© The Internet Toolbox for Chinese An idea developed by Wim Oostindier University of Applied Sciences Groningen The Netherlands Expertise Centre for Languages & Cultures International Business School
The Internet as your indispensable tool while learning and teaching Chinese
To be discussed.... What toolbox? Why creating one? The finding of useful sites Selecting the sites that matter ‘Web didactics’ applied … Show me! If we have some time left: off-line software
What toolbox?
These are the basic tools to tackle problems while learning Chinese: the solution is always ‘one click away’ Target group of this specific toolbox: my Dutch speaking students Each toolbox should be geared towards a specific target group. The group is populated by students who are going to do there placement in a China based company
This is the toolbox I have created for my English speaking students It’s set up in a different wiki with more options and facilities, but also free of charge and freely accessible anywhere, anytime All solutions are ‘ONE-CLICK-AWAY’ Let’s have a look how it can be used
These are the problems my target group needs a solution for
Why create a toolbox? Students had a problem: How can I find out about the order of strokes within a specific character? It must be on the Internet… I’ve seen it somewhere some time ago….. ….. But where? Was it.com or.org or.net?….. Please give us a quick solution!
As for this problem, they were looking for this site: Have a look
How to find a site like this? + the right keywords….
Selecting the sites…… A matter of teaching experience En forgeant on devient forgeron Die Übung macht den Meister
The ‘web-didactical approach’ That is: The right link for my specific target group…. at the right moment ….. Just before frustration strikes… and always: one-click-away
Ok, show us…. Hopefully with a ‘working’ Internet hanze.pbwiki.com
Problem number 1 Tones? What tones?
Practice the tones
Problem nr. 2 What is the meaning of the word I just heard?
Draw on screen
Problem 3 New reading material is due today…. How do I pronounce these words in a sentence?
Text-to-Speech
An example.... Ein Beispiel.... Copy the text
... and click...
Problem 4 Hm, I would like to see this text in pinyin.....
Character-to-Pinyin
Very useful with texts containing already learned material.....
Procedure First listen and see what you can read/understand Reading problems? Characters-to- Pinyin
Translation problems? Go to the translation link
Quick translation
Not satisfied with the translation? Use the annotation tool:
Ok, one more problem:.... I want to know if I can use a specific word in the context I need..... I do have an on-line dictionary, but only in characters....
What to do?
Of course the solution is available in.... De Internet Toolbox
Context + Rikai
Thanks to the toolbox..... My students can find for each problem a quick solution....one-click-away....
If not.... They will contact me….
Finally…. If the Internet is not available Don’t forget Chinese free downloadable software: + dimsum download
Basic software for learning Chinese DimSum has everything you need: –D–Dictionary –C–Converting tools –C–Character tools –W–Web browser... It freeware! How to find it? w KKey words = dimsum download
Of course I made this with one of the Toolbox one-click-away links!