Today, I decided to ask Artificial Intelligence some questions and here is part one of my Q&A.
My question: Why are there kids in Taiwan who can't read in English? Are the sounds they learned under Bopomofo a hindrance?
Answer by AI:
As an informed individual from August 2023, I can provide some context on the situation with English literacy among students in Taiwan.
The use of Bopomofo (also known as Zhuyin Fuhao) as the primary phonetic system taught in Taiwanese schools has indeed been a point of discussion regarding English proficiency. Bopomofo is the phonetic script used to teach Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan, and it has a different structure and representation compared to the Roman alphabet used in English.
Some key
factors to consider: (Highlighting below is by me)
1. Orthographic Differences: Bopomofo uses symbols that represent syllables, whereas the Roman alphabet used in English represents individual phonemes. This difference in orthographic representation can make it more challenging for some Taiwanese students to intuitively grasp the letter-sound relationships in English.
2. Phonemic Awareness: The Bopomofo system focuses on syllables rather than individual phonemes. This can make it more difficult for students to develop strong phonemic awareness, which is essential for learning to read and spell in English.
3. Curriculum and Instructional Approaches: The emphasis on Bopomofo in early education may lead to less explicit instruction and practice with the English phonetic system. This could result in some students struggling to transfer their Bopomofo-based literacy skills to English.
However, it's important to note that many Taiwanese students do manage to learn English proficiently despite the initial differences in writing systems. Factors such as the quality of English language instruction, exposure to English outside of school, and individual learning abilities also play a significant role in determining English literacy outcomes.
Some schools and educational programs in Taiwan have implemented strategies to help mitigate the potential challenges posed by the Bopomofo system, such as:
- Providing more systematic phonics-based instruction in English
- Incorporating explicit comparisons between Bopomofo and the English alphabet
- Encouraging early exposure and practice with the English writing system
Overall, while the differences between Bopomofo and the Roman alphabet can present some initial hurdles, many Taiwanese students are able to overcome these challenges and develop strong English literacy skills through effective teaching methods and dedicated practice.
My response to: However, it's important to note that many Taiwanese students do manage to learn English proficiently despite the initial differences in writing systems.
This is what I had discovered in my research. I have explained this in my blog. A majority of kids somehow manage to figure out how to read leaving behind the kids who are predisposed to shutting down/ disengaging from learning to read. A majority of such kids who shut down are wrongly classified as dyslexic.These are the intelligent kids who are told to become artists and craftsman. These are the kids who leave school and turn out to be great actors like Tom Cruise. These are the kids who are thrown out of school as addled and end up as inventors such as Thomas Alva Edison.
To be continued...
No comments:
Post a Comment