Chinese 101: Number Story

In order to retain things in memory, associations are helpful. Mom mom taught me an association story for counting to ten in Japanese when I was ten, and it has always stuck with me. So...I decided to try it with a few key languages I want my kids to learn. 

Create a story...

1. Write foreign numbers 1-10

2. Then translate numbers into an equivalent-sounding English word

3. String them together into a simple story line

...

Deliver story and create memory...

1. Tell the story to your child

2. Tell an abbreviated/simplified story using few words and emphasizing each number in your fingers

3. Then point to each finger one at a time and say the word associated and have your child fill in the parts of the story

4. Next have your child tell you the story as you point to your fingers and ey say the words associated with each one.

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VOCAB: Chinese numbers 1-10

• 1. 一 yī [eee] (eee-arr... --like donkey braying sound 1 & 2 together)
• 2. 二 èr [arr]
• 3. 三 sān [sahn] (sun)
• 4. 四 sì [ssuh] (see)
• 5. 五 wǔ [woo] (woah)
• 6. 六 lìu [liou] (Lee...you)
• 7. 七 qī [chee] (chee-se)
• 8. 八 bā [bah] (bah....as in bahumbug!)
• 9. 九 jiǔ [jeou] (joe or Gee....oh!)
• 10. 十 shí [sher] (sure!)

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The Story... (Chinese Donkey: Cheeeeeeee-se --outside)

Once there was a hungry donkey "eee-arr," who was plodding along, tired from the hot sun.

When all of a sudden he looked up. What did he see? woah! It was his friend Lee, the mouse, nibbling on something.

Donkey's belly grumbled: he wanted some food too. Donkey asked Lee nervously... "Lee...you ok? Lee...you happy? Lee...you have something?"

Lee started mumbling something "cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-se. Cheeeeeeeeeeeeee-se. CHEEEEEE-se!"

He got louder and louder, until he realized donkey had come right up to him and snatched the cheese from him and gobbled it down in one bite. (Which wasn't very nice!)

Lee was so sad his friend swiped from him that he grunted in frustration..."Bah! Gee...oh I wish I had my cheese." Lee was so sad.

Then donkey felt bad. So he thought he'd make it up to Lee and asked if he could give a ride back to his house to get more cheese. Lee was so excited he said "sure!" And off they went both happy as could be.