Zheng Yuanjie's Secret to Raising Children - A Conversation Record between Zheng and His Son

Author: Zheng Yuanjie
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: Zheng Yuanjie: Driving is a skilled profession.
Zheng Yaqi: Typing on a computer is also a skilled profession. I think it's too tiring for you to write with a pen every day.
Zheng Yuanjie: Typing on a computer is even more tiring, "a bit of a hassle."
Zheng Yaqi: Typing on a computer can add fun to writing. I think you have a deep interest in STEM subjects, like how you really enjoy repairing airplanes. When you write on a computer, you'll feel like an engineer. Were you really bad at pinyin when you were young?
Zheng Yuanjie: Who said that? I learned Chinese pinyin very well in school.
Zheng Yaqi: I don't believe it.
Zheng Yuanjie: Don't believe me? Take a test on the computer. I'll ask the questions, and you type the letters on the keyboard. First, type "diàn" for "diànnǎo."
Zheng Yuanjie: Since you're typing, you might as well type something meaningful. I'll type "fēnshù bù zhòngyào" (Scores don't matter).
Zheng Yaqi: No, that's cheating. That's your catchphrase—you must have memorized its pinyin long ago.
Zheng Yuanjie: Then fine, I'll type "diànnǎo."
Zheng Yaqi: "Diàn" is here.
Zheng Yuanjie: "Yí" where? How was it designed? Why is it so far apart? "àn" is troublesome, so it has to be typed by both husband and wife. I said it's impossible to write on a computer. Just one "diàn," and it takes forever. "Nènǎo."
Zheng Yaqi: Your pinyin is really good!
Zheng Yuanjie: Of course. When I was learning pinyin, Teacher Zhao always praised me.
Zheng Yaqi: Try typing "Pipi Lu" next.
Zheng Yuanjie: "Pō-pí-lu." Hey, why doesn't Pipi Lu need to be selected? It just pops up on its own?