In discussions with my former 8th-grade Mandarin students, a common theme emerged: the importance of handwriting in their high school Mandarin programs (evident in placement tests and assignments). This prompted me to explore effective handwriting practice for them.
To address this “urgent” need, I first asked students to copy the same Chinese character line by line, dot by dot, 10 times over. This method was “effective” for me when I was learning to write Chinese myself at the age of 6. Actually, I copied the same Chinese character at least for 20 times. However, did my students enjoy it? Most did not. Was it effective for them? Not for the majority. While a few students with exceptional memorization abilities may have retained the characters by copying them a few times, and could recognize them in readings, this approach did not work well for the majority of my students.
I started to ponder a fundamental question: What’s the true purpose behind teaching students to write Chinese characters? Is it to facilitate meaningful writing that students will apply in their everyday lives, both now and in the future? Is it to appreciate the beauty of this unique non-alphabetic writing system? Or perhaps it’s simply to enhance their ability to recognize characters in reading materials? Could it even be just for the sheer joy of it? Each question calls for a unique strategy.
Recognizing the need for a more engaging and purposeful approach, I’ve implemented several strategies to encourage and integrate handwriting practice into the classroom:
- Optional Handwriting Practice: I offer optional homework sheets focused on character formation for students who value handwriting or feel it benefits their learning. This caters to individual learning styles while still providing practice for those who desire it.
- Logical Analysis and Character Radicals: Through whole-class activities, we explore the logic behind the Chinese character system and practice writing the functional radicals. Understanding the building blocks of characters equips students with foundational knowledge that aids in handwriting and overall comprehension.
- Meaningful Tasks: At appropriate times throughout the curriculum, I incorporate handwriting tasks that hold real-world value. Examples include writing holiday cards or thank-you notes to teachers, friends, or relatives. These activities reinforce cultural norms while providing practical writing practice.
- Creative Play: I encourage playful exploration of Chinese characters. This could involve games and hands-on playful activities that utilize character components in a creative way. This approach can make learning fun and engaging while fostering a deeper connection to the written language.
Below are a few enjoyable activities where students can “write” Chinese characters for pure fun.
