A Study on Beginner Level Mandarin Chinese Teaching Material and Instructional Design for Children based on TPRS Pedagogy
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Wei, Peng-Yang
Abstract
More and more people start to learn Mandarin Chinese as Asia becomes more influential and powerful worldwide. Realizing the growing trend of learning Mandarin Chinese around the world, American government has put a lot of efforts into Mandarin Chinese education, which results in the popularity of leaning Mandarin Chinese throughout the nation. Many people even started their Mandarin Chinese education when they were young. Thus, a growing number of public schools as well as private schools provide students with Mandarin Chinese learning programs such as FLES(Foreign Language in Elementary Schools) and Mandarin Chinese immersion program. Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Story-telling, also known as TPRS pedagogy, has gained its popularity among primary and secondary schools throughout America. Many Mandarin Chinese teachers in primary and secondary schools adopt TPRS pedagogy in teaching Mandarin Chinese as a second language. However, due to the lack of TPRS Mandarin Chinese teaching materials for children, and inadequate content of current TPRS Mandarin Chinese teaching materials, TPRS Mandarin Chinese teachers are not as effective as they could be, which causes inefficiency in children''s learning. In order to provide a better TPRS Mandarin Chinese education, this study discusses the background theory of TPRS pedagogy and establishes the principles and guidelines for Mandarin Chinese teaching materials intended for children. On the basis of the principles and guidelines, this study analyzes current Mandarin Chinese teaching materials for children and finds out what has to be changed. According to the results of the analysis, this study develops a new TPRS Mandarin Chinese teaching material for students in primary schools by incorporating the essential concepts and principles of children''s teaching materials. Finally, this study has made a lesson plan to demonstrate the ideal teaching and learning in an effective TPRS Mandarin Chinese classroom.
Subjects
TPRS
Teaching Children Mandarin Chinese as a Second Language
Second Language Acquisition
Type
thesis