Wish I knew before before I started this journey
- From the Facebook group
- What I wish I had done differently as a kindergarten, non-Chinese speaking parent:
- I recently posted this as a comment in another group. I hope that my own Jin Ren/MLK community can benefit from the lessons I have learned as you prepare for your child to enter/continue with Mandarin Chinese:
- 1) I wish I kept my objective that he will be a lifelong learner of Mandarin Chinese. Yes, he has learned a lot and he improves fluency and vocabulary, but I want him to see himself as a LEARNER. That speaking Mandarin and Mandarin literacy is not a destination it is a journey.
- 2) I wish I learned with him from day one. I wish I understood tones and could read pinyin during his first year and just did something simple like duolingo or hello mandarin. Low commitment. I started my own Mandarin Chinese journey when Israel was in second grade. Him seeing me as his learning partner has had huge benefits.
- 3) I wish I had gotten him involved in Chinese community outside of the program sooner. I don’t have tons of money to spend on tutors or expensive trips, but I like making friends and we have community in our area. But I was afraid of going and not understanding and being stressed
when we finally went, I felt like “ugh, what took me so long?” - 4) I wish I encouraged him to consume lots of Chinese media from China and Taiwan daily.
- 5) I wish I began watching C and T dramas. Even just once a week.
- 5) (which I did, and still do) Being resourceful to provide opportunities for my son in Chinese. Groups like this, coops, free page requests, language exchanges, anything!! I will get my son in front of someone who wants to hear him speak Chinese. He has taken science, chess, played Minecraft, language exchange groups, you name it. And like I said, I’m broke.
- 6) I wish I knew how hard it it to enjoy your own journey and not compare your child to others. If you decide to do this, just make it fun and learn together!
- 7) Positive bilingual parent groups, like Raising Bilingual Children in Chinese & English and Sunshine Bilingual Village give me space to VENT and I wish I had this from day one!!!!
- My Kindergarten commitment would have been one 1 hour show and 5-10 minutes daily on an app. It’s not much.
- I am excited and hopeful for every family in the Jin Ren community. I know I’m not around but y’all (你们）are my peeps (家人）
- 加油！
