[Zhuyin Curriculum] Zhuyin Big Pocket 康軒 ㄅㄆㄇ大口袋

Ages: 3-8 (preschool and up)

TLDR:  Good off the shelf curriculum for the parents who don’t want to think or plan too much and doesn’t mind more traditional workbook method.

I first wrote this post back in Sept 2015. Since them I’ve half taught both of my kids zhuyin, plus a few other kids. So I’m updating this post.

What is Zhuyin Big Pocket?

Kang Xuan 康軒 is one of the big three textbook publishers in Taiwan.   Zhuyin Big Pocket is a program they sell to preschools in Taiwan.

There are two versions for Zhuyin Big Pocket, 6 level vs 4 level. I have access to the 4-level version. I was told this version these are marketed as Spring/Summer for 4 year olds (中班) and Fall/Winter for 5 year olds (Kindergarten/大班).

So basically you should be going through 1 level per semester starting at age 4, or if you get the 6-level version, one level per semester starting at age 3. For more info on their new 6 level curriculum, you can check Kang Xuan’s website.

In 2015-2016, they added 2 new books to the series.  They’re basically marketed for the 3 year olds (小班).  These 2 new books basically focuses more on introducing the symbols only.  Whereas the previous version starts with introducing symbols and blending.

The 4 levels are Spring (發芽 green), Summer (開花 orange), Fall (結果 blue）, Winter (豐收 red).

Kang Xuan also sells another set call 歡樂 ㄅㄆㄇ (Happy Bopomo).  Apparently, these are much like the new sets 1 and 2 in the Zhuyin Big Pocket series.  They only introduce the symbols.  I have not seen these, this is just what my distributor tells me.

What’s in the sets

In each set, there are

• textbooks
• vocabulary book (詞語小書)
• activity book (遊戲本)
• CD/DVD
• writing practice book (寫字本) for Fall/Winter (結果 blue & 豐收 red)

The writing practice is strictly practicing how to write zhuyin.  There is also a CD/DVD.  I have not heard them so I don’t know what’s in them.

Here are more pics that Fleur took for me.

Spring 發芽 (green)

Symbols are introduced and blending of 2 zhuyin.

Summer (開花 orange)

Practice blending and tones.

Fall (結果 blue）

Blending+tones+compound zhuyin. Writing practice book shows up.

Winter (豐收 red)

Blending and reading practice.

How Did I Use Them?

I’ve always used this curriculum strictly as a supplement because I teach zhuyin in a more Montessori style. So when I need worksheet style homework, I look at Big Pocket for practice.

Do I Recommend?

Yes. Because any off the shelf program will work if you’re consistent with it.

But what if my kid hates it?

Yes, isn’t that why we research curriculum to death? We’re afraid of buyer’s remorse.

What I suggest instead is that you understand how kids learn phonics so as to know how to troubleshoot when they have trouble. You can then adapt the program to your kid.

That said, this curriculum would be good for you if

1. Are looking for an off the shelf program rather than design everything yourself.
2. Need a spine curriculum as a base while you supplement with games and fun activities.
3. Want to still save money by teaching zhuyin yourself rather than farming it out to a teacher. A $100-$150 USD program is still cheaper than a tutor.
4. Have a kid who doesn’t get bored with worksheets.
5. Have a pretty fluent speaker who has Taiwanese kids’ vocabulary. Because some of the pictures in the books will be things overseas kids may not be familiar with.
6. Want to teach preschool age kids.

From a Montessori as well as perfectionist perspective, some of the program aspects drive me BONKERS. But hey, this past year, I watched Gnome learn zhuyin solidly in 5 months following this type of zhuyin curriculum in preschool (not the exact same one), and I finally let go of my prejudice.

It’s okay if a program isn’t perfect, as long as a kid isn’t unhappy with learning and you’re consistent, it’ll be fine.

So what don’t I like? Well, there’s that lack of Montessori phonics colors that kind of drive me bonkers. But whatever, this isn’t a Montessori phonics program.

And then it’s the Taiwanese idea of beginning sound. I tend to like the beginning sound to be at the beginning of a series of characters, not hidden in the middle. Kind of doesn’t go with English phonics ideas, since in English phonics a word is multiple syllables. But in Chinese a word is multiple characters.

And then there’s how tone is taught. Kids always get confused because curriculum lump two concepts into one. Often when they ask you to read zhuyin, they’re indirectly asking kids to be able to read tone as well even though it isn’t taught yet or practiced much yet.

It works with fluent native kids because they have enough comprehension to guess when they read. But again, any complete zhuyin program should work if you know how to adapt. This is more worksheet based, so as long as you’re okay with that…..

If you don’t really like the workbook concept, don’t get this curriculum. Plenty of other ways to teach zhuyin. Since I knew I would be teaching zhuyin Montessori way, I would just buy used or use friend’s copy when I teach their kids.

Where to Buy It?

I group ordered for a bunch of friends from Mr. and Mrs. Books. I believe they’re the US Distributor for it? Anyways, I know the vendor is really well versed on the product since he used to sell it in Taiwan.

He was the one that explained to me why there are two different versions and saved us some money by telling us to just get the older 4-level version. I think you can teach the symbols yourself by playing some zhuyin games such as 決戰ㄅㄆㄇ Zhuyin Showdown at age 3.

You can also see if the other US based book vendors have them by searching for 大口袋 on their website.

I was also told back then that in Taiwan you have to buy this off of a book distributor instead of a bookstore, because they sell mostly to schools. I did a quick Google just now and it looks like the ones available on Taiwanese websites are the old 4-level versions.

Anyways, I mention this because good luck asking relatives to go find it for you in Taiwan. I’m sure you can do it. But hey, for the price, may as well just order online. If you have any questions, message Mr. and Mrs. Books, the vendor is an expert on Kangxuan products.

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