App-assisted learning of Chinese characters: Matching parts and radicals in structural templates

Abstract

This study explores the effectiveness of the autonomous practice of Chinese characters through an app. Some 45 participants with no prior Chinese knowledge were trained using character-building tasks in three different modes: (a) teacher-assisted; (b) app-assisted with necessary parts/radicals; (c) app-assisted with extra parts/radicals as distractors. The results of subsequent tests indicated that all three training modes effectively improved reading and writing of Chinese characters. However, the two app-assisted groups demonstrated a more significant improvement in writing accuracy. Besides, participants from the app-assisted group with additional parts/radicals out-performed the other two groups in terms of the accuracy of writing structures and parts/radicals. These findings suggest that incorporating app-assisted exercises, especially those that challenge learners with distractors, can effectively augment traditional learning methods.