Higher Chinese in P5 - To opt or not

[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.

[JonC]

@mommyjoyce


Pardon me.

NCL = Normal Chinese Language?

HML = Higher Mother Language or Higher Malay Language? :?

[kiasimom]

It will depend on our child's ability.

If you think your child is already struggling with NCL, then you really have to think carefully if you want him to opt for HCL.

It's kinda strange nowadays that parents are making decisions for their children.
During my time, my parents will leave it to us. Maybe parents nowadays are more knowledgeable and has access to more information thus creating the kiasuism in us

I will usually discuss with my DS before both of us agree to a decision.
I will analyse the pros and cons of every decision we made.

I mean I see no point in pushing him to do things that he is resistant to and at the end of the day, he just hated it altogether.

As for HCL, it will have to greatly depend on his ability to handle it. If he is coping fine and is willing to take a further step to expose and learn HCL, I will be pleased.
However, if he prefers to stay on in NCL, I will support his decision too.
No one knows best except himself :celebrate:

[vlim]

JonC:

Pardon me.


NCL = Normal Chinese Language?

HML = Higher Mother Language or Higher Malay Language? :?

err there are only CL = chinese language and HCL = higher chinese language

[kiasimom]

vlim:

JonC:

Pardon me.


NCL = Normal Chinese Language?

HML = Higher Mother Language or Higher Malay Language? :?

err there are only CL = chinese language and HCL = higher chinese language

Hi vlim,

Long time didn't hear from you!!
How are you?

[zeemimi]

cafelatte:

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 ?

the adv of take HCL at PSLE is 1-3 bonus points (depending on HCL results)to enter SAP sec school.

you can still take HCL at Secondary 1 (even if you have not taken HCL in PSLE) if you are in the top 10% for PSLE or if you are in the top 11-30% with a A* for the CL paper. Applies to malay and tamil too.

those taking HCL at Sec will sit for the the 'O' level CL paper at the end of Sec 3. And another paper at Sec 4. If pass, no need to take chinese in JC.