Our son spent six years in learning Chinese in Toronto and only learn PinYin. He still counted on Pinyin to read Chinese even he was in Grade 4. I don't think he learned stroke orders which i think is a key in writing characters. Neither do he learned the structure of the characters. Today is the first day to go to Chinese school and even the text book did widen my outlook. let alone the matching practical exercise book. Now I am conficent that with the help of the Capital Chinese Language School, my son 's chinese will improve dramatically.

Now he is enrolled in Grade 2 and still finds it is a big challenge to catch up with his peers.