The study of the problems in Chinese character writing errors made by the freshmen of Huachiew Chalermprakiet University

Abstract

Abstract

This article is the study of the problems in Chinese character writing errors which were made by 100 Chinese major freshmen of the Huachiew Chalermprakiet University. The data of 100 incorrect written Chinese characters are collected from the students’ exercise books. The research explicates the problems and causes of unstandardized writing system along with the solutions. These are extremely beneficial for Thai students in learning Chinese. This study found that there are three main factors among the students’ Chinese character writing errors:               (1) some Chinese characters look extremely similar, and are hard to remember, (2) the learners do not pay particular attention to the details of how to write the Chinese character and the handwriting practice; and (3) the instructors do not emphasize in Chinese handwriting from the basic level courses. There are two types of students’ Chinese character writing errors: (1) over stroke or missing stroke in a Chinese character, (2) wrong shape writing of strokes, (3) using the incorrect stroke order. The research suggest three kinds of solutions: (1) the number of Chinese characters is a lot, it is better for learners and teachers to understand the system as well as the creation structure of the Chinese characters; (2) learners should put more focuses on the details of  the number, properties  and  the  writing  order of Chinese writing lines. Practicing of writing Chinese characters persistently and understanding the written principals as well as memorizing the Chinese characters can help for learning Chinese in a correct way, and (3) the instructors should emphasize in the knowledge of principals of the strokes of the written Chinese and the writing order of Chinese characters from the basic level, as well as the techniques of memorizing Chinese characters.