City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has developed Putonghua self-learning software to help primary and secondary students.
The software's tone graph technology enhances pronunciation. It has been applied in the university's web-based multimedia Putonghua course and has been available free to all primary and secondary schools since mid-June.
The pioneering software allows students to compare their tones with those of their teacher through graphic displays.
Sze Mei, a lecturer in the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics who developed the software and course, said:
'In the process of learning, students not only can learn the accurate tones with their ears but also with their eyes.'
Features include read-and-sing exercises, reciting poems, matching pinyin and tongue twisters.
