Chinese for Dyslexics (A basic guide)

Introduction

For students with dyslexia, learning Chinese can be a struggle. There are several areas one can have difficulty with and they are namely:

• Having the wrong association of words
• Having poor retention of learning
• Having a poor understanding of radical positions
• Getting confused with visually similar words
• Adding or omitting strokes in Chinese characters
• Inverting words or parts of a Chinese character

Strategies in Supporting Learners

Using multi-sensory methods of teaching have proven to work well with dyslexic students. Writing on sand or moulding Chinese characters in clay can help a student retain the information better.

In addition, to help with word recognition, explaining how words are formed using Semantic Radical Cards the Dyslexia Association of Singapore has developed can also help.

Finally, getting students to form pictorial associations with individual Chinese characters also help retain the shape of each word better. Below are 2 examples of how this can be used:

Conclusion

Of course, there are many more ways one can help a student with dyslexia learn Chinese more efficiently and effectively. The methods mentioned above are but a fraction of a multitude of ways a trained Chinese tutor in helping students with dyslexia can help.

If you are interested in hiring an experienced MOE and DAS-trained Chinese Educational Therapist for your child, please WhatsApp us at +65 8366 7949 or email us at the.alternative.edu@gmail.com for more information.