Author: echenvw

Products

Vol. 2 is Just Around the Corner!

echenvw

With the start of a new school year, I promised a new volume of Tiny Chinese Homeschool. And now the release is just a few weeks away! You’ve helped me with feedback on the cover and now I am happy to review a sneak peak of the final product:

This volume focuses on speaking Chinese in the community: at school, with your neighbors, while taking a walk, at the grocery store, and more! It uses the same methodology as Vol. 1: each chapter teaches 7-12 vocabulary words and 1-2 target phrases. But this volume is different because now there are more worksheets and games to reinforce learning in a fun way. Here is an example of some of the games:

Like the last volume, after every 3 chapters is a review chapter. Each review chapter contains a short test, and now introducing short stories! This is exciting because the short story uses words almost exclusively learned in the previous 3 chapters so it is simple to read. At the end of each story is a reading comprehension test. In short, it is a fun treat to reward the learner and showcase their improvement. Here is an example of one of the short stories:

Character practice is also included. This volume chooses two characters from the whole chapter to learn. Now, stroke order is taught. Here is an example of a character writing practice:

These are just a few key differences that you will notice in this volume. Like the previous volume, dialogues and corresponding audio are provided so you can hear the language in context. Each chapter glossary provides grammar tips and cultural insights. This is a great resource for those who want to learn Chinese but need small steps to do so.

Keep your eyes peeled because it is just around the corner. See you at the book release!

Products

Let’s Vote: A New Cover for Vol. 2

echenvw

Vol. 2 is set to be released this fall (September 2021). It is still centered on every day vocabulary within the family, but it takes the learner outside the home to their community. You will learn to introduce your classmates, to ask your neighbors where they are going, to order food, to buy groceries with a grocery list, to tell time, and more! So a new and exciting cover is in order–one that shows a child exploring their world.

I created a couple options for covers, and now I need your help! I’ve decided to publish the cover the receives the most votes. Look at the options below, and see which one gets you most interested in the book.

Option 1 shows my daughter laughing at some bugs in the air. It is very simple graphically. There are some drawings in the corner of some vocabulary they will learn in the book, but no explanation. Just a taste.

Option 2 shows my daughter and son together looking at bugs. I thought it might be better representation to show both a boy and girl on the cover. I also put more technical detail in the corner of the page.

So which option should be the official book cover? Time to vote! Comment on this post if you have an account, or visit Tiny Chinese Homeschool on Facebook or Instagram to see our post about the cover and comment on which cover works best for you.

Thank you so much for everyone who has helped support this endeavor. I can’t wait for you to have Tiny Chinese Homeschool Vol. 2 come September!

crafts, Culture

DIY Chinese Dragon Puppet Tutorial

echenvw

With Chinese New Year just around the corner, I wanted to create a craft that could help my kids excited for the upcoming festivities. This DIY Chinese dragon puppet is perfect for grade school kids because it uses simple objects to create a customizable object that they can twirl and dance with afterwards. I was surprised how much fun my kids had with this–even my toddler wanted to constantly wave it around!

Some Cultural Background

Many Chinese New Year traditions can be traced back to the story of the monster, “Nian.” Every year, this monster would emerge from the sea and terrorize villages, eating livestock and even children! While villagers hid and shuttered their doors, one old man had a different plan. He decorated a house with bright red decorations and lanterns and prepared fireworks. When Nian approached the village, he noticed this particular house. As he drew near…pop! Bang! The old man lit the fireworks and banged on pots. The loud noise combined with the bright lights and colors sent Nian squealing into the night. The villagers, from then on, spent the new year with bright decorations and loud celebrations–all to scare away bad luck and any monsters who dared come near.

Today, many celebrate Chinese New Year by participating in a lion dance or a dragon dance. The dragon dance is meant to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck–the longer the dragon, the more the luck! Your kids can make this mini version of a dragon so they can do their own dragon dance and bring their own luck!

Let’s Get Crafting!

