All About Autism
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tyeogh:
My ASD girl has been exempted from MT based on her diagnosis. MOE grants these exemptions based on the recognition that learning disabled kids already have a tough time with 1 language and the other subjects, and MT is something that can be left out without affecting the other subjects. It would be difficult to exempt from English or Maths, for eg, without affecting overall learning. I don't really see that getting such an exemption is a somewhat underhand way of escaping the MT requirement, which you imply by using the word 'keng'. I see it as an admission that the child has learning disabilities and needs some lightening of the school workload to help her cope overall. For my daughter at least, we have constantly had to make choices about what is really crucial for her to learn and what are nice-to-haves which can be dropped or postponed. For her, we decided that MT is a nice-to-have. Maths, which takes up a lot of her time, is more crucial.So that got me discussing with my wife and we agree that for our sped son, since he is already struggling with basic English, we will similarly \"keng\" out of chinese. Not sure if it is the right thing to do.
What are your thoughts? Will you want your sped child excused from offering a 2nd language? (I say offer because he still learns but he will not offer it as an exam subject)
Btw my 3 other NT kids are taking chinese in primary school. One word - Fainted! -
As always, slmkhoo, quick on replies and practical in approach
Thank you for sharing. Reinforces my resolve to get my son exempted. -
tyeogh:
You seeking affirmation or advice?Hi everyone,
I was just talking to a colleague who told me his P5 son in ACS skips chinese meaning he somehow found a way to get a specialist to certify his son is dyspraxic. Dont think he is actually dyspraxic. ACS and chinese is like chalk and cheese so it is \"keng\".
He told me 1/3 of his son's classmates are similiarly excused. So what happens is these boys will not offer chinese as a PSLE or O level subject. They will still attend chinese class because the boys have nothing else to do during those lessons. They just do not sit for any chinese exams. It is like a secret loophole in our system to escape having a 2nd language.
He reasoned our chinese standard is a waste of time. Our intonations and words are different from China's chinese. In any case, too much time and effort are spent learning a language the child may never use when he is older.
So that got me discussing with my wife and we agree that for our sped son, since he is already struggling with basic English, we will similarly \"keng\" out of chinese. Not sure if it is the right thing to do.
What are your thoughts? Will you want your sped child excused from offering a 2nd language? (I say offer because he still learns but he will not offer it as an exam subject)
Btw my 3 other NT kids are taking chinese in primary school. One word - Fainted!
I believe there's only One voice you ought to be hearing from. ...
Have a blessed Sunday! -
fluttershy:
Hi fluttershy,hi mummies,
have any of you heard about EIC kindergarten? a friend suggested for me to check it out there. It's around balestier area. The teacher student ratio is 2:5. Any input or info is greatly appreciated!
they have one-on-one session too for the older kids.
Yes, I sent my boy to EIC there from 2.5 yo to almost 4 yo when he was younger. He attended EIC daily in place of childcare then as the teacher said he was not really responding well to them. They were fantastic and treated my boy very well and with small class size and dedicated teachers. Taught him OT stuff as well as phonics etc. They also had art and music lessons. My boy spoke his first words there at about 3.5 yo. He benefited a lot from there and it remained the best thing that I have done for him. Very grateful to them and certainly no regrets!
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julybabe:
Hi, the Childcare also facing difficulties with handling my gal + manpower consideration. So i have no choice but to pull her out.
Due to principal's feedback that my boy has no interest in the year-end concert plus they could not spare the manpower to look after him off-stage during Term 4 practices etc. I have pulled my boy out of Term 4 for kindergarten. He has repeated K2 at this kindy and all things considered, decided not to fight this battle. He will prep for P1 in the last term this year and looking forward to next year! -
tyeogh:
What are your thoughts? Will you want your sped child excused from offering a 2nd language? (I say offer because he still learns but he will not offer it as an exam subject)
Hi tyeogh,
Yes, I will want my sped kid excused from CL2. He will still learn and sit in class and I have also engaged a private tutor for him at home. The tutor has feedback that his strength is in writing the chinese character but not in reading. Am afraid he won't be able to meet the demands of CL2 as an examination subject. In this case, it is through \"no choice\" but to exempt him. For us surely will not be viewed as \"keng\" by the school! -
Nebbermind, Seeking views. Sometimes my antenna down. Cannot receive that one voice ..... kekekeke :rotflmao:
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DesertWind:
Yay!! Another supporter!
Hi tyeogh,
Yes, I will want my sped kid excused from CL2. He will still learn and sit in class and I have also engaged a private tutor for him at home. The tutor has feedback that his strength is in writing the chinese character but not in reading. Am afraid he won't be able to meet the demands of CL2 as an examination subject. In this case, it is through \"no choice\" but to exempt him. For us surely will not be viewed as \"keng\" by the school!
You are right about \"the demands of CL2\". I saw my daughter's P4 chinese. I think I am dyspraxic too... :slapshead: -
On MT exemption: Some will want to avoid MT because it is difficult for their kids; some will want exemption to free up time to work on other, more important things. I don’t think we should look at MT exemption solely as a way to avoid MT. In my daughter’s case, she would probably do OK in MT given more hours in the day, but she really needs that extra time and energy to cope with her other issues such as the stress of staying organised and on task, working in groups and coordinating with others, learning Maths, learning life skills (which she takes longer to master than NT kids) etc. Given a choice, she would rather study MT than Maths! And she would probably score higher too.
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tyeogh
My daughter in Pathlight School does not take Chinese in school. My two NT gals take higher Chinese in their primary school.
My take is this. If the child has learning issues and is struggling with the language, then there is no point pushing the child with two languages. The priority is for the individual to be communicative to enable daily functioning.
However, if the child is well able and the excuses for wanting exemption from mother tongue are that ‘its a waste of time’ and ‘not interested’, then I think its quite regrettable that there are people abusing the system that MOE has put in place out of good intentions.
JMHO.
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