Pronunciation: Vowel Combinations

Last time we looked at pronunciation of vowels. This time we will look at how to pronounce a combination of consonants and vowels. In Chinese pronunciation, basic vowels can form vowel combinations with each other or with a nasal consonant. Here are there pronunciations:

ai like eye
an sounds like “ah” with an emphatic “n” at the end (NOT like “an” in can)
ang sounds like “ah” with a soft “ng” (NOT like “ang” in hang)
ao is like “ao” in Tao
ei is like “ay” in bay
en is like “u” in sun
eng is like “ung” in sung
er like “ur” in purse
ia is like ya
iang is like young
ie is like yeah
iu is like the “ou” in you
ian like yen
iao is like “eow” in meow
in as in “in” in gin
ing as in “ing” in sing
iong is like pinyin “yong”
ong is like “ong” in kong
ou is like “ow” in low
ua is like “ua” in guava
uan like one
uang like “oo” + ang
ui is like way
un is like “wou” in would and ending in “n” sound (woon)
uo sounds like “wo” as in wall
uai is like why
ua is like “wa”
üan like yuan and written without two dots
üe is like “yue” (“we” in “wet”)

Pronunciation: Vowels

Last session we looked at the pronunciation of consonants. This session pronunciation of vowels will be covered. There are 6 simple vowels. They are: a, o, e, i, u, ü.
Here are their pronunciations:
a as in mama
o as in drop
e as in earn
I as in sit
U as in look
ü like the u in the French rue

Pronunciation: Consonants

Last session we covered tones. This lesson we will look at pronunciation of consonants. The following session we will look at pronunciation of vowels, and pronunciation of consonants and vowels combined.

There are 24 consonants in pinyin which are pronounced a lot like in English:
b, p, m, f, d, t, n, l, g, k, ng, h, j, q, x, zh, ch, sh, r, z, c, s, y, w

Pronunciation of Consonants:
b as in boy
p as in pine
m as in mother
f as in food
d as in dig
t as in talk
n as in none
l as in loud
g as in good
k as in kid
ng as in song
h as in hot
j as in jeep
q like “ch” in cheat
x like a sound between the “s” in see and the “sh” in she
zh like “dg” in sludge
ch as in children
sh as in shaker as in raw
z like “ds” in words
c like “ts” in eats
s as in son
y as in Yao Ming
w as in we

Tones

When first studying Mandarin, language learners will be very anxious to simply plow ahead and start talking without having mastered tones and other vital pronunciation parts. It is very important to emphasize that good tones and proper pronunciation is vital to laying a solid foundation. Take for example the word "ma". Said with each of the four tones, they have four different meanings: mother (first tone), hemp (second tone), horse (third tone), and scold (fourth tone). Not learning your tones correctly the first time will make it difficult for others to understand exactly what you are trying to communicate. Learning tones the first time around, though progress may seem slow, is also wise. Learning tones wrongly and then trying to retrain yourself to say them carefully is extremely difficult and quite discouraging.

At the very beginning, learning tones will almost seem impossible to master. Many foreigners have difficulty with the 2nd and 3rd tones. Another common difficulty for the foreign student is differentiating between the 1st and 4th tones. Don't be too hard on yourself. You will need to invest much time and energy in studying and practicing, but there will be a big pay off.

1on1 study is very effective and highly recommended at the beginning of Mandarin language studies, because teachers are there to completely focus on one individual student and correct their pronunciation mistakes.

Check out the link below to walk through the 4 tones of Mandarin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7YbjQR9Lzo

Choosing Your Curriculum I

Once you have evaluated your goals, finalized options of where to study, whether to study in a 1on1 setting or in a group setting, and at which school, it is now time to decide on a curriculum to follow.

Most foreigners, when arriving to China and starting language study, are very ambitious about surviving in China and thereby very eager to converse in Chinese. Therefore, the goal is to explore the most effective textbooks that are widely used to get one speaking and understanding Mandarin. In universities, most will employ books published by their own institution. For example, Tsinghua University will select textbooks published by Tsinghua University.

At our 1on1 Mandarin language school, popular textbooks for beginner and intermediate level learners are Chinese Made Easier, New Practical Chinese Reader, and Step By Step Chinese.

New Practical Chinese Reader aims to balance conversation, reading, writing, and listening. A good choice for the learner that wants to learn all aspects of the Chinese language with equal focus. Some students mention that the book can be quite boring and systematic.

Step By Step Chinese is an excellent choice for those that want to not only focus on oral communication but also want to sound like a local; in that they start learning some colloquial terminology or phrases. There is a lot more character recognition required with these series of books, so the student will also have a lot of reading practice.

Chinese Made Easier focuses a lot on oral communication, but not so much on reading and writing. Characters are introduced but at a slower pace than other textbooks as to not overwhelm the language learner. The grammar is also explained very clearly so that it becomes easy to understand how grammar structures are used. Many students also appreciate the textbook for how systematic it is. Although this would be a downfall for those who don't like predicatability and routine methods of study. Another caution with Chinese Made Easier is that once your proficiency level advances, you may find it difficult to find advanced level textbooks that are suitable because almost all textbooks are in characters and have no pinyin.

It would be a great idea to get some feedback from other experienced language students also on what curricula they recommend.

Group Setting vs. 1on1: 1on1 Setting

In our previous post, we talked about the advantages and disadvantages of studying in a group setting. Today, we will look at the pros and cons of 1on1 study.

