Post 4- Language Learning Challenge Proposal

Title: Improving my Chinese writing skills

My challenge: Being brought up in Australia by Taiwanese and Japanese parents, I am able to speak 3 languages, however, when it comes to writing skills in particular, I have spent more time on Japanese compared to Chinese. Therefore meaning my writing skills in Chinese is rather weak. Many people believe that since I am able to write Japanese at a very high level, my Chinese ability should be around the same, but this is not the case. Though Chinese and Japanese both use similar characters, the character amounts differ, therefore also making it more difficult for myself to study.

At one stage, my Chinese writing skills were better than my Japanese, but since it's learning a language, it is easily forgotten if the skill is not used frequently. As to my Chinese writing skills being so poor, I would like to take this opportunity to relearn how to write a short introduction in simplified Chinese using technologies. 

My Learning Goal 
My goal is to be able to write a self-introduction using simplified characters in Chinese. I would need to learn how to write vocabulary such as, name, family members, pets, hobbies, my likes and dislikes in simplified Chinese. I would not only like to learn how to write it, but I would like to be able to say the self-introduction.

My Learning styles and strategies

From the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) survey I attempted in class, it has shown that I learn best at "compensating for missing knowledge". Then the next being "managing my emotions" or "learning with others". I do believe that I learn rather well when I am learning with someone else, however, I am unsure about "compensating for missing knowledge". Maybe it is something I have not figured out yet, maybe I do learn well by doing that. As my goal is to be able to improve in my writing and speaking skills, I believe that remembering is very important. From the survey done, it shows that I am not the best at remembering. This may be a little tough for myself, however, I would like to give it a go, and see what kind of a result I will achieve after 6 weeks.

Another test that I attempted was the VARK questionnaire, it has stated that I am an aural learner. Therefore I prefer people to tell me information, instead of reading information myself. As my goal is to be able to write a self-introduction in simplified Chinese and be able to say the self-introduction, it is a good idea that I read out loud of what I am learning. Pronouncing vocabulary out loud as I learn them, as this will also allow myself to remember what I have learnt. I will also use this strategy to learn and memorise the characters. In addition, link the characters with sounds. The VARK questionnaire website suggested that I may make up or use interesting stories or jokes to remember information, I have not used that method for learning a language, therefore am curious whether it will work or not. I will give it a try and see the results. 

The technologies I am going to test: From what I have planned now, I am planning to use “MDBG Web Translator” website, iphone app, and Quizlet. The web translator is a site specifically for translating Chinese⇔English. It doesn’t just gives you translations but also gives you a variety of synonyms to choose from. Depending on the scenario and situations, you can choose the most suitable vocabulary. The iphone app that I have found now is called "Chinese". For example, if you would like to know useful phrases in self-introduction, you tap into the "greetings" icon and it pronounces and shows some phrases that may be used in writing. The web translator website and iphone app both comes with pronunciation.  By having this technique is very suitable for me, as I am able to see how you write the characters and simultaneously hear how it is supposed to be pronounced. Another technology I would like to test out is Quizlet. I will like to use this website for my own Chinese revision. I will be making flashcards on this website, then practicing it and testing myself.

Since I am using the web translator an iphone app that translates phrases for me, the language pedagogy here would be the Grammar Translation Method. In this situation, I will learn everything through translation. It is believed that this website translator and iphone app will be useful and handy for me when writing and speaking the self-introduction as it visually shows me the characters and I am also able to hear the pronunciation of it. However, the constraints for these apps would be that at times, phrases may sound a little weird. Like all translation devices, there will always be something that does not fit with the context. This will be when my native friend can give me a hand, as they aware of the scenario, therefore will be able to tell the correct vocabulary that I should use.

My Plan
Week 1- Give myself a pre-test. Write down what I am able to write currently for a simplified self-introduction. After writing it, brainstorm what I would like to have in my ideal self-introduction. In particular, the vocabulary that needs to be looked up, for example noun and verb vocabularies. These many include name, age, doing words for hobbies, etc.

Week 2- Using MDBG Web Translator and iphone apps to search for vocabularies and phrases that I am not familiar with and start writing my self-introduction. Have at least 3 sentences done by week 2 and give it to a native person to check and receive feedback.

Week 3- Practice speaking and writing the corrected version of the self-introduction. Keep on writing the self-introduction. Again, search up vocabularies and phrases and put them into sentences. Have at least 3 sentences done for this week. Start making vocabulary flash cards on Quizlet, as this will be able to help me memorise and recognise characters.

Week 4- Keep on practicing speaking and writing of the corrected self-introduction from week 2. At this stage, there should be at least 6 sentences done for the self-introduction (week 2- 3 sentences, week 3- 3 sentences). Keep on adding sentences to the self-introduction. At least 3 sentences needs to be done this week. After finishing this week’s sentences, again give it to the native person for a check. Get the native person to check for mistakes then practice speaking the self-introduction with them. A small check-list will be handed to the native person to see if my pronunciation and writing skills have improved from week 2.

Week 5- Practice the accumulated self-introduction from week 2 to week 4 in writing and speaking. At the same time, finish off the self-introduction and give it to the native person to check. Once I have received feedback, I will need to practice speaking it and writing it. Use Quizlet as a revision tool for vocabularies.

Week 6- Allocate a time with the native speaker to have a post-test (speaking and writing) and grade me on whether I have improved or not throughout these 5 weeks.

My evaluation approach: For the evaluation component of the learning challenge, I am planning to have a pre and post test. I will also be getting the native person who checks my work to grade me on how I have performed. There is a plan of when I will be getting them to grade me, however this may change. I will also be posting up pictures on the writing practices and pictures of the work checked by the native person.