To get started, you will need:

  1. a paper cup
  2. a marker/pen
  3. red paint
  4. a paint brush
  5. scissors
  6. glitter
  7. colored paper
  8. streamers/crepe paper
  9. a stick or dowel
  10. tape
  11. googly eyes

Here is a quick tutorial of how to combine all these materials to make your Chinese dragon puppet:

In very simplistic terms, you need to attach long streamers onto a piece on paper, roll up that paper, and insert it into a cup. You must then push a dowel or a stick so it goes through the cup and pieces of paper, pinning everything into place. Decorations are customizable!

My kids made up their own dances and performances and had lots of fun. I hope you get a chance to try it out too!

Happy New Year! 新年快樂！

Products

New Book! Dinosaurs Bam Bam! 恐龍碰碰！

echenvw

I love rhyming books, and there aren’t many Chinese books that lean into the great possibilities of Chinese rhyme. So I created this book, and my kids thought it was so fun to read out loud. Here is a short clip showing how much fun they had reading it:

紅紅恐龍 – Red Dinosaur

重重恐龍 – Heavy Dinosaur

嗡嗡嗡嗡 – Buzz Buzz Buzz Buzz

恐龍蟲蟲 – Dinosaur Bug

A dinosaur bug causes one dinosaur to fall into another. This little misunderstanding turns into a jurassic mess! How can two very different dinosaurs bridge the gap and feel what the other feels? It’s a simple story with a big message, and your kids will learn to apply empathy in their lives.

Here are some previews of the interior of the book:

The book has simple, colorful illustrations that help explore their dinosaur world. Each page has both Traditional Chinese characters and pinyin romanization–with English translation in the back. After the story, the book includes discussion questions for both old and young to explore how to apply empathy in real life. For those just beginning Chinese, online audio (complete with music and sound effects) are available on this website.

I’m so excited to share this book with you, as part of the book launch, I am giving away 3 free copies! If you would like a free copy, here are the instructions to enter:

  • Check out the book launch post on Tiny Chinese Homeschool’s Facebook page.
  • Like the post and in the comments, write one sentence answering this question: What does empathy look like to you? Insightful/creative definitions are more likely to win!
  • Check back onto Tiny Chinese Homeschool’s Facebook page on Friday, January 15th, at 12:00 p.m. EST for the live video Book Launch.
  • I will announce the winners that will receive a free copy of the book on the live video. (I will private message you after for shipping information).

I hope you are able to enjoy this book. It’s about a subject that is dear to my heart. Dinosaurs? Well, that too. But reaching out to someone who is different than you and trying understand them. That is something that will make the world a better place.

Ready to buy the book? It’s up on Amazon, ready to ship to you! For just a limited amount of time, I am selling the book at 7.99 (20% off). Catch it while it is on sale!

Thank you! I wish you and yours some happy learning.

Update: Thank you for everyone’s participation in our book launch! Here is the live video where we had a book reading and a prize drawing:

Christmas, crafts, Holidays

Chinese Christmas Cards (Free Printable)

echenvw

Here is a fun craft you can do with your kids to get them excited about Christmas. Often, when Chinese people wish each other a happy holiday, they insert a wish for that person. For example, “新年快樂，年年有餘 / Happy New Year, may you have abundance year after year!” I made a card that embodies that idea of leaving a wish for someone, because what speaks more to Christmas than looking outside yourself and thinking of others.

Here is the PDF file to the free printable of this pop-up present Chinese Christmas card. Before you print this out, make sure to read the instructions below.

pop-up-present-chinese-christmas-card-tch-1Download

Instructions:

  • First, print out the printable on 2 separate sheets. That is because you will glue them back to back at the very end.
  • Color and customize. I made the Chinese characters faded out so children can trace them.
  • Cut along the heavy dotted lines. You may have to fold the top and bottom of the present box so it can pop out properly.
  • Insert your wish for that person into the present. I left one blank because who knows what creative wish your kid will come up with.
  • Glue the papers back to back.
  • Give to someone you love, or use it as a display.

In all the displacement and adjustment that has gone on this year, I grateful for the simple traditions that come with the holidays that help retain some of the rhythms of life. Wish you and yours a merry Christmas!