Learning Mandarin

I want to get my toddlers (and myself) familiar with some Mandarin vocabularly. Can anyone recommend some age appropriate and fun DVDs that they have used that have helped their children learn the basics?

Hi lisaly. I am a native HKers and a translator and know a bit about languages. Now, I think you mean vocabs special to Mandarin speakers vs. Cantonese speakers.


On the writing level, however, if you are using Chinese in Hong Kong, you'd better stick to Hong Kong vocabs (i.e. no need for a DVD teaching specifically "Mandarin" vocabs; any Mandarin titles for beginners will do). After all, Chinese in written forms are 80% the same regardless the dialects. And native Chinese speakers can readily understand the vocabs despite the minor differences in formation.


If you're not satisfied with just "some" Mandarin vocabs and intend to speak better Mandarin, you've got to use it more often.


Okay, if you really mean to learn just the basics and "some" vocabs, and you have pay TV channels, CCTV 9 (China Central TV) has a programme for xpats featuring vocabs for daily use.


Otherwise, head to a bookstore and tell them what you're looking for. But I really doubt how much of use the DVDs will be and three months from now you'll very likely forget 90% of what you've learned if you don't use them on a regular basis.


So the rule is: use them. Any DVD titles for Mandarin beginners will do.


It is the same case as we learn English and that's why I've come up with this idea:

http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/momsdads/threads/103171.asp


Hope this helps.

Nevin

Thread is here:

http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/playgroups/threads/103172.asp