How CILA Makes Learning Chinese Easy
Introducing the Q&A Rapid Response Method
by Peter Chan
According to this method, the teacher asks a question, then the student gives an answer. Without changing word order or sentence structure a question becomes an answer with the change of just a word or two. By carefully listening to the teacher's question, the student can respond rapidly. After several repetitions, he can build on short-term memory to establish long-term memory.
This method is done by using the following three forms:
I. "Ma" - question pattern:
e.g. Ni shi mei-guo ren ma? (You are an American, huh?)
Wo she mei-guo ren. (I am an American.)
[The response is based on 1) changing the subject at the beginning, and
2) removing the question word at the end.]
II. "Shi-bu-shi" positive-negative question pattern:
e.g. Ni shi-bu-shi mei-guo ren? (You are/are-not an American?)
Wo bu-shi mei-guo ren. (I am not an America.)
[The response is based on choosing a positive or negative structure in reply.]
III. Substitution of question word pattern:
[Question words include: shenme (what), shei (who), nali (where), ji (how many), na (which) etc.]
Ex. 1:Ta shi na guo ren? (He is what country's person?) (lit.)
Ta shi mei guo ren. (He is an american.)
Ex. 2:Ni zhu zai nali? (You live where?) (lit.)
Wo zhu zai mei guo. (I live in America.)
Ex. 3:Ni ji sui? (You how many years old?) (lit.)
Wo jiu sui. (I nine years old.) (lit.)
Through this Q&A Rapid Response Method, you can practice using new words in various sentence patterns. Getting started is easy; before you know it, you will have a command of everyday vocabulary and usage.