Need help for communicating with Chinese pupil Thread poster: Alexandra Speirs
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In my husband's school (here in Italy) there is a new boy (15-16) just arrived from China who speaks only Mandarin Chinese. Until the boy manages to pick up some basic Italian the staff are at their wits' end and wonder if there is any reasonably reliable on-line translator from English to Chinese.
Any suggestions would be most welcome!
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nordiste 
France
Local time: 18:04
English to French
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| yes, I know that one | Oct 9, 2007 |
There is also Dictionary.com.
But seeing the quality of their translations into French and Italian....
Still, it might be sufficient just to communicate with the kid!
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Margreet Logmans (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 18:04
English to Dutch
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How's about using pictographs?
I don't know what's available in Italy, but in the Netherlands, there are several systems that are used in educational environments (mostly for special care pupils). If you Google 'pictograph education' or something like that (preferably in Italian, in your case, but I don't speak Italian ), I'm sure you'll come across useful stuff.
This has the added benefit of not having to... See more How's about using pictographs?
I don't know what's available in Italy, but in the Netherlands, there are several systems that are used in educational environments (mostly for special care pupils). If you Google 'pictograph education' or something like that (preferably in Italian, in your case, but I don't speak Italian), I'm sure you'll come across useful stuff.
This has the added benefit of not having to use Chinese; you can teach him the Italian words right away. Immersion, I think it's called, when you force him to deal with every day life in Italian only.
Poor kid, doesn't he get lonely when he's got nobody to actually talk to? I feel sorry for him. ▲ Collapse
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| What a strange system | Oct 9, 2007 |
Is there no language training for this poor guy apart from regular school?
Maybe you have some other youths with a little Mandarin knowledge at your school who can help out? Or maybe some older person living in your city or village, who has the time, could help as a mentor/tutor on a volunteer basis?
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| I agree with pictographs | Oct 9, 2007 |
Hi,
When I first read your question I thought of pictographs myself immediatly. When teaching German for people I did not share any language with (I remember a student from Korea) I used to use pictograms. You can do quite a lot with them.
For the poor boy it can´t be usefull to try to learn maths or anything else at school right now, he has to get the language first and it´s best not to go via his own language but to give him the Italian right away. But even if he g... See more Hi,
When I first read your question I thought of pictographs myself immediatly. When teaching German for people I did not share any language with (I remember a student from Korea) I used to use pictograms. You can do quite a lot with them.
For the poor boy it can´t be usefull to try to learn maths or anything else at school right now, he has to get the language first and it´s best not to go via his own language but to give him the Italian right away. But even if he gets an interpreter pictographs might be a good idea for easy everyday conversation so the interpreter could be used for emergencies.
God luck to your husband.
Kind regards
Sylvia ▲ Collapse
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| Maybe I can help | Oct 9, 2007 |
Alexandra,
I live in Treviso (relatively nearby?). If you contact me through my profile, we could exchange phone numbers and possibly meet to prepare specific material to help this boy start communicating (e.g. a list of useful sentences, etc.).
I also have some books for teaching Italian to Chinese speakers.
Kind regards,
Oriana
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| thanks for suggestions | Oct 9, 2007 |
Thanks to all for your input. I don't know all the details of the situation myself. My husband asked me if I knew anyone who could help and of course I came to the forum!
I'll pass on all your suggestions, including Oriana's offer.
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judy99
German to Chinese
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| yes there is. | Oct 11, 2007 |
try this website:
http://www.adsotrans.com/
select "advanced" and then you can enter chinese characters and let the tool translate into English, or give pinyin-connotation
Judy99
Alexandra Speirs wrote:
In my husband's school (here in Italy) there is a new boy (15-16) just arrived from China who speaks only Mandarin Chinese. Until the boy manages to pick up some basic Italian the staff are at their wits' end and wonder if there is any reasonably reliable on-line translator from English to Chinese.
Any suggestions would be most welcome!
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| Keep him involved | Oct 18, 2007 |
Apart from online dictionaries, books, etc., the student should be taken to lunch breaks, cinema, etc. so that he can start to USE the Italian language. He should also read and listen to other people reading in Italian.
Only my suggestion.
Rob
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