The Flying with Chinese series is clustered around three themes: global citizenship, cultural heritage, and environmental responsibility. Each volume introduces legends, real and fictional characters of importance to Chinese culture, and significant Chinese customs and celebrations. When it comes to writing, Flying with Chinese steers a path down the middle. The focus in the earlier years is on oral skills, but the books and teacher materials offer multiple channels for conveying the fundamentals of written Chinese to young learners, from Total Physical Response activities to the use of Chinese-language signs in the classroom. This interwoven approach makes it possible for students to acquire 30 characters per year in grades K–1, 60 per year in grades 2–3, and between 90 and 130 per year in grades 4–6.
Flying with Chinese offers ample teacher support material, from the assessment structures included at the end of each lesson to a complete set of teacher guides that include detailed teaching suggestions, additional activities, rubrics, and information on how to encourage parental involvement as part of the language-learning process. A useful overview of child language development will help teachers understand the series’ underlying curriculum structure, and equip them with strategies for creating an enriching, enjoyable classroom environment. When coupled with guided language practice in the classroom, Flying with Chinese comprehensively addresses the language-learning needs and abilities of the young student of Chinese.
Flying with Chinese includes simplified characters only.
Textbook lessons are centered around brightly illustrated stories that are specially written to appeal to young readers. Each story introduces engaging characters depicted in universal contexts. For example, students can follow Sun Wukong (the Monkey King) as he visits his new friend Lily, or brushes his teeth.
A new hanzi is introduced in each lesson for a total 30 characters each year in grades K–1. Song lyrics, an “I Can Do These Things” section at the end of each lesson, and Total Physical Response activities provide an interactive and interwoven learning environment for young learners.
In simplified characters.
Note: Pinyin is not used in these early books, as many students are still learning their basic ABCs at this stage in development. |
