LRC Instructional Innovation Grant Presentation: Ling Yan and Yike Li, EALAC

**Please note: this event was originally scheduled for Wed. April 24th, and has been rescheduled for Friday, April 26th.

Please join us for an LRC Instructional Innovation Grant Presentation, Gra by Dr. Ling Yan and Yike Li, from EALAC. For a description of the project, please read the following:

“Chinese is a tonal language, which means that the tone in which syllables in a word are pronounced can change that word’s meaning. There are four main tones in Mandarin Chinese, as well as a neutral tone, which is used for some syllables. One of the main difficulties in learning Chinese tones is the fact that they are used to distinguish between similar-sounding words. For example, the word “ma” can mean “mother,” “horse,” “hemp,” or “scold,” depending on the tone used and character chosen. This can be confusing for learners who are used to relying on other cues, such as word order or context, to determine meaning. Another challenge is that the tones themselves can be difficult to produce correctly. Learners may not be accustomed to using their voices in precise ways at the lexical level, which can result in miscommunication or difficulty being understood. This project provides students with instructions on how to pronounce Chinese syllables which consist of tones, initials (the initial consonant), and finals (the vowel or diphthong that follows the initial) through visual and audio demonstrations in video clips. By using clear, real-life examples and step-by-step explanations, the video clips are easy to follow and understand.”