Some time ago, I wrote about the importance of learning Pinyin (read here). Here's an interesting chart featuring different fruit types. Of course, without learning Pinyin, one would be reading everything at face value instead of the proper reading. That's why we weren't allowed to use self-romanization and use the Zhuyin. With the Pinyin taught, the more self-romanization isn't allowed. Instead, one had to follow the Pinyin.
One of the best ways to teach Mandarin Chinese is through the different types of fruit (水果, Shuǐguǒ). It would be a fun topic to teach it this way. For example, 多吃新鮮水果和蔬菜 (Duō chī xīnxiān shuǐguǒ hé shūcài) means "Eat more fruits and vegetables." I would imagine how fun it would be to teach vocabulary and conversations (read here) in Chinese through fruits.
For Chinese Filipinos from the millennials and backward, one may remember the dreaded bon toi items (question and answer). However, with the way Chinese is taught now--learning Hokkien is no longer required. Instead, it's taught as a second language. I'd like to give a sample exercise:
- Question: 你想吃什麼水果？ (Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme shuǐguǒ?)
- Translation: What fruit do you want to eat?
- Answer: 我想吃芒果。(Wǒ xiǎng chī mángguǒ.)
- Translation: I want to eat mango.
With more creative ways, Chinese Filipino schools should find new ways to make everyone, not just Chinese Filipinos, want to learn Mandarin.