Latin letters only
Pinyin drills expect a-z without picking Chinese characters from a candidate list. Switch to English or ABC mode on your OS before starting.
Tones may be optional depending on the lesson — follow on-screen hints. The skill is correct spelling, not IME speed.
If characters auto-commit, you are still in Chinese mode. Check the status bar first.
Not the same as learning Chinese
These drills reinforce romanization — seeing a character and typing its pinyin. That helps elementary students; conversational Chinese is a separate path.
Classroom pinyin dictation differs from writing essays with Sogou or Microsoft Pinyin. Master drills here, then enable full IME for prose Advanced tracks.
Advanced Chinese lessons
Idioms, poetry, and classic passages require full Chinese IME input. Finish finger basics and short sentences before long-form text.
Advanced Chinese on topzcphp.com enforces punctuation and width rules matching real homework — practice as if submitting an assignment.
Tips for parents and teachers
Young learners: single-character pinyin aligned with textbook vocabulary, ten minutes daily, accuracy over speed.
Disable aggressive IME prediction during pinyin drills if candidate windows distract.
Finger course plus pinyin Advanced plus occasional Games is a complete eight-week path most students can follow.