Pu Yong: Teaching Chinese as a second language
By Laura Salinger
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"Phrases are different too. The phrase 'thank you,' you don't really want to say that in China. Same with 'How are you?' You don't
ask just anyone that question. Also, most of the bathrooms in China have no toilet paper. You have to bring your own."
In these introductory language courses, Yong uses the Pinyin system to teach students Chinese. Pinyin is a system that uses
the Roman alphabet to spell Chinese words phonetically. This way, learners aren't overwhelmed with learning Chinese
characters and strokes, but can instead focus on learning the correct sounds and tones in order to communicate proficiently in
Chinese.
Yong also teaches a series of Chinese calligraphy courses at MATC and as part of the Wisconsin Union Mini Courses. These
courses not only teach the technique of Chinese calligraphy, but also the rich cultural history that accompanies this unique art
form.
"Calligraphy is very much tied to culture and art in China," Yong explained.
The origins of Chinese calligraphy are somewhat ambiguous. No one knows exactly how the art form came to be, but legends
abound. According to one legend, Tsung Jie invented Chinese characters during the reign of the legendary Yellow Emperor.
Calligraphy accompanied the invention of Chinese characters as the Chinese people sought a beautiful way to write. This
legend dates calligraphy back 4,600 years.
Whatever its origins, calligraphy is very much tied to China's rich cultural history. It was also a large part of Yong's life growing
up in the Xinjiang Province of northwestern China.
"I started learning calligraphy when I was just five years old," Yong said. "I first learned from my father and then from private
tutors."/Yong grew up in what she describes as a very multicultural environment in the city of Urumqi. In fact, this culturally rich
region boasts 47 ethnic groups. Urumqi, a city with over 2 million people, was also dubbed by the Guinness Book of World
Records as "the most remote city from any sea in the world."
It was here that Yong studied calligraphy for nearly 10 years under the tutelage of several calligraphy masters. Both her
parents were teachers (her father later worked for a transportation company) and they stressed the value of education to their
children.
In 1995, Yong studied law at Peking University and also worked as a liaison between her University and the University of
Missouri-Kansas City Law School study abroad program. After graduating from Peking University, Yong decided to further her
studies in the United States. She attended UW-Stevens Point and earned a master's degree in communication. It was during
this time that she met her American husband, Andy Sedlak. The couple moved to Portland, Oregon and Yong once again took up
Chinese calligraphy.
In 2002, Yong returned to China and taught Chinese to English speakers who were living abroad. She also worked as a
liaison between the English Language Institute-China and the Dalian Education University in Dalian, China.
A year later, Yong returned to Wisconsin and has been teaching ever since. She has also authored a few books. "Babbling in
Chinese: A Guide to the Pinyin Pronunciation System for English Speakers," which explains how English speakers and Chinese
speakers perceive sounds differently, while also helping English speakers learn how to hear and pronounce words in a way
Chinese speakers can understand. Yong describes the audience for the book as "everyone who studied Chinese, is studying or
is thinking about studying Chinese." Other books from Yong include "Survival Chinese" (2002) and "Four Treasures of an Asian
Study: Chinese Calligraphy Set."
As China continues to become an economic powerhouse and cultural influence in the world, more and more business
leaders and others are attempting to tackle the Chinese language. It's not an easy task to undertake, but one that is becoming
increasingly valuable in today's global market. With teachers like Yong, students are able to chart an easier course towards
learning a complex and intricate language.
For more information on Pu Yong's course offerings or to order her books, e-mail her at puyong@yahoo.com or call (608)
237-1375.
Learning the Chinese language is not a quick or easy process for English speakers.
Abandoning the Roman alphabet and adopting the vastly different tonal qualities of Chinese is
difficult enough for English speakers, but when you factor in the numerous dialects and
variations within the language, it becomes a larger-than-life task. Without the right teacher and
guidance, learning Chinese can quickly become overwhelming at best. That is where Pu Yong
comes in.
Pu Yong, a Chinese native with eight years of teaching experience, teaches a variety of private
and public courses on Chinese language (Mandarin), calligraphy, and culture in the Madison
area. Each of her classes is geared toward the specific needs of the course participants. For
those traveling to, conducting business in, or adopting a child from China, her Chinese 1 class at
MATC or her Mandarin Chinese for Travel (part of the Wisconsin Union mini courses) are
designed to meet the needs of learners so they can acquire the functional basics of the language
and culture. They learn how to carry on simple conversations and travel safely. Aside from basic
pronunciation, learners are introduced to the little idiosyncrasies that could potentially throw
travelers for a loop.
"There are little things that people need to learn if they are traveling in China," Yong said. "For
instance, directions are very different in China.