Higher Chinese in P5 - To opt or not

[phankao]

starlight1968sg:

My dd has opted to do HCL in p5 next year.


Her school booklist has a set of textbooks plus activity books for CL and another set for HCL. DH bought both sets. I wonder if this is correct.

I was told in for kids doing HCL in p5, it will be merely a few extra period of lessons per week and I wonder if this is sufficient.

Diffferent schools do it differently. Some schools have extra lessons for HCL, some don't. In my boys' school, they only need the set of HCL books, but to play safe, i bought the CL textbooks as well, but I realise that this year's, unlike previous years, the vocabulary list is really a subset of HCL, so not quite so necessary. Nvm lah - the 2 CL textbooks not so expensive. haha.

[MoonFlower]

Same for my boy only 1 set of HCL text and workbooks.

[carebear]

Just saw this thread today.

Was deciding also for DD. She was adamant not to take it, but her form teacher highly recommended it. Her teacher called me to persuade her to take HCL. I was initially not too keen, leaving the decision to my DD. But if she does not take HCL, she will be placed in a class where there is no differentiation in the pupils' standard. Her teacher asked me to consider this point carefully.

After discussing this with my DD, she was still not convinced.

In the end, i proposed to increase her pocket money and the deal was closed! :celebrate:
For my kids, it all boils down to dollars and cents! :moneyflies:

[phankao]

JonC:

If you start P5 with HCL, you can drop anytime if you find you child cannot cope. But do be careful of the child's ego.
.

JonC, your boy is in CHS, right?

You know that, for p5/p6 boys, unless they are in a mixed CL/HCL class, if they drop HCL, they will not actually be asked to change class?

So they will continue joining in their class' HCL periods, but take CL exam only. They will not be specifically coached to take the CL exam bc the rest of their class is taking HCL.

But those boys who are in the mixed class (eg some in the class are taking HCL and some taking CL, not 100% HCL class), will be allowed to join in the CL periods instead of HCL periods.

So need to consider carefully to opt for or not too.

One of my p6 son's previous classmates was that way. He's 5F/6F but dropped HCL midway in p5 but did not change class and have to prepare for his CL exam on his own while continuing to attend the same HCL class as the rest of his classmates.

[JonC]

@carebear


The point of which class to go is also an important consideration too, I missed this point.


@phankao

Yes, in CH. DS continue HCL in P6.

[Emelyn]

Ds1 also just need HCL textbook and workbook.


Carebear,
For DS1, they grouped the kids based in 2 ways.
For high ability kids (based on EL, MA and Science), they will be in 5I, 5J or 5K.....
Then they group again for CL.... high ability kids will stay put in their respective class during CL lessons. Those kids with \"normal\" CL standard will move to another class to do their CL lessons.

DS1's CL is not very strong, but his teacher and tutor recommended to let him try out. He personally wants to give it a try too. While I just sweat over here..... I foresee that I will be heavily involved in his CL learning... But at least he is the one who decided... hopefully not so difficult to get him to put in more effort.

[cafelatte]

Hi all,


I heard stories of some children with average to border-high level capability in CL, who went on to take HCL but at PSLE, the CL and HCL results are average. The average CL result thus affected the T-score. Is it possible ? Pupils taking HCL are generally in banded class in P5,P6 ie. typically high-capability pupils ?

Am I right :
The advantage of taking HCL at PSLE is that the child can take HCL at secondary (SAP secondary) school and hence, do not need to take AO level chinese in JC …meaning 1 subject less at A levels.

Any other advantage besides to obvious more exposure to the language ?

[tutormum]

My DS3 took HCL in p5 despite my protests as he was weak in Chinese (scoring about 65 - 70%). He happily dropped out after that when he just managed to pass HC. Meanwhile, he showed improvements in CL. Thankfully, after much motivation and support by his CL teacher in p6, he managed to get A for CL. As he was ranked top 10% among the PSLE scorers, he was 'qualified' to take HCL. My position is that he should try since he is given the chance but drop it if he can't cope. Hope this will benefit some of you in your decision making. :idea:

[daisyt]

Hifive:

Dear Parents


Thank you for your advice. I'll have to think carefully because I must also take my boy's interest into consideration. I think he doesn't mind doing the subject if we as parents ask him to do so but I can feel that he doesn't really like it.

Mummyjoyce, you mean we can pull out from HC if the children don't do well in P5 ? So for those who take Higher Chinese in Secondary school, they will not have to sit for Chinese in JC ? Pls advise.

Thanks

Hifive, the extra 1 to 3 marks of HCL can come in very handy when you need it to get in your choice SAP school. If he can manage his NCL well, no harm taking HCL.

For those taking HCL in sec, if they pass the HCL in \"O\" level, no need to take Chinese in JC.

[mummyjoyce]

Just dropped HML for my child who is in P6 this year.

Her NCL was lower 70+ range and HML was 60+ range. Other subjects 75-80+ range. I fear that the low mark in NCL will pull down her t-score.
I would prefer her to attend NCL (school only teach HML for HML class) and hopefully will increase 5-8 marks on it and the rest of the subjects.

My other child who is in Sec 1 this year did well for both NCL and HML and thus she will cont with it. Thus all depnding on the child ability to cope.