Learn Chinese Colors and Animals with Bao-Bei the Panda
I just discovered the cutest DVD to introduce my boys to Mandarin Chinese. It’s called Early Start Mandarin Chinese with Bao Bei the Panda. Ni Hao Productions, LLC, offers a series of Chinese DVD’s recommended for children ages 1 to 5. The host of the show is a panda puppet with a child’s voice named Bao-Bei. His “sidekick” is a grown-up cartoon cricket named Chu-Chu. The highly visual presentation and classical background music remind me of the Baby Einstein programs my kids used to watch. Unlike Baby Einstein, Mommy has to pay close attention to the puppet!
I’ll be the first to admit it: I feel challenged by Mandarin Chinese. Although I was concentrating intensely, most of the time I was thinking, “What did they say?” Meanwhile, my 3 year-old was repeating the words. No biggie. And Chinese colors? Honest to goodness they all sounded alike to me. My 5 year-old set me straight, ”No, Mom, that’s yellow. This is how you say red . . . ” Just goes to prove that preschoolers are language sponges and the Bao-Bei approach is working. Fortunately, the written words are provided at the end of the program. After a few viewings and the written words in pinyin, it’s finally starting to sink in for Mommy, too.
Here’s just some of what you and your kids will learn with Bao-Bei in Volume 1: (Forgive a few of the missing accents. My computer is having difficulty learning Chinese, too!)
Ni hao – Hello
Bao Bèi – Treasure
Xio péng yu – Little Friend
Tiào – Hop (nice opportunity for TPR–Total Physical Response method.)
Yán sè – Colors
Hóng sè – Red
Lán sè – Bue
Huáng sè – Yellow
Lu sè – Green
Dòng wù – Animals
Go – Dog
Mao – Cat
Ya zi – Duck
Tù zi – Rabbit
Zài Jiàn – Goodbye
Xiè xiè – Thank you
It’s really encouraging to see my kids respond to Chinese like it’s no big deal. They hop around, repeat words, and it’s sinking in naturally. Hurray!
To order or download the Bao-Bei DVD’s, visit the Early Start Mandarin Chinese website.
You can also order from the links below:
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Comments
Hi, great language blog you have here! Would you be interested in doing a link exchange? Just send me an e-mail with your URL and I’ll add your link to my blog. You can add my link as “Learn That Language Now”. I look forward to reading more blog entries from you. Thanks!
-Robbie
A good site for adults who want to study standard Chinese is Zhongwen Red, although the site is still not finished yet. They haven’t updated for awhile though.
I started listening to a Chinese learning podcast, and it intimidates me too, especially the whole tone thing, but just like you, I’m giving it a try.
Have you heard of Nick Jr. recent addition?:
“Ni Hao, Kai-Lan”
http://www.nickjr.com/shows/ni-hao-kai-lan/index.jhtml
Let’s see if she becomes as popular as Dora.