What role do mnemonic strategies play in Chinese language learning

Mnemonic strategies play a significant role in Chinese language learning, particularly in the acquisition and memorization of Chinese characters and vocabulary. Because Chinese is a logographic language with complex characters, mnemonic techniques help learners to form associations between the characters’ shapes, meanings, and sounds, facilitating memory retention and recall.

Specifically:

• Mnemonics such as visual imagery, keyword methods, and schema-associated methods use association and imagination to help learners remember visually similar characters and classical Chinese poetry or phrases. This leverages cognitive schema and imaginative connections to make memorization more effective.
• Some studies indicate that mnemonic strategies promote active engagement with the language, enhancing orthographic and semantic awareness in learners.
• Despite their usefulness, mnemonic keyword techniques might be less popular among some learners as they require more active mental manipulation than rote repetition or structural associations.
• Alongside mnemonic strategies, learners also use a combination of social, metacognitive, cognitive, and affective strategies to effectively learn Chinese.
• Mnemonic techniques are often paired with computer-assisted learning processes to enhance the language learning experience.

Overall, mnemonic strategies serve as important tools in overcoming the challenges posed by the unique features of the Chinese script, thereby aiding vocabulary learning, reading comprehension, and language retention for Chinese as a second or foreign language learners. ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7}

References

• Mnemonic strategies in learning chinese as a foreign language through computer-assisted learning process

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• Vocabulary Memorizing Strategies by Chinese University Students.

• An empirical study of schema-associated mnemonic method for classical Chinese poetry in primary and secondary education based on cognitive schema migration theory

• Learning Strategies for Chinese as Foreign Language Learners in College: A Qualitative Study

• Memorization strategy and foreign language learning: a narrative literature review

• A qualitative inquiry of character learning strategies by Chinese L2 beginners

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• Some Opinions about Parameters of Mnemonics

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• On Chinese learning strategies of learners from Central Asian countries: an analysis of gender, age, and learning duration effects

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