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Bing Chen was my Chinese-language tutor for several months before I left for work in Beijing. I found her approach very helpful and enjoyable. Bing has a firm grasp of Chinese grammar and is able to explain it clearly. She also shows remarkable patience with the slow learning of her student. I have had other teachers of Chinese, but I can say that Bing is the most professional and effective. Her one-on-one approach allows the student to move at the necessary pace for mastering the lessons at hand inlcuding tones, grammar, reading, and vocabulary. Presently I am in Beijing, but I intend to continue studying with Bing when I return to New York.
bjm (Meng Baili)
Why learn basic writing is important? PDF Print E-mail
From time to time, I hear learners tell me," I do not want to learn writing (Chinese), not even simplified Chinese. I do not have time to practice. It is too hard any way", or "I would be so happy if I can speak, read and listen. I will learn after I mastering all these skills".

I am not surprised writing Chinese scares a lot of learners. However, learning basic writing is very important and necessary.

Unlike English, which is written by putting letters together, Chinese writing is putting strokes together. There are eight types of basic Chinese strokes. The writing of each Chinese Character is assembling different strokes into different structures in different order. Once the learners knows the strokes and strokes orders, writing Chinese becomes easy and fun.

Understanding basic writing is the key for reading Chinese because learners are now able to differentiate Chinese characters. I have never learned Korean writing system, to me all Korean characters look similar with different here and there, but I do not know where. I believe if I spend 2 hours learning the writing system, it it become so easy and every character will look unique to me. It is the same to all the Chinese learners, in the beginning, all Chinese characters may look overwhelmingly similar and it seems impossible to learn so "many". The truth is, once they understand the structure and strokes, it is a fun to practice writing. They will be able to recognize different characters and therefore they will be able to read Chinese.

Once the learners understand basic writing system, they will be able to look up a new character and find out the meaning and the sound. They will never desperately get stuck at an unknown character any more.

It is okay if the learner choose not to learn writing Chinese, it is important to learn the basic writing system. Overall, Chinese writing is not that difficult if the learners get good instructions basic writing skills.

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