If your child is just starting out, learning Mandarin can feel a little overwhelming, especially when you’re not sure what they should be picking up in the first few months. Generally, children will be able to understand conversational Chinese with 1-2 years of consistent learning. As parents, understanding what your children are expected to learn is important to ensure they progress naturally. So, what are the Mandarin skills that your kids should understand after 6 months of learning? Let’s find out the details in this article.

In most beginner Mandarin lessons for children, the first six months focus on building strong core basics that support long-term progress, rather than immediate fluency. These lessons are designed to introduce sounds, vocabulary, and simple structures in a gradual way.Generally, children are expected to learn the following skills in the first 5 months of their Mandarin learning journey. 

Pinyin and Tone Recognition

The first lesson that your children should start with when learning Mandarin is pinyin and tone recognition. Usually, many Chinese tuitions will start by introducing children to initials and finals, as well as how to pronounce them properly. Once they’ve successfully recognised this basis, understanding the main tones used in Mandarin is another important aspect to further help them create a strong foundation. These two lessons will help children in verbal communication and understanding Chinese vocabulary. 

Common Vocabulary and Sentence Structures

Within the first 6 months of your kids learning journey, they should also be able to train on their vocabulary acquisition. Usually, beginners will learn simple vocabulary that relates to their everyday life, such as family members, animals, and food. Once they’ve mastered common Chinese vocabulary, kids are also expected to learn simple sentence structures such as short introductory phrases and common statements. 

Simple Chinese Characters

If your children learn writing and reading skills, Chinese characters are another thing they need to master. Within the first 6 months of their Mandarin learning journey, kids are expected to recognise simple Chinese characters with a minimal number of strokes. Although their progress will depend greatly on their learning pace, children who consistently learn Chinese characters for 6 months should be able to recognize 100-300 characters.

Children’s ability to pick up Mandarin as a non-native speaker varies greatly between one individual to another. Although children are naturally quick learners, this pace can be affected by several factors such as the following. 

Schedule and Intensity

The first thing that will determine how quick children pick up Mandarin is their study intensity. Generally, children with a consistent learning schedule will have a quicker learning pace. Even so, it is also important to understand that forcing your kid to learn Mandarin intensely might not work well. This action may lead children to feel overwhelmed and end up not progressing at all. 

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Learning Methods

When it comes to learning Mandarin, children will usually have their own preferred way of learning. Some children may find it easier to learn with Chinese language learning tools, such as flashcards and charts. On the other hand, other children may understand this language by learning through a structured curriculum. Therefore, parents should be able to assist their children in finding the most effective learning method to help them improve their Mandarin skills at a quicker pace. 

Learning Resources

Learning resources is another aspect that parents should pay attention to when considering children’s learning pace. Many children struggle to pick up Mandarin quickly due to the limited credible resources that they can rely onto. Although the internet makes learning materials more accessible, children still need to filter out what they really need to master Mandarin as a foreign language. 

As parents, supporting kids as they learn Mandarin is a responsibility that you shouldn’t avoid. Showing support can help them feel more comfortable in learning this language and strengthen your relationship with your kids. Even if you don’t speak Mandarin yourself, your involvement plays a big role in how effective learning Mandarin for kids can be at this early stage. 

Finding Chinese Tutor

Connecting children with an experienced tutor is one of the best ways to help your children improve their Mandarin with reliable resources. To find Chinese tutors, you can try enrolling your kids in Chinese enrichment classes and find the best courses depending on their needs. An experienced tutor will not only teach your kids Mandarin, but also encourage them to be more confident in implementing what they’ve learned. 

Tracking Progress

Progress is an important thing in terms of language learning. One of the most common ways to track your children’s progress is by giving them assessment or homework to do based on what they’ve learned beforehand. By relying on this assessment, you can find out how much your children have understood and what needs to be corrected in the future. Aside from tracking progress, assessment should also be used to provide affirming feedback to help children communicate in Mandarin more effectively. 

Expanding Learning Resources

As children’s main provider, another way you can implement to support your children in learning Mandarin is by providing the best learning resources. These learning resources can be something as simple as allowing them to watch YouTube videos surrounding Chinese language or buying Chinese storybooks to enjoy together. These extra resources provide another fun way for them to learn Mandarin without associating it with a strict curriculum. Children who learn through books or other creative media can often pick up Mandarin more naturally rather than relying on textbooks. 

In the first 6 months of learning Mandarin, kids will acquire the foundational skills such as Pinyin, vocabulary, and easy Chinese characters. With the right guidance, your children should grow familiar with Mandarin after six months of consistent learning. As parents, you can provide this right guide by enrolling your children in Chinese courses. In Elitekid, we pursue to help your children understand Mandarin and provide a progress tracker to  ensure their improvement. Learn more about how Elitekid can help provide the best start to your children’s learning journey by visiting our site.