Picto-pair duel: Chinese character Battle

Mandarin is a popular third language in universities, but learners often struggle due to time constraints and the complexity of Chinese characters. Many students underperform, and some lose motivation. While various learning apps exist, not all meet learners’ needs. To address this, Chinese character Battle (CCB) was developed to enhance mastery and motivation in learning Chinese characters. This study conducted at UiTM Sarawak, Mukah campus, involved Foundation Mandarin (Level II) students. An e-survey was distributed via WhatsApp to assess learners’ perceptions of CCB’s effectiveness after a trial period. Results showed that most learners found CCB helpful in improving their Chinese character recognition, reading, and comprehension. Pre and post test analyses confirmed progress in these areas. Given its positive impact, CCB is recommended as a teaching and learning tool for Chinese characters. Its engaging approach helps overcome traditional challenges, making Mandarin learning more accessible and motivating for students.