Interview with Sholeen Lou-Hsiao, Founder of Kingka LLC
Sholeen Lou-Hsiao was looking for a game to help her son learn Chinese. Instead of buying one, she invented one herself and is now marketing Kingka Games.
Sholeen founded Kingka Games in 2006 in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Tell me about your current business. What are you doing exactly?
At Kingka Games, we manufacture a Chinese language learning game called Kinka.
How did you come up with your business idea?
I got the idea while playing with my son. Like many people said “necessity is the mother of a new invention.” I needed something better for my son and I saw a niche market that has not been serviced.
Did you write a business plan? Was it an effective tool for you?
Yes, I wrote a business plan when I first started. It was a good tool. It sets the agenda for what I plan to do and what I want to achieve.
What outside resources were helpful for you? Business incubators, Chamber of Commerce, SCORE, ….
I consulted with SCORE when I first started the business to help me finish my business plan. There was a Mentor, Anthony Basile who was especially helpful and he believes in me and my business so much that he predicted that my company will be a public company one day.
On the other hand there was another advisor who told me harshly that I needed to update my business plan every year otherwise I wouldn’t succeed. He believed business plans should be updated according to the business growth to reflect the reality. Even though their advising styles are different, they are both very helpful.
Did you operate your business from your home? What were the challenges and benefits to this strategy?
Yes, I operate my business from my home.
The benefits are: I don’t need to waste time on traveling to and from my office and I can continue working when my son comes home from school. It also saves me the office rental.
The challenge is when the business starts to grow and I need to hire people to work in my home office. Because of the privacy and trust issues I am very limited.
For women entrepreneurs, what specific advice would you have for young women who would like to become an entrepreneur? Are there specific advantages, disadvantages to being a women business owner?
Believe in yourself and be strong. Don’t listen to your family or friends who try to discourage you because of their “good intentions.” Stay away from those people who are very negative.
The advantage is that there are many programs created just for helping women business owners. For me, there have been many disadvantages. Dealing with family members can become an issue when you are expected to do things the certain way as a woman, a wife or a mother. Many times your elderly family members will discourage you or even try to stop you from becoming an entrepreneur because of their “good intentions.” They may try to stop you when you are thinking of starting a business because they are afraid that you may lose your money and waste your time if the business is not successful. They may also try to stop you from growing your successful business because they don’t believe you can take good care of your children and your husband while working so hard on your business.
What have you done that has been very effective in helping to grow the business?
Helping others and make good friends in the same industry. Instead of being afraid that others can steal my ideas, I go out and help others and give them my best advice.
In return, I got lots of good information and resources from others since they are from the same industry. We exchange ideas and help each other grow our own businesses in a non competitive way. Sometimes we act as each others’ sounding boards and sometimes we act like each others’ business coach.
I have a monthly meeting with this friend I met at a SCORE meeting 2 years ago. We are women and we both sell to the education market. We have maintained a great relationship in the past 2 years and both of us have grown from each other’s support. Finding good friends in the same industry is very effective in helping to grow the business.
What advice would you give to somebody else who wanted to start a similar business?
Be ready for the ups and downs and have a clear vision of what you are building.
Thank you Sholeen for taking the time to share your story. Good luck with your business!
Hot toys from the international toy show
Seattle homeschoolers review Chinese learning game
Ever since early childhood, I have remembered the Chinese New Year greeting, "Gung Hay Fat Choy," which means "May you be prosperous." More people speak Mandarin Chinese than any other language. Just as I did, my children feel intrigued by Chinese language and culture. They have eagerly incorporated the language learning game, Kingka, into their learning activities.
When my family gets a new game, we first take out all the parts and play with them. We read the instructions much later after we feel familiar with the parts. We did this with Kingka and found the parts easy to use creatively. My seven and four-year-old daughters matched every symbol in the box to its match on a card, as well as consulted the illustrations and words on the backs of each card. All the while, we listened to the CD pronunciation guide to get a sense of the sound of Chinese words and my daughters attempted to find the words they heard.
According to the creator of Kingka, the game is designed to grow with the player. As I read through the instructions, from beginner to advanced variations, I saw that this was so. My daughters have since played the game according to directions and gained more familiarity with the symbols, words, and sounds.
My four-year-old likes to copy the symbols and her older sister likes to consult the cards and give definitions. I see a lot of potential in this well-made and well-designed game for years of fun and learning, so I give it a double thumbs-up. My daughters say, "It's great!"
