Children are naturally gifted learners, especially during their early development years. With how rapid their cognitive development is improving, learning a second language, such as Mandarin, should be easier compared to learning as an adult. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or a tutor, chances are you’re currently looking on how to support your child to learn Mandarin faster from a younger age. With how different Mandarin is from English, learning this language as a second language might require more attention and energy. From intonation, vocabulary, to practical examples, learning Mandarin can be overwhelming. Throughout this article, we will discuss how to help children learn Mandarin faster through vocabulary learning. 

Vocabulary is the root to language learning, an essential part in any language, including Mandarin. A solid understanding in Chinese vocabulary is needed in order for kids to be able to communicate fluently. Understanding vocabulary while learning Mandarin is of utmost essential as it can enhance children’s ability to communicate better. This ability will help them connect better with others, engaging in interactions that can further their understanding. 

In listening and speaking with others, vocabulary holds an essential position of helping children through daily conversations. A vast understanding of Chinese vocabulary will allow children to acknowledge different tones that can cause different meanings of words. Recognizing this aspect is important to ensure a smoother conversation with others and help build confidence while interacting with locals or native speakers. 

Aside from helping children with speaking and listening skills, mastering Chinese vocabulary can also improve children’s ability in reading and writing. As a character based language, learning new vocabulary is crucial in Mandarin. A complete understanding of Chinese vocabulary will assist young children in recognizing Chinese characters and learning characters’ structure. This will give them the ability to read Chinese characters and build confidence in reading and writing, allowing them to communicate in written form and engage with a wider media. 

Mandarin has a wide range of vocabulary to learn, ranging from basic words such as color and animals to much more complex Chinese characters. For young learners such as children, learning complicated words might not be the best to start as it requires more skills in reading, writing, and speaking. If you’re planning to teach your child vocabulary, it is highly advised to start with easier words that can be encountered daily. Starting from daily vocabulary can help increase relevancy and usage, letting kids grow accustomed to the new vocabulary. Here are a few Chinese vocabulary for children to learn along with its English translation. 

Chinese-English Vocabulary: Colors

Chinese-English Vocabulary: Family Members

Chinese-English Vocabulary: Animals

Chinese-English Vocabulary: Foods and Drinks

Chinese-English Vocabulary: Fruits

Learning Mandarin is a life long journey, with a lot of aspects that you can focus on. Whether you’re planning to master conversational skills or writing skills, learning Chinese vocabulary is still essential to ensure smoother communications. With approximately 50.000 – 10.000 Chinese characters, and possibly more vocabularies to master, learning to understand the meaning from a younger age is highly recommended. Given the natural learning process experienced by children, understanding Chinese vocabulary can be done effectively with the right method. Here are a few practical tips to help your children master Chinese vocabulary effectively. 

• Relevant Vocabulary

Given the abundance of words that children can learn while understanding Chinese vocabulary, trying to memorize all of them at once can be overwhelming. One highly recommended tip is to start with relevant vocabulary that can be encountered daily. For example, you can start by teaching children about family members, body parts, and even furniture around the house. These familiar terms are easier to remember and help children apply their new skills in real-life situations. This method can assist children in building confidence naturally and foster a strong connection with Mandarin language. 

• Utilize Flashcards

Another effective and fun way to learn Chinese vocabulary faster is by using flashcards. This method is often used to help with memorization by encouraging children to use active recall for long-term retention. Making flashcards is fairly simple. You can start by writing down Chinese characters on one side and putting the English meaning or image on the other side. Once the cards have been settled, you can turn learning activities into a fun game that targets retention, 

• Immersion and Providing Context

Learning Chinese vocabulary can be more engaging if children can immerse fully in different types of media. To help children learn faster, you can start by implementing stories, idioms, or even videos that utilize easy-to-understand vocabulary. These types of activities will not only help children learn in an engaging way, but also provide further context that can support better retention. 

• Spaced Repetition

Another effective way to help children learn Mandarin faster is by frequently reviewing the vocabulary. Spaced repetition can be combined with other study methods, such as using flashcards, to help children repeat their lessons a few times. Spaced repetition ideally involves frequent reviews on Chinese vocabulary. As children get better at recognizing words, the repetition can also be reduced as children should already be able to absorb the information.

• Track Your Progress

While learning to master Chinese vocabulary, children will probably encounter several mistakes in which they are not able to recognize a few new words immediately. These mistakes are normal, especially when children are learning for the first time. To help children learn Mandarin faster, you can start by tracking all the progress, marking the vocabulary that children struggle with. By focusing on helping children’s weaknesses, they will get better at memorizing things.

Although learning Chinese vocabulary is one of the core elements of understanding Mandarin, there are a lot of aspects that children need to master. These elements span from listening, recognizing characters, writing, and speaking skills. With a strong foundation of Chinese vocabulary, children are expected to be able to learn other skills better. As your children get better at memorizing vocabulary, you can proceed to teach other materials through structured programs. Learn more about these programs by visiting us.