Mandarin SA level 1 textbook launched by pupils
ROOSEVELT PARK– The first Mandarin SA level 1 textbook is launched at the Roosevelt Baptist Church.
Pupils Rui Wang and Joshua Inglis hosted a Chinese Bingo evening that was held on 28 January at the Roosevelt Park Baptist Church.
Wang and Inglis compiled a textbook called Mandarin SA level 1 which they also launched for the first time in South Africa. The textbook is self-directed, peer-mediated and animated.
The launch was attended by residents, parents and pupils who decorated the venue with patriotic South African and Chinese decorations by pupils.
Inglis said he struggled to learn Mandarin by himself and wanted to do something to help other South African children learn the Chinese culture and language.
“My interest in doing something help other children like me to learn Chinese happened when the Department of Basic Education announced Mandarin Second Language Policy would be launched in South African schools this year,” he added.”
Wang said that when he came to South Africa he had to learn English and English is very hard to learn.
“Most of the children in South Africa are learning English but they are not from English speaking families. Our Mandarin programme teaches English, Chinese and also teaches about all the languages and cultures in South Africa,” said Wang.
CEO of Mandarin SA, Lance Long said Mandarin is a unique and symbolic language that most people are intimidated by. “Seeing the children learn it first will help other people feel less threatened to learn the language,” Long said.
” We are still in the process of where to distribute the book. In the future we plan to put it online and create an app for it where it will be easily accessible to people,” he added.
