A Look at English and Mandarin Chinese

Jiayu- a 3rd grade student

Moved to Bethlehem, PA last summer from

China- knew no English when she arrived

Classified as Pre-Production (the lowest ESOL

level) because of her English speaking abilities

Extremely bright in all content areas- was even

accepted into school’s gifted program!

I organized Jiayu’s writing errors into the

following categories: article usage, verb

omission, verb tense, and subject/verb

agreement

The next few slides contain the charts that I used

in my analysis paper

The charts contain what Jiayu wrote, the correct

form, and what error was made

What Jiayu wrote Correct Form Error

My favorite animal is rabbit. My favorite animal is a rabbit. Missing the article “a”

It has pink nose. It has a pink nose. Missing the article “a”

If I have time machine If I have a time machine Missing the article “a”

Today is sunny day. Today is a sunny day. Missing the article “a”

I will go to pool. I will go to the pool. Missing the article “the”

I’m going to play computer. I’m going to play on the computer. Missing the article “the” and the preposition “on”

She has a soft white fur. She has soft white fur. Incorrectly inserted the article “a”

I picked partner. I picked a partner. Missing the article “a”

I go back to hotel too. I go back to the hotel too. Missing the article “the”

I sleep for half hour. I sleep for half an hour. Missing the article “an”

I go out to play sand. I go out to play in the sand. Missing the article “the” and the preposition “in”

It’s best day ever. It’s the best day ever. Missing the article “the”

What Jiayu wrote Correct Form Error

I will back to the future I will go back to the future Missing the verb “go”

This game called Sponge Bob Square Pants.

This game is called Sponge Bob Square Pants.

Missing the verb “is”

Mom back to the hotel. Mom went back to the hotel. Missing the verb “went”

When we done When we were done Missing the verb “were”

Chinese New Year and American New Year different.

Chinese New Year and American New Year are different.

Missing the verb “are”

What Jiayu wrote Correct Form Error

I saw a big red boat is floating on the water.

I saw a big red boat floating on the water. Incorrectly made verb present progressive

I saw one person is driving it. I saw one person driving it. Incorrectly made verb present progressive

I builded a big castle with wet sand. I built a big castle with wet sand. Overgeneralization of adding –ed to make verb past tense

Then I rebuilded it. Then I rebuilt it. Overgeneralization of adding –ed to make verb past tense

It is my last day stay in the hotel. It is my last day staying in the hotel. Verb needs to be present progressive

I love go to the beach. I love going to the beach. Verb needs to be present progressive

I ated a French fry. I ate a French fry. Overgeneralization of adding –ed to make verb past tense

What Jiayu wrote Correct Form Error

My dad step on it. My dad steps on it. An –s needs to be added to make the verb third-person

My mom don’t like the beach. My mom doesn’t like the beach. “Don’t” can’t be used in the third person- it becomes doesn’t

My dad want me to go. My dad wants me to go. An –s needs to be added to make the verb third-person

My mom give me some medicine. My mom gives me some medicine. An –s needs to be added to make the verb third-person

My aunt give me ten dollars. My aunt gives me ten dollars. An –s needs to be added to make the verb third-person

My mom buy me new clothes. My mom buys me new clothes. An –s needs to be added to make the verb third-person

Written alphabet of 26 letters that stand for sounds

Verbs change endings to show when action occurred and who performed it

Articles and plurals Gender pronouns

(he, she, her, his)

Written alphabet of thousands of characters that represent words or meanings

Verbs remain the same regardless of tense or person

No articles and plurals

Gender-free pronouns

Incorrect article usage occurred because Mandarin does not have articles. Therefore, this is an entirely new concept for her. This is a common mistake for Mandarin speakers.

She often didn’t add “s” to the end of a third-person singular verb because there is no subject-verb agreement in her native language.

Jiayu often left out the linking verb “be” and the helping verb “is” in her writing, which I learned is a common mistake for Mandarin ELLs.

Despite Jiayu’s errors, she is still doing remarkably well for the short amount of time that she has been learning the language!