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 (ę°“ę, ShuĒguĒ). It would be a fun topic to teach it this way. For example, å¤åę°é®®ę°“ęåč¬č (DuÅ chÄ« xÄ«nxiÄn shuĒguĒ hĆ© shÅ«cĆ i) 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: ä½ ę³åä»éŗ¼ę°“ęļ¼ (NĒ xiĒng chÄ« shĆ©nme shuĒguĒ?)
- Translation: What fruit do you want to eat?
- Answer: ęę³åčęć(WĒ xiĒng chÄ« mĆ”ngguĒ.)
- 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.