last revised January 5, 2005

For each lesson, students fill out the worksheets in the character workbook.  You will find that this helps immensely in learning to write Chinese characters.  Divide your time into at least three different sessions on two different days (see below).
 

• How do I start? First, begin with the vocabulary list in the text, so that you are thinking of each character as part of a two-syllable word, if applicable.  Then go on to the worksheet, and finish by returning to the list in the text.

• How do I use the worksheets?  Trace one of the faintly-printed characters in the top row.  Notice that the large sample character has numbers indicating the order and starting point of the strokes.  Then, write the character again in the second row, paying attention to the way the character is divided across the four quadrants.  Trace and write once more, then move on to the next character you want to learn.  Do this for all the characters you want to learn in one batch.  That comprises one session.  Saying the words out loud as your write, especially in the case of combination words, also helps.

• How do I get the most benefit with the least amount of work?  Do not try to fill one row of squares (or the whole sheet) in a single session.  Use at least three short sessions for each set of characters.  In the first session, trace, write, trace, and write for all the words.   Put the work aside and do something else, then come back later in the day.  In the second session, trace/write/trace/write again for all the words.  The next day, finish the top two rows.  Finally give yourself a sample quiz.  If you missed any words, write them a few more times in the extra spaces, then take the quiz again.  This will put the words into your long-term memory with the least amount of effort, and you will get nearly perfect scores on quizzes every time.

• Why not write them all at once?  Sometimes students are tempted to fill in all the spaces for one word before moving on to the next.  It may seem easier, but that's because you only put those characters into your short-term memory, not in your long-term memory.  By the time you've finished the list, you've forgotten the ones you wrote first.  You cheat yourself by doing this.

• What if there are a lot of characters?  Simple--start early!  Spreading your learning over several days is ideal.  Start before the lesson test from the previous lesson.

• How do I keep from forgetting them later?  To keep the characters fresh in your mind, you need to review periodically.  Carrying flashcards around is helpful.  In addition to the current lesson, rotate among cards from previous lessons.  Also, you can play the matching and concentration games on the web, reviewing both current and previous lessons. See the new additions to the Tips for Learning Chinese for more ideas on how you can relate new material to what you already know, and create a firm foundation in beginning Chinese.