I just had a chat session where the customer wanted to know which one was better, Kuaile Hanyu or Discovering Chinese.

Hard question! It's like comparing Apples and Oranges.

Discovering Chinese

• Uses a story based approach
• Part of the Better Chinese Series providing a total solution for K-12 with My First Chinese Reader, My First Chinese Reader, Discovering Chinese, and Magical Tour of China
• Lots of support materials.
• 4 Levels
• Available in Simplified Chinese
• Teacher's Manual Available
  

Kuaile Hanyu

• Designed especially for Middle School students (it's a challenging age, between being a kid and an adult).
  
• Uses very Middle School friendly illustrations, more like a comic book in parts.
• Story line is of a trip to China, so it comes across as useful.
• Designed to be fun. Kuaile Hanyu means Happy Chinese.
• 3 Levels
• Teacher's Guide Available
• Designed by UK Schools with the Chinese Government
• Available in Simplified Chinese
  

My recommendation:

• The Better Chinese Dictionary (Better Chinese Dictionary, Simplified/Traditional/English Chinese, 282 pages )
• CD Roms for Kuaile Hanyu (great price for software)
• Then look at the sample pages for each to see what is the best fit for her kids learning style.

They are both very good series.

Labels: chinese curriculum, discovering chinese, Kuaile Hanyu

Quick reply I just did for a customer who wanted to know what I recommended for their 10 year old daughter for Learning Chinese.

My answer was assuming no native Chinese Speaker in the House and that she would be Learning Simplified Chinese.

I would go with Kuaile Hanyu - Happy Chinese or Chinese Made Easy

I like the teaching approach of Kuaile Hanyu and the fact they have CD's Roms (Software) for Learning Chinese. The CD Roms at $20 each are a great deal! What is great about Kualie Hanyu was it was written for teenagers so they actually enjoyed learning Chinese.

As a teenager parent, you may have noticed they can get a bit, umm, moody. Not that I have seen anything like that at home! Nope! Definitely not. My daughter does read my blog and is a Junior in High School...

The designers of Kauile Hanyu made it into format that has a story line, so their is an arc to it. Instead of learning a bunch of words, their is a purpose in how the book is written that progresses along with the story line.

Labels: Kuaile Hanyu

Summer break is around the corner and small and big kids alike are looking forward to fun days ahead. We parents would like them to have fun but wouldn’t it be nice if we could sneak in some learning time for them as well?

You might or might not be met with rolling eyes when you suggest further Chinese practice, but I'm quite sure by this time you know how to get around having them gain extra learning without their noticing (or at least we like to believe they don't notice).

• For kids who thrive on textbook learning – even in summer – there are plenty of excellent textbooks written for teens beginning Chinese as a second language. Kuaile Hanyu has a textbook/reader and follows teen students as they visit China and try to converse in basic Chinese. Lessons used in the book are more about teens and keeps in mind the more advanced language skills of adolescents.

• For those who are to take the Chinese SAT II in a year or two (or three), it doesn’t hurt to start preparing now with Chinese SAT II practice books and tests .
  

• Videos. No talking baby pandas please for these young adults. There are interesting documentary videos hosted by young people that will have them pick up Chinese words and see more about Chinese culture as well. Favorites are: “New Year in Ping Wei”, “Land of the Dragon,” “Families from China” and "Chinese Cooking for Kids DVD".
  

• If you can’t get your teen off the computer to do Chinese lessons, why not bring the Chinese lesson to the computer instead? Kuaile Hanyu also has a 3-level software that features videos of exchange students visiting China , some practice tests and games. (Maybe you can haggle for your teen to look through the Kuaile Hanyu textbook reader as well? No? Just try?)

• A lot of Chinese words and grammar can be picked up from songs it will be a waste to not to try this medium. Thankfully, songs from other countries are not as hard to look for these days. Why not try to sit down together in front of the internet and look through Chinese singers that teens like? Maybe you can help download Chinese songs your child likes, and do it as the parents of smaller kids learning Chinese do. Play it while in the car or while having some down time at home. (Ear plugs can be of help here.)

• Books are an excellent antidote to whines of boredom after the computer is shut down. Kids who are used to reading Chinese can read Chinese Harry Potter in Simplified or Traditional characters. For those who want to REALLY keep their kids unplugged for a longer time, Chinese Harry Potter bundle set is also available. Yes, all books number 1-7 are included so your teen can read in Chinese that first day Harry received his invitation to study at Hogwarts, to the time Harry has a family with… never mind. Just read so I don’t spill. Chinese translations of the The Lord of the Rings Trilogy and The Hobbit, plus also Eragon, can keep your teen busy reading for days and speeding up those Chinese reading skills as well.

Are you up to it? Think you can sneak in speeding up your child's Chinese this summer?

Labels: ChildBook products, Chinese Harry Potter, Chinese SAT II, Kuaile Hanyu, Learn Chinese for Teens, parenting, Spend Time with kids learning Chinese