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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Dec 19, 2003 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
This module on Chinese poetry and folklore contains two Chinese love poems with
English translation, information about the poets, and a folktale about Chinese
Valentine's Day. The Chinese text is in traditional characters.
The site is intended to advance appreciation of Chinese literature and culture
in a multimedia environment.
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| Learning Goals: |
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| Target Student Population: |
Target users are teachers and students with intermediate-level of proficiency in
Mandarin Chinese who use traditional characters
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| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
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| Type of Material: |
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| Technical Requirements: |
An audio player such as Windows Media Player is needed to listen to the music
and the poem read in Chinese and English.
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| Strengths: |
The module is well focused and has a clear purpose. The images are very sharp,
colorful, and appropriate for the poems. The Chinese characters are big and easy
to recognize by non-native speakers. The Chinese and English recordings are
clear and full of emotions, and the English translation of the poems are
fantastic. Through this well-designed module, users can learn not only the poems
in Chinese and English, but also appreciate Chinese literature and culture
through music and graphics.
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| Concerns: |
Combining the recitation and music would create a poetic mood in the user.
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:   |
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| Strengths: |
The module is a very useful tool for Chinese poetry learning and appreciation.
It is also rich in culture. Students can learn Chinese ?love? from two
perspectives?the love between a mother and her son, and the love between a
husband and his wife. Other cultural aspects include symbols (e.g., magpies) and
the Chinese lunar calendar. These can motivate students to pursue further
studies of Chinese poetry. Teachers can integrate this module into classroom
pinyin and tone practice or use it to enrich classroom activities. Intermediate
students can use it for outside reading and learning.
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| Concerns: |
More content will certainly make this module a very powerful site for Chinese
language learning and literature/culture appreciation. Also, adding simplified
characters can make the module a favorite resource for more users.
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
The use of multimedia makes this module very appealing. The audio files and
Chinese characters are easily accessible to users. The layout of the web pages
is very consistent and easy to follow. Links and buttons are visually distinct
and user-friendly. Users do not get trapped because on each page there is a link
back to the home page. The author also provides a link to her email address for
user comments.
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| Concerns: |
It is recommended that the size of each page be designed for minimum scrolling,
and that BACK buttons be added for easier use.
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
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