1on1 Study: Advantages
In a 1on1 setting, students are able to maximize their speaking time, provided that the teacher is not dominating the classroom time and allowing students to do the speaking. 1on1 learning is very effective for the learner that wants to be able to engage in oral conversation with the local Chinese. Within a matter of 6 months, the language student will be able to comfortably communicate in Chinese. Many 1on1 learners enjoy being able to customize their own curriculum and focus on their goals and needs. Because students are able to get a lot of attention from their teachers in a 1on1 setting, teachers are able to catch frequent mistakes and help correct them.

1on1 Study: Disadvantages
Learning 1on1 can be quite intense and therefore quite tiring. Some students find that learning 1on1 can be quite expensive. Some students may find that they are bored without other classmates learning with them; therefore, some students prefer being in group classes.

Both group study and 1on1 study carry their pros and cons - no one way is better than the other. Therefore, it is important to evaluate your goals, how much money you have, and what your options are location wise.

Group Setting vs. 1on1: Group Setting

In deciding at which institution to study, it may be helpful to first decide whether you want to study in a group classroom or individually with a teacher. There are advantages and disadvantages to both; however, taking a look at the pros and cons will be helpful. Today, we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of Group Studying. The next blog will be devoted to examing the pros and cons of 1on1 learning.

Group Study: The Advantages
When a classroom of 4 students are put together in a classroom and they are matched fairly well, in that their language level is about the same, group study is quite effective for all parties. Your classroom peers may ask the teacher questions you never would have thought to ask. Teachers can also have fun coming up with fun dialogue activities and other activities to facilitate student learning. It is also very motivating to have other classmates to study with -there is an encouragement in knowing that when your going through times of discouragement in language, others are there "suffering" with you. Whereas learning 1 on 1 with a teacher can be quite intense and draining, group study is obviously less intense. Some students prefer this and study more effectively in a less intense situation.

Group Study: The Disadvantages
In a group situation, students will not get as much as attention from the teacher as one would in a 1 on 1 setting. Therefore, the teacher may not be able to meticulously correct tones, pronunciation, and grammar mistakes. If you're wanting to dominate conversation time, this will not happen. Therefore, your speaking time in class will be reduced because of having to share that time with other students. Other types of suggestions you would want to make in class would first need to be agreed upon by other classmates. Therefore, depending on your classmates, there may not be as much flexibility to learn other things outside of the set curriculum.

Choosing Where to Study: Studying in China

Studying in China is the most ideal way to learn Chinese. But the question remains: where on earth does one start with picking a city and school at which to study? Many who have studied in China in the past would recommend that Beijing, China's capital, is THE place to learn Mandarin Chinese, as Beijing's Mandarin is considered the most standard across China.

Studying at a university or at a private language institution in Beijing are both great options. Making the decision of whether to study at a university or private language school depends largely on whether you're looking to study in a group setting with a set curriculum, or whether you're looking to study in a one teacher to one student setting with a curriculum custom-tailored to your needs. At this point it would be helpful to identify what your goals are for learning Mandarin. It's helpful to know that on a day to day basis, communication is spent orally about 80% to 90% of the time.

If your aim is to get a language credit and be fairly strong in reading and writing, then university is the way to go. Many popular destinations are Tsinghua, Peking, and Beijing Language and Culture University.

However, if you're looking to be able to converse fluently and within a condensed period of time, private language study is the best choice. The teacher will be able to give you the attention you need to correct your mistakes, and give you the time you need to do most of the speaking during class time.

1on1 Mandarin is a private language school that specializes in one teacher per student customized language training. Within 6 months, students are able to confidently converse in basic everyday conversation. Within a year, students speak at a more fluent, intermediate level, and are able to carry on conversations with ease. After 2 years of study, students are speaking at an advanced level and are ready to take the HSK exam to then be able to take university courses in Chinese (other than Chinese language courses) at Chinese universities. Check out our website at http://www.1on1mandarin.com/

Choosing Where to Study: Studying Outside of China

Whatever language one is learning, complete immersion in the host language and culture is ideal; therefore, it is ideal for a prospective Chinese language student to live and study in China for any extended period of time. However, for many, lack of time, lack of money, and other circumcumstances will make it very difficult for overseas study in the mainland.

There are some good options for studying Chinese, such as taking online courses and interacting with live native Chinese teachers. Taking language courses at a university or college is another great option. Check out your local institutions for more details on class start dates and curriculum.

Outside of the classroom setting, it is important to use and listen to as much Chinese as possible, so take advantage of an environment that provides you with the opportunity to interact with Mandarin Chinese speakers like at a Chinese club, a local Chinese church, etc. Listening to the Chinese radio station and watching movies in Chinese is a great way to practice your listening skills.

Finally, it is important to remember that you will get out only as much as you put in. Having a great teacher is very important, but it is up to the language student to do his/her part also. One last thing: don't forget to have fun!

Before Enrolling to Study Mandarin: Identifying Your Learning Style

Before enrolling to study Mandarin Chinese, it is very important to identify your learning style. This will be helpful for your teacher to adjust his/her teaching approach to cater to your needs and how you learn most effectively. If this is not possible, you can find a teacher whose teaching approach fits with your learning style. Being aware of how you learn most effectively will also help you to study more efficiently and reduce your chances of being bored or overwhelmed from studying Chinese. Below is a list of learning styles:

Learning Style 1 : Analytical / Relational
Learning Style 2 : Perception / Process
Learning Style 3 : Sensory Channel
Learning Style 4 : Personality

Check out this website to discover your learning style: www.chinesemadeeasier.com/styles1.html