Chinese Key Image Strategy

"[About the APP] ○ Build up Chinese characters and vocabulary fun and stress-free. ○ Keep track of your learning with charts and statistics. ○ Suitable for beginners. ○ Support offline mode. ○ Unlock paid lessons by learning.

[What this APP contains] ○ 308 Chinese characters and 317 phrases ○ Complete with strokes, pronunciation, detailed explanation and examples. ○ Supports both traditional and simplified Chinese.

[Why this APP is effective] ○ Designed by leading experts in Chinese Second Language teaching ○ Approved by numerous linguistic experts and professional Chinese teachers. ○ Research supported innovative key-image method. ○ Systematically guide students’ learning from pictures to characters, characters to phrases, phrases to sentences.

[Overall descriptions about the APP] Learning Chinese characters could be intimidating for most learners. To make character learning easier, this app offers an innovative, creative, and effective method incorporating the key-image method with simple games and quizzes.

The key-image method makes Chinese character learning more accessible by the use of techniques based on the theories of learning and memory. This program combines learning theories with innovative teaching methods, allowing learners to look at a key-image and simultaneously connect the form and meaning of the Chinese character. For example, the ""足 (meaning: foot)"" key-image itself looks like the form of the character while at the same time shows the meaning of foot.

[Key-image method] Key-images adopt the “pictographic method” in which the picture is similar to the form and related to the meaning of its target character. Using the “Chinese character Key-image picture”, when learners see a character they could associate it to both the picture and its meaning. The effect of “Chinese character Key-image pictures” has been supported by empirical studies. Study proves that, compared to traditional teaching style, this method not only greatly increases the retention of learned Chinese characters but also students’ motivation in Chinese learning.

Key-images are designed for learners with the Chinese proficiency level of Beginners and CEFR A1 level. After providing basic information on writing characters, “Chinese character Key-image pictures” method is introduced to guide students’ learning from pictures to characters, characters to phrases, phrases to sentences, allowing students to acquire and strengthen Chinese writing and reading abilities. The vocabulary in this application is largely based on “Beginner” and “Basic” levels of the “The 8,000 Vocabulary List” published by the Steering Committee for the Test of Proficiency-Huayu (SC-TOP).