First steps in learning Chinese characters : the analysis of Chinese writing system acquisition by Polish beginner students

Abstract

Learning Chinese, compared to other languages, especially Indo-European languages, requires an individual approach. The specificity of the Chinese writing system makes all the notorious means of learning languages useless to a certain extent. In this article, the aspect of Chinese writing system acquisition performed by Polish beginner students of Silesian origin will be examined. At first, the specificity of the Chinese writing system will be introduced, followed by a set of examples on its diversity and its implications for the further analysis. Then, the learning methods used in acquiring the Chinese writing system will be examined. The final part of the article will be devoted to the critical analysis of the students' progress and final remarks on the students' learning strategies and their effectiveness in learning the Chinese writing system.