Understanding Traditional characters & Zhu Yin Fu Hao

Are students taught Traditional or Simplified characters?

CHCLCS teaches Traditional characters. However, when there is a corresponding Simplified character, teachers will present both to students. Our goal is to provide our students with the necessary Chinese language knowledge that would allow them to communicate in any of the mandarin-spoken countries around the world. 

Why do you teach Traditional Characters?

We believe that Traditional characters carry more of the Chinese culture, history, and essence of each word, contributing to a better appreciation of Chinese language and heritage.  Traditional characters remain the most widely form of writing in Taiwan and Hong Kong. 

We like your school but still prefer our child to learn Simplified characters. What should we do?

All of the Mei Zhou textbooks and workbooks come in Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese versions. Students and their parents can choose either form of characters based on their preference.

What phonetic system does CHCLCS adopt?  Hanyu Pinyin (b, p, m, f) or Zhuyin Fuhao (ㄅㄆㄇㄈ, also known as bopomofo)？

We teach Hanyu Pinyin for CSL students and Zhuyin Fuhao to CHL Kinder Class.  Pinyin is introduced in CHL Level 1 or 2.  On a practical level, those with and English background instinctively use both.  

What is Zhuyin Fuhao?

Zhuyin Fuhao is a phonetic system used for Mandarin learners in Taiwan. There are 37 sounds and 4 tone marks used in bopomofo. The naming of "Bopomofo" comes from the sounds of the first four symbols in this system: ㄅㄆㄇㄈ.  For more details, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bopomofo

What is Hanyu Pinyin?

Zhuyin Fuhao was also used in China until romanized phonetic system called Hanyu Pinyin was developed in People's Republic of China (PRC) in 1958. Pinyin means "phonetics" or "spelled sound" in Mandarin.   For more details, please go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinyin

What are the advantages of learning Zhuyin Fuhao?

The biggest advantage of learning Zhuyin Fuhao is to prevent beginner-level students from confusing Pinyin with the English phonetic system.  Learning Zhuyin can encourage more authentic pronounciation.