A Successful Mandarin Learner: John Edward Konizeski

Group Members Julie 施彥伶 Stella 余純菁 Sylvia 朱淑蓉 Dolphin 林君惠 Harrison 劉俊偉

Introduction ► Who ► Why

► Face-to-face Interviews ► Interviews ► Questionnaires ► Taking Pictures ► Recording Data Collection Methods

► John Edward Konizeski from Maryland, the United States ► Majored in Philosophy in St. Mary’s College of Maryland ► Motivation Learner’s Background

► Fudan University in Shanghai, Mainland China Mainland China ► Wenzao Ursuline College of Languages Languages

Strengths and Weaknesses ► Strengths 1. Strong Listening Comprehension 1. Strong Listening Comprehension 2. Reading Ability 2. Reading Ability ► Weaknesses 1. Intonation 1. Intonation 2. Writing 2. Writing

Learning Process ► The Natural Order ► Romanization ► Chinese Phonetic Symbols

Learning Process ► Not Focusing on Chinese Grammar ► Not Being Afraid of Speaking and Making Mistakes

Analysis

Aptitude ► He had ability to understand the function of particular words in sentences. ► He had ability to figure out grammatical rules from language samples. ► He had memory for new words.

Personality ► Extroversion: He is a moderately extroverted person. ► Inhibition: He often observes others’ conversation instead of talking with people actively.

Motivation & Attitude ► John Edward has higher integrative motivation and integrative motivation and lower tendency of lower tendency of instrumental motivation instrumental motivation

Learner Preference ► John is a field-dependant learner. ► He has high tolerance of ambiguity.

Age of Acquisition ►John began learning Chinese when he was in college. when he was in college.

Discussion

Behaviorism ► Imitation - Listening & Speaking: Listen to the tapes and imitate Listen to the tapes and imitate the pronunciation. the pronunciation.

Behaviorism ► Practice - Sentences Making & Substitution Drills Learning sentence patterns, and then Learning sentence patterns, and then making sentences making sentences

Behaviorism ► Practice - Word Writing Practicing writing Chinese characters Practicing writing Chinese characters

Behaviorism ► Habit Formation - Beginning Kept reading materials he liked, Kept reading materials he liked, such as “ 三毛 ” such as “ 三毛 ”

Behaviorism ► Habit Formation - Recently Studying in “ 論語學孔子 ” (Confucius) & “ 文字學 ”(Mandarin Etymology) “ 文字學 ”(Mandarin Etymology)

Innatism ► Learning Order Listening, Speaking, Reading Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing at the Same Time. and Writing at the Same Time.

Innatism ► The Input Hypothesis He learns the Analects of Confucius, and Etymology in Wenzao school now. He learns the Analects of Confucius, and Etymology in Wenzao school now.

Interactionism ► John didn’t speak Mandarin when he went back to America. when he went back to America. ► John speaks Mandarin only when he needs to respond. when he needs to respond.

Interactionism ► He seldom finds advanced learners to practice his speaking learners to practice his speaking ability. ability. ► However, he can speak Mandarin very well. very well.

Communication Strategies ► Nonlinguistic Signals ► Circumlocution ► Appeal for Help

Similarities and Differences ► Both languages use the subject- verb-object word order. verb-object word order. ► The way of thinking and the different tones. different tones.

CAH ► He learned Mandarin with ease. ► Mandarin is similar to English for him.

Conclusion Environment and Motivation Are Important. Environment and Motivation Are Important.

Suggestions ► Watching TV Programs ► Reading Comic Books ► Joining Volunteer Work ► Culture

Thanks for your attention!