Celebrate the Chinese New Year By Learning Mandarin with Kingka
Teaneck, NJ, Feb 05, 2010 (PRWeb.com via COMTEX) ----With the Chinese New Year coming up on February 14, now is the perfect time to resolve to learn the most used language on earth, Mandarin. To celebrate the Year of the Tiger, now is a wonderfully colorful and exciting time to get your cubs interested in learning the most important language of the 21st century. The award-winning Kingka (www.kingkagames.com) is a matching and memory game that teaches players 54 basic Chinese characters and over 1000 words, and additional modules bring the number of words and phrases learned to over 10,000.
With China's growing economy and increasing global influence, Mandarin Chinese has become the new must-learn language, according to Cable News Network (CNN). More and more business people are learning Chinese, but also an increasing number of global-minded parents worldwide are encouraging their children to learn Chinese as a second language. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks told The Seattle Times "If my kids were of very young ages today, I would be asking them, and encouraging them, to learn Chinese."
Created by a Chinese-American entrepreneur, mom, children's book author, and educator in Northern New Jersey, Sholeen Lou-Hsiao has invented the first North American board game that uses Chinese characters as its key element. The uniquely designed Kingka matching and memory game incorporates a multi-level game rule that guarantees players of all ages will acquire knowledge of 54 basic Chinese characters after winning the game.
"Most people still consider Mandarin a difficult language, but Kingka helps change that perception, Kingka is based on Bingo and uses matching and the spirited nature of a memory game to encourage effective learning." said Lou-Hsiao, adding, "a strong attribute of this game is that it takes away the fear students have of learning Chinese, almost everyone who has played the game has said they never thought learning Chinese could be so easy and fun."
Lou-Hsiao invented the game for her son after she discovered research indicating that children's IQ scores improved five points after learning Chinese characters, and that the best age to start learning languages formally may be as young as two years old. Learning the logographic Chinese writing system stimulates spatial perception, according to Professor Andreas Demetriou of Department of Educational Sciences at the University of Cyprus.
"I tried everything on the market to teach him and nothing worked," Lou-Hsiao said. "He is a very difficult child to teach because he is extremely impatient, so I knew I had to create something unique and playful to spark his interest."
Designed for non-native Chinese speakers to teach or practice the language with their children or grandchildren, Kingka is a good brain exercise for all ages. According to Science News learning Chinese characters helps develop the so-called "right brain," which involves vision but is not used when reading English.
With more and more Baby Boomers seeking brain exercise to ward off Alzheimer's, Sholeen believes Boomer grandparents could benefit from Kingka in three ways: exercising their own brains and their grandchildren's; learning the most important global tongue; and having fun with their grandkids.
Kingka is available at www.KingkaGames.com, on Amazon.com and at specialty stores in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom and China. Have a wonderful Year of the Tiger!
Children with special needs can learn the most used language on earth:Mandarin
By using the Kingka game, a matching and memory game, kids with special needs can learn the most used language on earth: Mandarin Chinese.
This game was created by a Chinese-American mom, who is also an author of children’s books and an education in New Jersey. Her name is Sholeen Lou-Hsiao and it is the first ever North American board game that uses Chinese characters as its key element.
Lou-Hsiao says “Most people still consider Mandarin a difficult language, but Kingka helps change that perception, Kingka is based on Bingo an duses matching and the spirited nature of a memory game to encourage effective learning.”
Lou-Hsiao also said that the game was created because her son is “impatient” and so it was designed to keep him engaged. Professor Andreas Demetriou of Department of Educational Sciences at the University of Cyprus, learning the logographic Chinese writing system stimulates spatial perception, which some kids with developmental disorders have trouble with. It also helps develop the “Right Brain” which is used with vision and not when reading English.
Thomas, age 11 and Brandon, age 8, both of whom have been diagnosed with autism, sat down with the Kingka game to play it. Thomas was not as interested as Brandon to learn a new language but he was interested in playing a puzzle game. The uniqueness of this game allows 1-6 players (so Brandon could play alone or with his brother) and there are 3 games possible.
After setting up the game they wished to play first, the Bingo game, Thomas became very involved with it. He enjoyed it a lot because he said “It’s not reading! I thought I would have to read to learn Chinese Mandarin.”
Brandon liked playing the CD that comes with the game for help with pronunciation again and again and repeating the words for proper inflections and tone. Of course, because of his autism, he did get obsessed at repeating the sounds but found the game itself also enjoyable and was able to redirect his attention to it quite nicely.
The game comes complete with a CD, board pieces, Ping cards and Kingka cards and instructions on how to set up each game. The children read the directions themselves and were able to follow the rules easily. While it may seem complicated at first, it quickly becomes clear once play begins.
