George, a 13-year-old boy from Sydney, has been studying Chinese with eChineseLearning for three years. He always looks for opportunities to apply his Chinese skills in daily life.
In April 2023, George and his family went to the local Chinatown. They entered a Chinese shop, and George noticed a shelf displaying various delicious food items. He decided to ask the shopkeeper some questions in Chinese. George approached the shopkeeper and fluently asked, “qǐng wèn zhè zhǒng lǜ chá duō shǎo qián yī hé ( Excuse me, how much does this green tea cost per box? )” The shopkeeper looked surprised at the foreign boy speaking Chinese and kindly responded, “It’s 20 Australian dollars per box.” George smiled and said, “Okay, I’ll take two boxes of green tea. Thank you!” He confidently completed the transaction and felt inspired by his accomplishment.
A few days later, George and his family went to a Chinese restaurant for a meal. George opened the menu and decided to try ordering in Chinese. When the waiter approached, George said in Chinese, “shū shū ，wǒ xiǎng yào gōng bǎo jī dīng ，má pó dòu fǔ hé kǎo yā (Uncle, I would like to have Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Tofu, and Roast Duck).” The waiter was surprised by the young boy’s ability to speak Chinese but happily accepted his order. George felt proud and expressed gratitude to the waiter in Chinese, eagerly anticipating the delicious food.
At school, George joined a Chinese language study group where he practiced writing and reading Chinese with other students. They also participated in Chinese reading activities. George wrote a diary entry about his shopping experience in Chinatown and read it aloud to his classmates in Chinese. His Chinese speaking and writing skills greatly improved.
In November 2023, George’s parents took him to China for a trip, and he was thrilled. In Beijing, he made an effort to read signs and navigate the subway. As George walked on the streets, he noticed that the signs and street names were all written in Chinese. Excitedly, he pointed at a sign and said to his parents, “This is ‘dōng zhǎng ān jiē (East Chang’an Street)’ we need to go that way!” He could also ask passersby in Chinese for directions to famous attractions.
By applying Chinese in his daily life, George has developed a passion for and confidence in his Chinese language learning. Whether it’s shopping, dining, or traveling, he actively and confidently communicates with Chinese people, gaining more cultural exchange and understanding. Chinese has opened up a new world for him, allowing him to establish deep connections in different countries and cultures.
If you are interested in having your kid learn Chinese, sign up for a free trial class via the form on this page, and we will be happy to help.