Hwa Chong Institution (High School)

[mommylow]

Newkiasufat:

mommylow:

Any parent here whose DS had gone for the 4-5 weeks China Immersion Programmes to Beijing or Xi'an/Wuxi Winter Campus for Sec 3 CSE students and would like to share with us your son's educational experience there?


I understand the 5-week BSC Beijing immersion programme is more intensive and demanding in the aspect of China studies. My son is in SMTP and I am not sure whether to let him participate in the Beijing segment which I think should be more enriching compared to Xi'an and Wuxi.

Your feedback and advice on choice of programme will be greatly appreciated.

My son joined Beijing immersion last year, just for fun and relax.

I hope it had been an enriching and rewarding trip for him. Did he come back with a deeper understanding and appreciation of China and Chinese culture?

This programme will be greatly beneficial to BSP students but I can't help wondering about the relevance of this Chinese immersion programme to SMTP students but the school makes it compulsary for those in CSE.

The good thing is such trips offer experiential learning outside the classroom, enabling them to step out of their comfort zone and learn to live independently as well as honing their interactive and social skills.

[mommylow]

Song22:

mommylow:

Any parent here whose DS had gone for the 4-5 weeks China Immersion Programmes to Beijing or Xi'an/Wuxi Winter Campus for Sec 3 CSE students and would like to share with us your son's educational experience there?


I understand the 5-week BSC Beijing immersion programme is more intensive and demanding in the aspect of China studies. My son is in SMTP and I am not sure whether to let him participate in the Beijing segment which I think should be more enriching compared to Xi'an and Wuxi.

Your feedback and advice on choice of programme will be greatly appreciated.

Hi mommy low, can you also share more about SMTP? How's life in SMTP? Is it much longer hours and tougher? Is your ds enjoying it? Thanks!

Ds is coping reasonably well so far. It isn't as bad and tough as he has imagined it to be. Of course, it's only about two terms after being in the programme and many in his class are still coming to terms with its demands. The average term 1 MSG scores are about 2-3 with some getting 4 or 5.

Tough it may seem at first, it is definitely a very enriching programme as it takes learning to a higher level and offers many opportunities to stretch you to your fullest potential. A senior now in JC, had told me it was well worth the sweat and tears.

Study hours are longer and lessons generally end at about 3.30pm except Thursdays and on Fridays for CCA. DS normally has to stay back after school almost everyday for discussion with team mates to work on their Science project, a research module all SMTP students need to complete with the aid of a mentor. Study load tend to be heavier as compared to Sec 2. I heard those in IP classes are by no means having an easier time. It can be just as demanding if not more. The key to cope is to have good time management and learning to prioritise. Passion, interest and drive are important factors too.

[Song22]

Thanks for sharing mommylow!

[lexis]

Thanks for sharing, Mummylow.


Is the Science project a replacement for the Independent Studies (IS) module, or is it in addition to IS, meaning they have two projects instead of one (like in sec 1 &2)?

[mommylow]

Hi lexis, the students are required to do only one project for Science (IS), so no additional project like what you may think.


My onły gripe with the SMPT programme is the students are not doing any humans subject, not even one. They take social economics instead. I would prefer it if they can do Literature to keep them intellectually productive, boost their imaginative powers as well as refine their verbal and written skills and stretch their critical thinking.

Now I have to make sure DS is finding time to read on his own since sustained studying of Lit in school is not an option now.

[lexis]

yikes. i didn’t know that SMTP don’t do humanities.


Do they still do ELL? how does one practice writing for GP since they don’t do any humanities subject (which, like you, I feel promotes analytical thinking, writing skills)?

[CatMoon]

Hi,

sorry to ask this simple Qn: What is SMTP?
My ds is only in sec 1.
:scratchhead:

[lexis]

Science & Maths Talent Programme.


At Sec 3, if you qualify (i think need MSG 2 or below?), you can opt to go to the Centre of Scholastic Excellece (CSE) where u can pursue special programmes, one of which is SMTP. the other 2 are Bicultural (emphasis on CL) and humanities programmes.

Even at sec 2 we haven't been thoroughly briefed yet. During the sec 2 symposium, HCI indicated that it will conduct a formal briefing during the later part of the year.

[mommylow]

English is a compulsory subject for all, so DS still get to write GP stuff.


CatMoon,

SMTP (Science & Mathematics Talent Programme) is part of the four special programmes for CSE (Centre for Scholastic Excellence). The bulk of students will choose to remain in IP for Sec 3 /4. Promotion criteria for CSE is MSG below 2 for all programmes. For SMTP, A1 for Eng, Math and Science based on Sec 2 year end results are required. For BSP, A1 for Eng and Chinese. Humanities Programme (HP) A1 for Eng, Geog/History. Among all the special programmes, HP is the most hard core and demanding one. I think there is only one class this year. I know HCI is well recognised for her humanities programme. All CSE students must engage in a year-long research project of their chosen programme with the guidance of expert mentors. The students undergo expanded curriculum as compared to IP. Opting for CSE should be guided by personal interest and passion in the selected field of study. I have known some very bright students with stellar Sec 2 results and they chose to remain in IP because the nature of the curriculum suits them better.

[CatMoon]

mommylow:

English is a compulsory subject for all, so DS still get to write GP stuff.


CatMoon,

SMTP (Science & Mathematics Talent Programme) is part of the four special programmes for CSE (Centre for Scholastic Excellence). The bulk of students will choose to remain in IP for Sec 3 /4. Promotion criteria for CSE is MSG below 2 for all programmes. For SMTP, A1 for Eng, Math and Science based on Sec 2 year end results are required. For BSP, A1 for Eng and Chinese. Humanities Programme (HP) A1 for Eng, Geog/History. Among all the special programmes, HP is the most hard core and demanding one. I think there is only one class this year. I know HCI is well recognised for her humanities programme. All CSE students must engage in a year-long research project of their chosen programme with the guidance of expert mentors. The students undergo expanded curriculum as compared to IP. Opting for CSE should be guided by personal interest and passion in the selected field of study. I have known some very bright students with stellar Sec 2 results and they chose to remain in IP because the nature of the curriculum suits them better.

Hi mommylow and lexis,
Thanks so much for your explanations - very clear. Also very scary. Looks like heavy in research (is it like the IS now?)

:udawoman: