09-26 Lesson & Homework

Today's Lesson
- Reviewed pinyin sounds and practiced making pinyin combination


- Talked about the placeholder "-i"
  (which only applies in the cases of zhi, chi, shi, ri, zi, ci, si, ri)


- Reviewed pronunciation of numbers, and wrote the pinyin for the characters


Todays' Homework - Please complete in PENCIL
(Homework Tracking Sheet 9/26)


- Practice Character Writing - Numbers     homework | extra sheets
  (On the character writing practice sheet, practice each character and its pinyin at least 5 times. Extra character practice may be done. Practice sheets have been provided.)


The Homework sheet provides the correct stroke order for each character. I've uploaded a document that talks about stroke order.

- Practice Character Writing - Name
  (Practice writing the full name (last entry) at least five times)
  
**  Click on the Homework Sheet link to retrieve the homework. Then click on each character in the names below to get the stroke order for the character. (The stroke order requires java, so please make sure it is up to date.) 


Sandy Bang     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  房 世 敏
Anetta Davoli     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:   以 宁
Timberlon Grey     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  汪 聽 寶
Dylan Koa     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  柯 狄 倫
Gretchen Krohn     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  況 月 倩
Miller Krohn     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  況 米 樂
Brandon Lam     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  藍 順 瀚
Isabelle Mercado     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  林 亭 吟
Zach Mercado     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  林 亭 佑
Max Richter     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:   鍾 旺 延 
Gracelyn Root     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  蘆 薪 雅
Jon Tor    Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  杜 成 宗
Coleman Walsh     Homework Sheet  |  Stroke Order:  韋 可 安




- I Teach U
  (Teach something you learned from Chinese School to a family member at least 4 days out of the week. Check the box in the Homework Tracking Sheet for those days you teach someone Chinese).


Please let me know if you trouble accessing the documents or have any questions or concerns about the class. You may call, text, email, and if you would like, we may set up a skype appointment as well.

9-19 Lesson & Homework

Today's Lesson

- Reviewed initials:  b, p, m, f, d, t, n, l, g, k, h, j, q, x, zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s

- Reviewed finals:  a, e, i, o, u, ü

- Learned new finals:  ai, ei, ao, ou, an, en, in, ang, eng, ing, ong, ie, ue, er

- Learned an alphabet song to accompany the initials and finals learned. (To the tune of English alphabet song/ "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star") - song sheet posted on Google Docs

- Learned new final combinations:  ui, iu, un, ün

• ui = u + ei 
• iu = i + ou
• un = u + en
• ün = ü + en

- Learned a little bit about Mid-Autumn Festival (ie. Moon Festival) and watched some videos about the legends and customs of moon festival. 

Homework

- No homework was passed out; however, students should review the initials and finals before coming to class on Sunday. 

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival =)

Possible Pinyin Combinations

Although there are 21 initials and 39 finals, not all the initial-final combinations are possible or valid.


The following chart illustrates this idea well. 

The "i" Placeholder

The "i" Placeholder
When creating pinyin combinations be wary of the 'i' final. 


Ordinarily, 'i' is pronounced "eee." However, when paired with specific groups of initials, 'i' loses its sound and acts only as a placeholder for the sound of the initial. 


The following initials for which this rule applies are:  
          - zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s


Example:  "bi" vs "zhi"
I think this website will help to better illustrate my point.
First create the pinyin syllable "bi" and then create the pinyin syllable "zhi."


Notice that despite the fact that both "bi" and "zhi" contain the "i" final, only the "bi" pinyin syllable contains the "eee" sound, whereas the pronunciation of the "zhi" syllable is the "zh" sound. 

09-12 Lesson & Homework

Today's Lesson


- Reviewed phrases

• Hello. - Nǐ hǎo.
• How are you? - Nǐ hǎo ma?
• I am fine. - Wǒ hén hǎo.
• Good bye. - Zài jiàn.

- Reviewed initials:  b, p, m, f, d, t, n, l 

- Learned new initials:  g, k, h, j, q, x, zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s

- Created flash cards for new initials (green)

- Reviewed finals:  a, e, i, o, u, ü

This Week's Homework 

(Homework Tracking Sheet uploaded onto Google docs). 

Try to do a little bit of each task every day. However, it is ok to occasionally miss 1 or 2 days. If the assignments is all too much to do in one sitting, try to split the tasks up into different days. For example, on Monday review pinyin pronunciation, on Tuesday make and sound out various Pinyin combinations, on Wednesday practice four tones, etc.

- Flash Card Practice

Spend about 5 minutes each day reviewing your Pinyin flashcards. Pronounce the sounds on the cards. Make and sound out Pinyin combinations and (as seen in the printable chart – on blog) and practice with the four tones. 

• Resources for Flash Card Practice - These are a little different from the ones on the Homework Tracking Sheet.
• Initial-Final Combination & 4 Tones
• This link provides pronunciation for different initial-final combinations in the four tones. 
• Initials Pronunciation
• This link provides the pronunciation for all the finals. 
• Finals Pronunciation
• This link is a good source for the pronunciation of final sounds.
• Pinyin Syllables & 4 Tones
• This link allows you to type in a pinyin combination, and then play the syllable in any of the four tones.

- I Teach U

Teach your parents, or another family member something you learned in Chinese school that day. Try to teach something new every day!  Write down what you taught in the designated box below.

Welcome!

Welcome to my "teacher" blog! In addition to the email list, I'll be using this blog to keep in touch, posting each week's assignment and various resources for Chinese language learning. 

Feel free to post comments or questions here on the blog, or to email me at gialian@live.com

Also, don't hesitate to share any awesome resources you find online as well =)

~Lorin (aka Li Laoshi)