NEWS FROM PRIMARY
“Schoolbag’s Words”
Lessons from a Chinese Language Primary One Textbook

The title, “Schoolbag’s Words”, comes from Lesson 9 of the Primary One Chinese Language textbook. The text uses anthropomorphism to write things as people to get students curious and interested in the language. “Schoolbag’s Words” starts the topic with the first person “I”, named “I” as a school bag, writes about what “I” like, what “I” don’t like, who “I” like to be with and so on.

Through reading texts and learning of Chinese characters, students are guided to share their hobbies and interests (such as what I like to do and what I like to eat) by getting to know what is in their school bags. In addition, students extend their vocabulary by learning the Chinese names, colours and units of measurements of stationery found in their school bags.