well, it seems to me that some introductory lessons would be needed before anyone could grasp the usefulness from picking up a pack of cards somewhere.
maoman, i wonder, how are you marketing these said cards.
if to the absoulute beginner coming to taiwan/china wants to learn and picks up your cards, they would be laughed at or stared at, with a look of, “what??”
it seems from the posts here that most people agree that mandarin for a foreigner is difficult.
i also think they are not giving the learners much credit, but that aside, seems you need to start your card system at certain levels.
that is the way most people learn a language anyway., you start at the beginner level-with the utmost basics. …then oh, once you have mastered that and decided you want to continue, you move to level 2, then 3.
it just seems to me that you want to start people at level 2 or 3 without the basics, which is setting them up for failure.
why not have a green, then red, then gold card level.
the green cards are the basics-tones, pronunciation, single words and phrases.
the red cards are simple sentences or questions.
the gold level is conversation.
just trying to help. i still think for something like this to work, you have to start out simple, and teach the basics , then move on. you cant just give someone a deck of cards and expect them to converse.
i have studied mandarin for 2 years now. i still get strange looks when i ask where the bathrooom is. most of my friends tell me my pronunciation is good, but they are just being polite.
you wouldnt want someone to say, “is the horse scolding the mother?”, now that would just be silly.
jm