A Successful A Successful Mandarin Learner: Mandarin Learner:

John Edward KonizeskiJohn Edward Konizeski

Group MembersGroup Members

9431330 Julie 9431330 Julie 施彥伶施彥伶9431344 Stella 9431344 Stella 余純菁余純菁9431352 Sylvia 9431352 Sylvia 朱淑蓉朱淑蓉

9431354 Dolphin 9431354 Dolphin 林君惠林君惠9431376 Harrison 9431376 Harrison 劉俊偉劉俊偉

IntroductionIntroduction

► WhoWho► WhyWhy

► Face-to-face InterviewsFace-to-face Interviews► Email InterviewsEmail Interviews► QuestionnairesQuestionnaires► Taking PicturesTaking Pictures► RecordingRecording

Data Collection Data Collection MethodsMethods

► John Edward Konizeski from John Edward Konizeski from Maryland, the United StatesMaryland, the United States

► Majored in Philosophy in St. MMajored in Philosophy in St. Mary’s College of Marylandary’s College of Maryland

► MotivationMotivation

Learner’s BackgroundLearner’s Background

Learner’s BackgroundLearner’s Background

►Fudan University in Shanghai, Fudan University in Shanghai,

Mainland ChinaMainland China►Wenzao Ursuline College of Wenzao Ursuline College of

LanguagesLanguages

Strengths and WeaknessesStrengths and Weaknesses

► StrengthsStrengths

1. Strong Listening Comprehension1. Strong Listening Comprehension

2. Reading Ability2. Reading Ability► WeaknessesWeaknesses

1. Intonation1. Intonation

2. Writing2. Writing

Learning ProcessLearning Process

► The Natural OrderThe Natural Order► RomanizationRomanization► Chinese Phonetic SymbolsChinese Phonetic Symbols

Learning ProcessLearning Process

►Not Focusing on Chinese GrammarNot Focusing on Chinese Grammar

►Not Being Afraid of Speaking and Not Being Afraid of Speaking and Making MistakesMaking Mistakes

AnalysisAnalysis

AptitudeAptitude►He had ability to understand the He had ability to understand the

function of particular words in function of particular words in sentences. sentences.

►He had ability to figure out He had ability to figure out grammatical rules from language grammatical rules from language samples.samples.

►He had memory for new words.He had memory for new words.

PersonalityPersonality►Extroversion: He is a moderately Extroversion: He is a moderately

extroverted person.extroverted person.►Inhibition: He often observes Inhibition: He often observes

others’ conversation instead of others’ conversation instead of talking with people actively. talking with people actively.

Motivation & AttitudeMotivation & Attitude

►John Edward has higher John Edward has higher

integrative motivation andintegrative motivation and

lower tendency of lower tendency of

instrumental motivationinstrumental motivation

Learner PreferenceLearner Preference

►John is a field-dependant learner.John is a field-dependant learner.

►He has high tolerance of He has high tolerance of ambiguity.ambiguity.

Age of AcquisitionAge of Acquisition

►John began learning Chinese John began learning Chinese

when he was in college.when he was in college.

DiscussionDiscussion

BehaviorismBehaviorism►Imitation Imitation

- Listening & Speaking:- Listening & Speaking:

Listen to the tapes and imitate Listen to the tapes and imitate

the pronunciation.the pronunciation.

BehaviorismBehaviorism►PracticePractice

- Sentences Making & Substitution Drills- Sentences Making & Substitution Drills

Learning sentence patterns, and thenLearning sentence patterns, and then

making sentencesmaking sentences

BehaviorismBehaviorism►PracticePractice

- Word Writing- Word Writing

Practicing writing Chinese charactersPracticing writing Chinese characters

BehaviorismBehaviorism►Habit FormationHabit Formation

- Beginning- Beginning

Kept reading materials he liked, Kept reading materials he liked,

such as “such as “ 三毛”三毛”

BehaviorismBehaviorism►Habit FormationHabit Formation

- Recently- Recently

Studying in “Studying in “ 論語學孔子” 論語學孔子” (Confucius) (Confucius)

& &

“ “ 文字學”文字學” (Mandarin Etymology)(Mandarin Etymology)

InnatismInnatism►Learning OrderLearning Order

Listening, Speaking, ReadingListening, Speaking, Reading

and Writing at the Same Time.and Writing at the Same Time.

InnatismInnatism

►The Input HypothesisThe Input Hypothesis

He learns the Analects of ConfuciHe learns the Analects of Confucius, and Etymology in Wenzao schus, and Etymology in Wenzao school now.ool now.

Interactionism Interactionism ►John didn’t speak MandarinJohn didn’t speak Mandarin

when he went back to America. when he went back to America.

►John speaks Mandarin only John speaks Mandarin only

when he needs to respond.when he needs to respond.

InteractionismInteractionism►He seldom finds advanced He seldom finds advanced learners to practice his speaking learners to practice his speaking ability.ability.► However, he can speak Mandarin However, he can speak Mandarin very well.very well.

CommunicationCommunication

StrategiesStrategies

►Nonlinguistic Signals Nonlinguistic Signals ►Circumlocution Circumlocution ►Appeal for Help Appeal for Help

SimilaritiesSimilarities andand

DifferencesDifferences

►Both languages use the subject-Both languages use the subject-

verb-object word order.verb-object word order.►The way of thinking and theThe way of thinking and the

different tones.different tones.

CAHCAH

►He learned Mandarin with ease.He learned Mandarin with ease.

►Mandarin is similar to English for Mandarin is similar to English for him.him.

ConclusionConclusion

Environment and Motivation Are Environment and Motivation Are Important.Important.

SuggestionsSuggestions

► Watching TV ProgramsWatching TV Programs► Reading Comic BooksReading Comic Books► Joining Volunteer WorkJoining Volunteer Work► CultureCulture

Thanks for your attention!Thanks for your attention!