Mobile Application and Traditional Approach for Chinese Stroke Order Instruction in Foreign Language Classroom

Ch’Ng Looi-Chin,Norseha Unin,Ting Hie-Ling

doi:10.24191/ji.v15i2.354

Abstract

Learning to write Chinese characters in the correct stroke order is important. However, it is rather challenging for learners especially non-native learners due to the complicated structures and the diversity of Chinese characters. Traditionally, rote learning has perceived as the most preferred used learning strategy in Chinese characters and it is highly recommended for the learners. Nonetheless, the rapid development of technology has changed the mode of learning. Mobile applications are utilized as media learning as it provides more opportunities for learners to learn everywhere and at anytime. This paper aims to investigate the impact of mobile app (MAs) and traditional method on Chinese characters stroke order learning. 100 students from the Faculty of Business and Management at UiTM (Sarawak), Mukah campus have been selected as participants for this study. The findings reported that both methods are able to help participants to pass the tests but the difference of both impacts is small. Although, the differences are not huge, but it is significant to tell mobile application might provide a better outcome compared to traditional method.

Highlights

As part of the Silk Road Economics Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives (Ting & Rijeng, 2018), Mandarin has become an economic commodity among people
The findings revealed that paying attention on characters component, repeat copying and pay attention on the graphic structure and semantic of the characters are the effective strategies for learning Chinese characters perceived by the majority of participants
The participants were divided into two groups about 50 participants for control group (CG) and treatment group (TG) after the pre-test. 50 participants in CG were asked to practice characters stroke order writing in traditional way which is rote learning method

Summary

Introduction

As part of the Silk Road Economics Belt and 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road initiatives (Ting & Rijeng, 2018), Mandarin has become an economic commodity among people. The number of people to learn Mandarin increased dramatically. The tight diplomatic and economic relationship between Malaysia and China since 1976 has become one of the main reasons for Malaysians to learn Mandarin. Most of the public universities in Malaysia offer Mandarin language courses for non-Chinese learners. Mandarin language courses are offered in both diploma and degree programs at University Teknologi MARA (UiTM), where all the students are non-native Chinese. The number of enrolment in Mandarin language courses by non-Chinese learners is growing every year. The increment in the number of enrolment does not reflect the rate of achievement among the students

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Conclusion