January 7, 2026
5 Fun Ways to Use Chinese Songs in Your Mandarin Classroom
Nǐhǎo! Looking for a way to supercharge your Chinese lessons and keep students smiling and happy? One of the best tricks you can use is actually music. Using Chinese songs as Mandarin classroom activities can transform a routine lesson into a much more enjoyable experience, boosting engagement and retention of the language. In fact, learning Chinese with songs helps students remember new words and phrases more effectively thanks to melody and rhythm. From my own experience (which comes from creating 100+ Mandarin songs for this very purpose), kids genuinely enjoy Chinese learning when music is involved. Here are five upbeat (yes, pun intended and more to come…) ways to implement Mandarin songs for kids in your classroom.
1. Warm-Up with Catchy Tunes
Start class on a high note—literally! Use a simple, upbeat Mandarin song as a warm-up each day. Greeting songs or catchy tunes about weather, days of the week, or feelings work perfectly as Mandarin classroom activities and are easy to repeat daily. This approach is especially effective for teachers looking for Chinese lesson plans that build routine and confidence. A fun hello song not only breaks the ice but also helps students transition smoothly into focused learning time.
2. Reinforce Vocabulary with Song Lyrics
Turn tough vocabulary into a memorable melody. Whether you’re teaching numbers, colors, or common phrases, there’s likely a Chinese song that fits perfectly into your Mandarin teaching resources. Songs with raps in context support pronunciation, tone awareness, and long-term recall—key goals for anyone teaching learn Chinese online or in person.
For example, Chinese Buddy’s original song videos are designed to help students learn Chinese with songs through repetition, rhyme, and rhythm. Bonus tip: printing lyrics and highlighting target vocabulary transforms the song into a combined listening, reading, and writing activity—one of the most versatile Chinese teaching resources available.
3. Get Students Moving with TPR
Make it a whole-body experience by adding Total Physical Response (TPR) or gestures to your Chinese songs. To get started, you don’t have to add gestures for an entire song. Simply by adding gestures to a chorus can go a long way to amping the excitement and enjoyment for learners. This multisensory method is especially effective in Chinese learning for younger kids, where movement reinforces comprehension. Songs paired with actions turn abstract language into concrete meaning and are a staple strategy in effective Mandarin lesson plans.
4. Connect to Culture through Music
Songs are a window into culture, making them ideal for teachers seeking well-rounded Chinese teaching resources. Traditional children’s songs or holiday-themed music for events like Chinese New Year help students understand cultural context while developing listening skills. When coupled with craft activities such songs can be bring a new dimension to lessons. This approach works well in both classroom-based instruction and learn Chinese online programs.
5. Gamify with Tech and Chinese Buddy Resources
Finally, digital tools can elevate music-based learning even further. Platforms like Chinese Buddy’s Character Coach app combine Mandarin songs for kids with interactive games, turning repetition into motivation. Song-based quizzes, karaoke activities, and lyric challenges are highly effective Mandarin classroom activities that keep students engaged while reinforcing learning objectives.
Summing it up
Integrating Chinese songs into your curriculum is a proven way to make Mandarin learning both enjoyable and effective. Whether you’re designing Chinese lesson plans, sourcing new Mandarin teaching resources, or exploring ways to learn Chinese with songs, music offers a flexible and powerful solution. Keep it fun, consistent, and intentional—and your students will be singing their way to fluency in no time.
Tim is the original founder, creator and dreamer of all things on Chinese Buddy. He can be contacted here.
在普通话课堂中使用中文歌曲的 5 种有趣方式
你好！想让你的普通话课堂更有活力、让学生学得开心又投入吗？其实，有一个非常有效的方法——音乐。将中文歌曲融入课堂活动，可以让原本例行的课程变得更有趣，同时提升学生对语言的参与度和记忆力。通过旋律和节奏，用歌曲学中文能帮助学生更自然地记住新词汇和句型。
根据我多年的亲身经验（我为此目的创作了 100 多首普通话学习歌曲），孩子们在有音乐参与的情况下，确实更喜欢中文学习。下面就为你介绍五种轻松、有趣的方法，把普通话歌曲真正融入你的课堂。
1. 用朗朗上口的歌曲暖身
用一首简单、欢快的普通话歌曲开启课堂吧！问候歌、天气歌、星期歌或表达情绪的歌曲，都是非常实用的普通话课堂活动，而且非常适合每天重复使用。这种方式特别适合希望建立课堂规律、增强学生信心的老师，是许多中文课程设计中的经典做法。
一首有趣的“你好歌”不仅能打破僵局，还能帮助学生自然进入学习状态。
2. 通过歌词巩固词汇
把难记的词汇变成好唱的旋律。无论你在教数字、颜色，还是常用句型，总能找到适合的中文歌曲，作为实用的普通话教学资源。结合说唱或节奏感强的歌曲，有助于学生掌握发音、声调，并增强长期记忆——这正是无论在线或线下学中文的核心目标。
例如，Chinese Buddy 的原创歌曲视频专为“用歌曲学中文”而设计，通过反复、押韵和节奏，帮助学生轻松吸收语言。一个小技巧是：打印歌词并标注目标词汇，这样就能将歌曲变成一个结合听、读、写的综合学习活动，是非常高效的中文教学资源。
3. 结合 TPR，让学生动起来
为歌曲加入肢体动作（TPR，全身反应法），让学习变成真正的多感官体验。你不需要为整首歌设计动作，只要在副歌部分加入简单的手势，就能明显提升学生的参与感和课堂气氛。
这种方法在儿童中文学习中尤其有效，动作能帮助学生理解抽象语言，让学习变得具体、可感。结合动作的中文歌曲，是许多高质量普通话课程设计中的常用策略。
4. 通过音乐连接中文文化
歌曲也是了解文化的重要窗口，非常适合作为中文教学资源的一部分。传统童谣或与节日相关的歌曲（如春节主题歌曲），不仅能提升学生的听力能力，也能帮助他们理解文化背景。
如果再搭配手工活动或简单的延伸任务，这类歌曲可以为课堂带来更多层次的学习体验，同样适用于实体课堂和在线学中文课程。
5. 结合科技与 Chinese Buddy 资源进行游戏化学习
最后，科技可以进一步放大音乐教学的效果。像 Chinese Buddy 的 Character Coach 应用，就把儿童普通话歌曲与互动游戏结合起来，将重复练习转化为学习动力。
通过歌曲测验、卡拉 OK 活动、歌词挑战等方式，把音乐转化为真正有效的普通话课堂活动，在保持趣味的同时，稳固学习目标。
总结
将中文歌曲融入你的教学体系，是一种既有趣又高效的普通话教学方法。无论你是在设计中文课程、寻找新的普通话教学资源，还是探索如何用歌曲学中文，音乐都是一种灵活、强大的教学工具。
保持趣味性、规律性和明确目标，你的学生很快就会在歌声中爱上普通话学习。
Tim 是 Chinese Buddy 的原创创始人、内容创作者和梦想实践者。如需联系，可在此留言。