Chinese Students' Study Methods. Middle School Chinese Edition (Subject Edition)

Author: Ding Xiaoshan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-09-01
Features: Ding Xiaoshan, a renowned education expert and learning methods research specialist, is hailed as the "pioneer in learning methods research for primary and secondary schools in China." Learning Chinese well is fundamental. This book comprehensively and systematically introduces methods, techniques, and strategies for mastering Chinese, summarizing many study tips from students and insights from top liberal arts graduates from Peking University. Part 1: General Methods for Learning Chinese
Part 1: General Methods for Learning Chinese
Chinese is the cornerstone of our studies, and how to learn it well is our primary task. This section explores the use of textbooks, how to develop self-study skills through previewing, and some highly effective learning techniques.
1. Using and Reading Textbooks
Learning Chinese relies heavily on textbooks; making the most of them is key to mastering the subject.
1. Sixteen Reading Methods for Chinese Textbooks
While textbooks are essential for learning Chinese, how can we read them effectively? Chinese textbooks should be read repeatedly, thoroughly, and in depth, yet many students find them difficult to engage with. In fact, trying a different approach might help. Teachers Huang from Jiaojing No. 1 High School in Yunnan, He from Affiliated High School of Xinjiang Normal University, and Liu Yiling from Dagang Oilfield No. 4 High School have all summarized methods for reading Chinese textbooks:
Reading Method 1: Reading the Table of Contents
First, use the table of contents to grasp the author of the work and the genre of the article (as the texts are organized by genre). This can also help recall and verify the era, country, and representative works of the author. Second, use the table of contents to check the explanations of key words and phrases in the text. For example: "walk" in Night Journey to Ling Official Gorge, "persuade" in Zhao the Elder Told by Chu Rong, "original" in On the Destruction of the World, and "sacrifice" in Three Hundred Years of the Jiazhong Era, etc. Third, use the table of contents to analyze and master knowledge of different genres. For instance: Song of the Thatched Roof Ruined by the Autumn Wind and Ballad of the War Cart belong to the gexing genre; On the Teacher, On the Origin of the People, and On the Conquest of Qin are argumentative essays; Ten Thoughts for Emperor Taizong, Memorial to the Emperor, and Strategies for War and Defense are classified as memorials and policy proposals; Record of the, Record of Stone Bell Mountain, and Preface and Postscript are travelogues; Preface and Postscript are prefaces; Letter to Sima Qian, and Biography of Xiang Yu are biographies; Dream Pool Essays are science and technology expository texts; Notes from Prison are miscellanies; and Epitaph for the Five Heroes is an epitaph. Fourth, use the table of contents to understand the form of the title. Titles based on the protagonist, such as Mother, , and Puluxikin; titles based on location, such as Lotus Pond and Venice; titles based on the narrative thread, such as List of Party Members, Land, Sea Bream, and Necklace; titles based on events or the main plot, such as Seizing the Birthday Armband and The Gathering of Heroes and Jiang Gan's Scheme; titles that reveal symbolic or metaphorical meanings, such as Night and Road Sign; titles that indicate the setting, such as Thunderous Roar, Hoarse neighs; and titles that state the central argument, such as Practice Is the Only Standard for Testing Truth, Transforming Ourselves, and Against Party Isolation. Fifth, use the table of contents to grasp the form of the title. Titles based on the protagonist, such as Mother, , and Puluxikin; titles based on location, such as Lotus Pond and Venice; titles based on the narrative thread, such as List of Party Members, Land, Sea Bream, and Necklace; titles based on events or the main plot, such as Seizing the Birthday Armband and The Gathering of Heroes and Jiang Gan's Scheme; titles that reveal symbolic or metaphorical meanings, such as Night and Road Sign; titles that indicate the setting, such as Thunderous Roar, Hoarse neighs; and titles that state the central argument, such as Practice Is the Only Standard for Testing Truth, Transforming Ourselves, and Against Party Isolation.