What's it like to learn Chinese characters?
What is it about?
To the novice learner, Chinese characters seem fascinating―but daunting. How do you even get started? And once you do, what's the journey like? With stories and reflections from people who have been there, this study tells about the struggles and the successes shared by those who try to learn Chinese characters.
Why is it important?
As China's influence grows, so does the usefulness of learning Chinese. More and more people are learning Chinese as a second language, but learning to read and write Chinese characters is hard. A lot of research has focused on methodologies or what people do. This unique study, based on the learners' voices, reveals how the experience feels to the learners. This has practical applications for both students and teachers of Chinese as a second language.