Research Process - Discussions with Bill (Jizhou) (27 Dec 2011)

19th Dec - from Bill

I've just read an article on Internet about learning Chinese, hope it can be helpful to you.
Here is the link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/culture/2011-06/16/c_13933993.htm
NO LONGER ACCESSIBLE

From this article, I think the most serious problem foreign learners face are:

1. The tones and characters are too difficult to learn, it's hard not to give up
- AC.Just concentrating on tones, they require sustained practice.

2. They can not find enough native speakers to talk with.
- AC.Meetup events, exposure on internet to spoken mandarin.

And for teachers:

1. not enough materials
- AC.cost of materials, paid for by students.
2. not enough budget to hire Chinese teachers
- AC.Set organisations - private or state-funded.

Another link for leaning Chinese
http://www.words-chinese.com/

Links found by Bill:
1.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4617646.stm
Problems with Learning:
- Tones
- Script
Anne Martin believes that part of the problem is the exam system - which isn't designed for native speakers and is hard for them to gain good grades. So hard for non-native learners to pass. Causes for schools to be reluctant to timetable Chinese is non-native learners cannot get good grades.

"People who want to be ahead in whatever industry need to think about China and learning Chinese."

2.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/china/learningenglish/specials/1120_aab_28_schools/page5.shtml

Finn's report: (mp3 Audio file)
How many British people learn Chinese?

- More and more studying Chinese, statistics held by CILT National Center for Languages
High school - doubled from 2000 (4028 learning) to 2004 (7580 learning)
Not many compared to European languages.

see http://www.cilt.org.uk/home.aspx

- 1000 study at University
- About 1000 taking evening classes
- Some learning at Primary school

"It will play at important role"
"Fantastic to learn such a vital skill" - especially in Business or Politics
"Need to keep practising"

3.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8776515/The-rise-and-rise-of-Mandarin-but-how-
many-will-end-up-speaking-it.html

"China is now a major world economy"

20 Sep 2011
from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/8776515/The-rise-and-rise-of-Mandarin-but-how-many-will-end-up-speaking-it.html
"Indeed, only 1,500 students took Chinese or Mandarin at undergraduate or postgraduate level last year, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, making it the least popular major language apart from Japanese." see http://www.hesa.ac.uk/

Chinese is one of the most sought after languages by British businesses.

However it is hard for Chinese to become a world language.

Difficulty of rote-learning thousands of words.

One third of mandarin students are from Japan and South Korea, then US, then Europe, then developing countries.

"foreign countries lack resources to teach Chinese, both in books and teachers"

"The environment is important"

"Chinese students studying overseas to take on more teaching jobs at schools""many foreign students eventually arrive at the shameful conclusion that the Chinese are mastering English far more quickly than vice versa"

Bill - The reason for learning Chinese for UK learners is what I'm interested in.

And how many of them give up because it's too difficult? - Stats?

"interest in Chinese culture is a strong and sustainable desire to learn"

"For a better job is a strong desire, but if not so interested in Chinese culture"
If Mandarin means better jobs in the future then this will be the motivation.

In China, friends like to learn Japanese and Korean because they like animations and comics of Japan and Korea at first. "culture-based learning"

The key to any course is the objective for learning - is it for Work, Holiday, Study or Cultural interest?

More detail on business work potential in China - student motivations?

For English , it's hard to say someone learn that because thay like English culture or American culture. It is a have to do thing.

"culture-based study should be encouraged."

The 3 problems:
1. too difficult to learn - made easier, or more graded?
2. not enough materials - funding of materials, online materials?
3. not enough native speakers to talk with - more connections with native speakers.