The National Lekotek Center ranked Kingka “highly” on its ableplay rating system with 4 stars in communicative and cognitive areas, 3 stars for physical and sensory areas. Each area has a possible total 5 star rating.
Don’t forget to say “Kingka” to win!
Kingka is available at KingkaGames, on Amazon or at specialty store locations in the United States, Canada, the UK and China.
Kingka game can sharpen creativity and improve academic performance
There is great news for grandparents and their grandchildren in Richmond, Virginia and around the world. Now there is a great reason for them all to play games.
Kingka
Kingka is a game of matching and memory that teaches players 54 basic Chinese characters and over 1,000 words. There are additional game modules that offer more than 10,000 words and phrases. This game was created to celebrate the Year of the Tiger for the Chinese New Year.
Mandarin Chinese is touted as one of the most used languages in the world according to Cable News Network (CNN). Businesses, individuals, and social groups are rapidly learning this incredible language. Now it is easier than ever for grandparents and children to learn it even faster.
Created by a mom
Kingka was created by a Chinese-American mom who is also a children's book author and educator in Northern New Jersey. Shoellen Lou-Hsiao invented this powerful game that introduces people of all ages to Chinese characters as the key element. No previous training or skill in speaking Chinese is necessary.
What is the reason for inventing such a game?
According to Lou-Hsiao, she discovered research that says children's IQ scores improved five points after learning Chinese characters. Children as young as two years old can benefit from learning the Chinese language. It stimulates spatial perception and spurs creativity. It is a game that is not only fun, but gives children a head-start on education. It also helps adults keep their minds sharp and clear.
Kingka may also be extremely beneficial for children with Autism, ADD, or ADHD since it utilizes sensory integration skills.
Non-native Chinese speakers
The game is specifically designed for native and non-native Chinese speakers to teach or practice with their children or grandchildren, according to Lou-Hsiao. It triggers greater response from the "right brain" which is known as the creative side of the mind.
Grandparents and children benefit
Although today's grandparents are typically younger than previous generations, they can still benefit from engaging in activities to ward off Alzheimer's and other mind debilitating disease. And since this game is designed for all ages, it's the perfect way to engage children and grandchildren while doing something for your own mind at the same time. And it's a great activity for homeschooling children too.
What better way to spend time with the grandchildren than to sharpen your mind while having a fun, entertaining time together?
Finding Kingka games in Richmond, Virginia
If you're searching for a place to purchase your Kingka game from Richmond, Virginia, try these locations:
As the game gains more popularity, you are likely to find it in more local educational toy stores. We'll be on the look-out and will inform you when more local stores stock this amazing mind-stretching game.
Bingo & Memory Game to Learn Chinese (ages 3-99): Kingka
Do my children LOVE to learn Chinese? No. But they do tolerate it. Especially after I switched them from a class to private lessons. They also are learning Spanish which they started first. Do my children LOVE to learn Spanish? Well…they do like it better than Chinese because after 4 years, I managed to put together semi-private lessons with their friends adhering to very strict requirements:
So, keeping my kids engaged in learning Chinese is a struggle. Games help!
The nice people at Kingka gave me their game to try out. I have a lovely Chinese tutor who my kids like a lot. She keeps them motivated by sticker charts that earn small prizes plus stickers for each lesson well done. She also gives them homework. I don’t speak Chinese (1 year Chinese school flunk out), so I had my tutor play Kingka with the kids. She really likes this game.
It’s Bingo at two levels. For those learning Chinese characters, you can use the bingo tiles with picture, phonetic chinese, plus the word in Spanish and French thrown in for good measure. Therefore the elephant card has: a color photo of an elephant AND xiang, elefante, elephant, and elephant written around the edges of the pictures. (please forgive me as I can’t do all the accents on those words correctly). When you flip the tile over, the Chinese character for elephant is on the back. Then you match this tile to the bingo card with… a photo of an elephant. There are 54 basic Chinese character to master in this game.
If you get good, you can use the tiles with just the Chinese Character on it. There is a second set of tiles just for that. (We’re not there yet!).
Now, you can also play this game as a memory match game if you tire of the Bingo format. Pretty nifty!
This game won every award on the planet: Dr. Toy Best Product Winner for 2007, 2008 National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Creative Child Magazine Award, Mom’s Choice Award and iParenting 2007 Excellent Product Award. It really is a good product. It’s $24.29.
Will my kids play this on their own? I do not lie. No.
