The Week Junior UK - Issue 189, 27 July 2019

(Rick Simeone) #1
24

Do something

The Week Junior•27 July 2019

LearnMandarin


Learn more...

● Download the PlecoChinese
Dictionary (pleco.co m) onto a
phone or tablet. Use it to help
you look up characters or words
that youcome across in class, on
TV or inabook.
● Tryavideo to help you perfect
your Mandarin characters here,
tinyurl.com/TWJ-characters

Howcan Ilearn it?
If your school doesn’t offer
Mandarin, youcould use the
website tutorful.co.uk, together
with your parents, to findatutor
near you. The site lists tutors who
have been wellreviewed, so you
canfind asuitable one in your area.

What canIdotoimprove?
After learning Mandarin forawhile,
you discover that it has four tones
(ways of speaking) andaword’s
meaning depends on the tone
used. Have fun practising these at
the Yoyo ChineseYouTube channel,
at tinyurl.com/TWJ-mandarin

HOW, WHAT,
WHERE?

WheredoIstart?
Mandarin Chinese is written with
symbols known as characters,rather
than letters. If youwant to getafeel
of how different the characters are,
print offapage of them from the
internet and use tracing paper to get
the hang of the strokes.

ALAMY

·REX SHUTTERSTOCK

·GETTY IMAGES

D

oyou dr eamofmaking friends across the world or
working internationally?Perhaps you’d liketoown
your owncompany one day.This might seem difficult,
but it’snot impossible–particularly if you learn Mandarin
Chinese. China hasapopulation of 1.4 billion. Out of these
people, about one billioncanspeak standardMandarin
Chinese,rather than different types like
Cantonese. That’savery large number,
so it’ slikely that if you aretravelling
or working internationally,you’re
going to meet people who speak
Mandarin Chinese.
It’snot just about work, either.
If you’reinterested in Chinese
history,cultureorpolitics, you will
benefit from learning Mandarin.
China hasafascinating history that
spans thousands of years. If youwant
to learn about thecountry’spast,

Mandarin has lots of phrases that originate from ancient
times.Learn about them and you’ll unearth lots of
fascinating historical stories.
If youwant to do well in business, learning Mandarin is
agreat ideabecause it will help you get on with people. Say
you metaMandarin-speaking team andexplained your
ideas in their language;do you think they would be
to ac cept them? Of
ey would! They will see
u’ve put in effort and
to work with you. Start
ing Mandarin Chinese
and by the time you’re
nough to embark on an
ing internationalcare er,
l be fluent.
go onaMandarin
e adventure–who
whereit’ll takeyou.

Expandyourhorizonswhenyou...

YOUDEVELOP

YOURSKILLS
andarin
hinese is great
ecause it’s
ompletely
fferent to
opean
languages, with
characters and tones. This
differencemakes the world more
diverse. In class we also get to
learn about other important
aspects, likeChinese food, culture
and interesting festivals, such
as the Dragon BoatFestival.
Mandarin isn’t as hardaspeople
think it is;youcanlearn a
simplified version likeIam
doing. Myfavourite wordis
miànbāo(me-an-bow) which
means bread.”

Gracie

“M
C
b
c
di
Euro

MIND-BOGGLING
MANDARIN

Theword

diànnao

(dee-an-now)

means
computer

.Ifyou translate

it literally though, it actually
means electronic brain.

Mandarin uses
characters not letters.

Gracie’s
favourite word.

Appscanhelp you learn
Mandarin characters.
Free download pdf