numbers and calculations. Because later you will use this for transactions, such as at stations or airports, and when you shop at the market or eat at a restaurant.
You can start with numbers one to ten, then move on to the next number. Memorizing numbers is easier than other vocabulary. Because, when you have memorized one to ten, then the other counts are the same, only the ending changes.
5. Studying Sentence Structure in Mandarin
If you already have the basics, now is the time to move on to something more difficult, namely sentence structure. Usually, this stage is the most difficult stage in learning Mandarin. However, once you master it you can speak more fluently.
The general structure of Mandarin is such as subject, object, predicate, and adverbs at the front or middle of the sentence according to your needs.
6. Practice Writing Chinese Characters
The next tip for learning Mandarin is to practice writing Mandarin letters. In its home country, you will not find pinyin in the names of streets, vehicles or products on the market. However, they are all written using native traditional script.
There are more than 50 thousand Chinese characters, most of which are not used anymore. For educated people, they generally master around 8000 letters. Meanwhile, for adults generally memorizing 2000 characters is enough.
Apart from memorizing the form and how to read, you also have to learn how to write it. Even this way of writing Mandarin is easy to manage. So, you shouldn’t scratch the pen carelessly. There is an order from bottom to top, from right to left, and others that must be adhered to so that the letter shape is perfect.
7. Listen more to Mandarin
The last tip for learning Mandarin is to listen more to Mandarin. If there is no one around you who controls it. Don’t worry, because you don’t have to hear from people directly. You can learn through the films you watch or listening to Mandarin songs.
While watching a film or listening to a song, try to understand the sentences or words in it. This method is also effective in making you better master the use of tones in Mandarin.
The Importance of Learning Mandarin
1. Opening New Opportunities
Having the ability to speak Mandarin will provide greater opportunities in the world of work in the future. Many international companies are looking for people who can communicate with business partners from China. By learning Mandarin, you as a high school student can expand your career opportunities in a global environment.
2. Cognitive Ability Development
Learning Mandarin can also improve cognitive abilities. Mandarin has unique characteristics that involve the introduction of different intonations, characters, and writing systems.
This requires problem-solving skills, a keen eye for detail, and a good memory. The process of learning Mandarin can improve verbal intelligence, logic and analytical skills.
3. Increased Critical Thinking Ability
Learning Mandarin involves problem solving, analysis, and understanding complex contexts. This builds critical and analytical thinking skills.
You will be trained to relate information, identify patterns, and draw logical conclusions. This critical thinking ability also functions in other subjects at school and in everyday life.
4. Study Opportunities and Cultural Exchange
Many schools and universities provide cultural exchange programs and study opportunities in China. Children who are already learning Mandarin can take advantage of this opportunity to increase cultural understanding, deepen language knowledge, and experience valuable life experiences in the country.
Learning Mandarin opens the door for high school students to seize opportunities and broaden their horizons in an increasingly globally connected world.
