learning chinese
Front cover
Mum wakes up early to clean the house, lazy dad wakes up late and reads the papers, what the hell!? (Well, the sentences make a good rhyme...)
Never give up
For those who are products of the 70s, does this look all too familiar? This is how I learnt my Chinese in elementary school in Taiwan; it's the Chinese equivalent of the Peter and Jane series: old-fashioned, and lacks creativity and a sense of playfulness. Today stereotypical gender roles only invites criticism, and who cares about paying respect to our former leader, Chiang Kai-shek; I even heard that our international airport named in honor of him could be renamed. I wonder if kids nowadays read about his 'heroic deeds'? In Lesson Eleven we learn about Chiang in his youth. When Chiang was young, he was very diligent. He would sweep the floor and help his mother with the vegetable garden. In the evening when Mum was sewing, he would study. (Good for you, nerd.) One day he went to play by a nearby river, and saw tiny fishes swimming against the stream. (Now you'd think Chiang is an interesting little boy who likes fishing, but no...) Chiang then thought to himself, even little fishes want to overcome difficulties, so will I. He grew up to become a hardworking politician, and did many great things. The End. (Well done, Chiang, your life has inspired me so much.)