Multimodality in Learning and Communicating via Chinese Characters

• In Event: 45.062 - Perspectives on Technologies + Pedagogies

Abstract

Chinese character learning has been identified as one of the most challenging facets of learning Chinese for speakers unfamiliar with logosyllabic writing systems (Moser, 1991; Olmanson & Liu, 2017; Shei & Hsieh, 2012). Our research team designed and developed the DaZiBao Chinese writing web application in order to use students’ speaking and listening skills as a way to enable communication via Chinese characters--with pinyin as a bridge. In this study, we analyze the experiences fourteen adult students of the Chinese language had in using DaZiBao for a writing assignment. Our findings suggest learners were able to take more communication-focused less memorization-focused approaches to tasks involving characters. Some students reported reduced student anxiety and increased self-efficacy related to using characters.

Authors

• Justin Olmanson, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

• Xianquan Liu, University of Nebraska - Lincoln