But they will once a week during their lesson and it makes for a fun lesson!
To purchase this game, please click on the image of the game OR
go to the PragmaticMom store and look under Product Reviews. Thank You!
24/7 Moms
CELEB PARENTS LOVE KINGKA
|
While at a recent Pre-Oscar event this month, numerous celebrity parents and their children picked up Kingka, including Keith David (voice of Dr. Facilier in the Princess & the Frog) with his daughter, Kristoff St. John (Neil Winters on Y&R) with his daughter, Shar Jackson, and even non-BCK parent Willie Garson (Stanford on Sex in the City) with his son Nathen. |
|
Kingka is a game that helps kids learn Mandarin Chinese, “the most spoken language on the planet and the fastest growing language taught in the US,” according to its makers. |
|
Click here to learn more about Kingka or to purchase it. Kingka is also available at Amazon.com. |
|
|
|
|
Fox 5 (Las Vegas) Mother's Day Segment (May 2010)
Kingka Games -- the most used language on earth is now more accessible to everyone
THE CONTEXT:
Mandarin Chinese is the most used language on Earth, and most not already at least semi-fluent in it assume that it's got to be one of the hardest to learn. Now, however, a comfortable introduction to the language has been made not only entertaining, but very accessible -- to just about any age and (dis)ability. (Aside from all the other reasons why a person might benefit from being comfortable with the most spoken language in the world, it's certainly not going to hurt future job prospects, always a trickier-than-it-should-be issue when it comes to the disabled, in any case.)
THE PRODUCT:
Enter: Kingka. The company offers a variety of award-winning products, designed for both native and non-native speakers, which together make for about the most inviting and inclusive Chinese language curriculum I've ever seen, not to mention one that conforms to Montessori and "Learning by Doing" education principals. Not only the first North American board game to use Chinese characters as its key element, Kingka stands out in the breadth of the information it turns into a game -- 54 basic Chinese characters in each game set turn into over 1,000 words. Additional game modules bring that up to more than 10,000 words and phrases! Currently, the product line includes three game sets (each containing different vocabulary but the same play-formats), six phrase card sets, one Montessori Bilingual Three Part Card set (once again, without any characters repeated from the other sets), and a "Speak Chinese Like the Chinese Do" Quantifier Card set. In addition to these there is the acclaimed book, "She Talks Funny", which explains basic Chinese grammar with examples that a young child can understand, all from within the context not just of learning language, but also empathy and multicultural understanding. There are even two complete learning system sets offered, which include complimentary teacher training provided after purchase.
NOTE -- The Chinese characters as actually printed on the cards are of a much more uniform, typeface style than what is shown on the game's box-cover. While this is less culturally authentic, and disappoints my calligraphy-happy husband, it does make initial recognition of the characters easier, because lines are simply lines.
THE POSSIBILITIES:
Each of the three main Kingka sets comes complete with a pronunciation guide audio CD and track search table for most efficient use, six 9"x9" board pieces, 54 Ping cards (they have the Chinese character on one side and a photographic image with quadri-lingual text words to go with it, on the other side) and 54 Kingka cards (they have the Chinese character on one side and the company logo on the other side) -- both of which are approximately 2"x2" -- two storage bags for the loose cards, and clear, simple instructions (along with tips) on how to set up each game. Game play options cover puzzle, lotto/bingo, and memory/matching style activities. In truth, for a child who does not yet "get" structured game-playing, there is also the option of first using the Ping cards simply as flashcards, a function which would still have applications in/for speech therapy and reading skills, as well as multi-lingual learning. Each set also has the benefit of being playable by 1-6 players; the sets can also be combined and mixed to accommodate a larger group or a higher fluency challenge for a small group. This makes the games ideal for everything from after school programs or play groups to classrooms or home-schooling sessions, from family time to solitary learning/play time (of particular appeal to many Autistic children). When you add in considerations like non-reliance on any particular pre-existing degree or familiarity or fluency, non-reliance on reading skills, non-age-group-specificity, sturdy game pieces that are easy for little hands to grip (though they are small enough that the games must come with a choking hazard warning and the disclaimer that they are not intended for children under the age of 3), and the fact that you can play the included Bingo-style game in four different languages (see each product description for language option variations) with every Kingka set, that opens up a world of possibilities....literally....in terms of who can benefit from playing, who can enjoy playing with whom (with everyone getting more than just the company out of it), and ways in which learning from the games can be applied.
Not convinced yet? Read on to learn about the many cognitive benefits of playing Kingka games, as well as my own family's introduction of our son to the system...
