We are regularly publish short videos clips to address common questions. 通过一系列小视频，我们希望与大家分享有关孩子中文学习的观察和观点。We hope you will subscribe so you don’t miss the latest. 请订阅频道就不会错过最新见解！

Q: Can I become proficient if the class is only once a week?

A: Yes. Our curriculum is mapped from beginner to fluency over a number of years. Our classes are designed to be efficient. Each live session includes several carefully designed cycles of learning, practicing, applying and reviewing. Between two live lessons, there are take home exercises or projects learners complete to further learning.

Q. How many students in a class?

A: iCanMandarin’s online class size is typically between 4–8. Language learning is most effective as a social activity, like basketball not weightlifting. We believe language learning must be a combination of individual attention and real communication. This combination is best achieved in small groups at iCanMandarin. Our preferred class size allows the learners to experience a variety of group activities, including, for example, collaborative tasks and group debate. We train our teachers specifically to manage this kind of learning environment.

Q: What curriculum and textbook do you use?

A: iCanMandarin’s curriculum, including textbooks, learning activities, practice materials, is developed in-house by leading experts in the field and incorporating materials from a variety of sources including textbooks, authentic online materials, videos and custom-designed exercises. This provides a well-rounded learning experience than any single textbook.

Q: Do you teach Pinyin?

A: Yes. Pinyin is one of the important tools to learn the language, and also a popular method for inputting Chinese characters in the digital space. The key is when to teach Pinyin and how to teach it effectively. At iCanMandarin, students start to learn Pinyin as soon as they have developed a foundation in English pronunciation. Learners at a younger age have a highly sensitive ear and unique ability to imitate sounds and tones. We take full advantage of this period golden period to develop an accurate pronunciation and a natural sense of the language. When we teach Pinyin, our method will emphasize the meaning of this tool in real life application, not simply as a set of symbols to be memorized.

Q. How can we help young children develop their own motivation to learn Chinese? 

A: iCanMandarin places oral language at the heart of its instruction.  Through oral language, children communicate their thoughts and feelings. They also establish connections with their peers and teachers.  However, at iCM speaking skills do not stay at the level of daily-life fluency.  Students are guided to further develop their oral language skills for higher-level functions such as negotiating, convincing and debating.  Our curriculum takes a systematic approach to integrate the language learning with the development of critical thinking skills and social skills. Along the way, students develop a sense of success and more importantly, a love for learning the language.

Q: My student speaks Mandarin at home or has studied it in the past. Is your program suitable for advanced students?

A: Yes! We have classes for all levels of Mandarin speakers, from beginners to experienced heritage speakers and for grades k-12.

问：使用什么课程和教材？

答：和舍中文有一套既完整又灵活的课程。完整的课程覆盖了学前班、小学、初中和高中，“零起点”至高水平语文水平的需求。灵活的课程遵循主题式、模块化的原则，允许任何年龄段或中文程度的孩子随时开始进入合适的课程学习。针对不同年龄和语言程度的孩子，对听说读写各有侧重，让语言能力得到最全面的发展。

问：孩子已经有相当的中文基础，有相应的课程吗？

答：有的。和舍中文注重语言能力的全面发展。和舍课程体系覆盖11个层级的学习内容。针对已经有中文基础的孩子，我们设置了相应的课程。在参加和舍学习之前，我们将安排和舍的老师及课程专家免费为孩子进行评估，随后进入最合适的课程学习。学习过程中，老师和专家将不断评估孩子的进展，酌情推荐进入新一层级的课程学习。

问：是否有作业？

答：有的。课后练习是语言学习的重要组成部分。和舍中文布置的课后练习，针对不同年龄段，语言水品的课程，相应注重听说读写，创作表达等，训练语言的掌握及应用。

问：幼儿阶段如何培养孩子内心中对学习中文的兴趣？

答：对年龄较小的孩子，口语能力在教学中具有相当的重要性。孩子是通过听说来沟通表达自己的想法和感受的。他们也通过听说与同伴和师长建立联系。但值得关注的是口语能力是有高低之分的。和舍中文不满足于孩子停留在满足日常生活的口语能力，而是不断引导孩子开发高阶层的口语能力，包括说服、辩论、谈判的能力。和舍的课程从系统层面讲中文学习与高阶层的认知能力和社会情感能力结合在一起。唯独这样才能让孩子真正感到学习语言的意义，爱上学习中文，学习的兴趣也就能被开发并保持。