Learning Cantonese / Chinese as a foreigner can be a rewarding journey. To make the process more effective, consider the following steps and tips:
1. Set Clear Goals: Decide on your language learning objectives. If your aim is to speak Chinese fluently without focusing on writing, then prioritize functional grammar and listening skills. For those with limited time, allocate it to practicing listening.
2. Understand Language Training: Language learning involves two aspects - language elements and language skills. Language elements include phonetics, Chinese characters, grammar, and vocabulary. Language skills encompass listening, oral communication, reading, and writing. For each section, you can learn differently, tips listed below.
3. Emphasize Listening: Listening is crucial for beginners. Spend ample time listening to Chinese audio, watching movies, or even immersing yourself in a Chinese-speaking environment if possible. Speaking will come naturally with enough listening practice.
4. Tackling Phonetics: Chinese is tonal, but don't be overly concerned about tones at the beginner level. Focus on essential vocabulary and sentence structures first. Tonal accuracy becomes more important as you progress to the intermediate level.
5. Handling Chinese Characters: Recognize common characters rather than focusing on writing strokes. Chinese input software can help you write characters on a computer or mobile phone. Familiarity with characters is key, and traditional characters may become more recognizable with practice.
6. Grammar and Vocabulary: Opt for functional grammar that suits your communication needs. Build your vocabulary based on your interests or daily life activities. Creating a word bank using flashcards or apps can be beneficial.
7. Enjoy the Journey: Avoid setting too many barriers for yourself, especially in the beginner stage. Progress step by step, and don't expect perfection early on. Learning Chinese can be enjoyable when you explore songs, poems, calligraphy, and other cultural aspects.
8. Regular Revision: Consistent revision is essential for language retention. Make character recognition a priority and practice intensive vocabulary learning.
Remember, everyone's learning journey is unique, so tailor your approach to your goals and interests. Learning Chinese requires patience and dedication, but it can be a gratifying experience that opens doors to new cultural experiences and opportunities.
Citation: Mostly from Professor 江新, 周健 in China, and 謝錫金 in Hong Kong.
Further reading: http://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html (Language Learning from Psychology Perspectives - the process of scaffolding)
8點如何學習廣東話中文
作為外國人學習漢語可能是一次有益的旅程。 為了使該過程更加有效，請考慮以下步驟和提示：
1. 設定明確的目標：決定您的語言學習目標。 如果您的目標是說流利的中文而不是專注於寫作，那麼請優先考慮功能語法和聽力技能。 對於時間有限的人，可以將其分配給練習聽力。
2.了解語言訓練：語言學習涉及兩個方面——語言要素和語言技能。 語言要素包括語音、漢字、語法和詞彙。 語言技能包括聽力、口頭交流、閱讀和寫作。 對於每個部分，您可以學習不同的內容，下面列出了一些技巧。
3.強調聽力：聽力對於初學者來說至關重要。 花足夠的時間聽中文音頻、看電影，甚至如果可能的話，讓自己沉浸在中文環境中。 只要有足夠的聽力練習，口語就會自然而然地進行。
4. 解決語音問題：漢語是有聲調的，但初學者不要過分關心聲調。 首先關注基本詞彙和句子結構。 當您進入中級水平時，音調準確性變得更加重要。
5. 漢字處理：認識常用字，而不是專注於書寫筆劃。 中文輸入軟件可以幫助您在電腦或手機上書寫漢字。 熟悉漢字是關鍵，通過練習傳統漢字可能會變得更容易識別。
6. 語法和詞彙：選擇適合您溝通需求的功能語法。 根據您的興趣或日常生活活動建立您的詞彙量。 使用抽認卡或應用程序創建單詞庫可能會很有幫助。
7. 享受旅程：避免為自己設置太多障礙，尤其是在初學者階段。 一步一步進步，不要一開始就期望完美。 當你探索歌曲、詩歌、書法和其他文化方面時，學習中文會很有趣。
8. 定期復習：持續的複習對於保留語言至關重要。 將字符識別放在首位，並練習強化詞彙學習。
請記住，每個人的學習旅程都是獨一無二的，因此請根據您的目標和興趣定制您的方法。 學習中文需要耐心和奉獻精神，但它可以是一次令人欣喜的經歷，為新的文化體驗和機會打開大門。
引文：主要來自中國的江新教授、周健教授和香港的謝錫金教授。
進一步閱讀：http://www.simplypsychology.org/bruner.html（從心理學角度學習語言——腳手架的過程）