All About SAP Schools

[MMM]

I saw non-chinese kids in my kids’ SAP schools.


I think they do accept provided that the child is going to take chinese as MT.

[janet88]

I guess if non-Chinese kids are enrolled in SAP schools, it is understood that they will have to take HCL too, otherwise they cannot stay in the school without taking any MT. Some of these kids could have early exposure to Chinese language, or perhaps their parents want them to have a strong and better knowledge of Chinese.


I've asked the tutor the difference between the normal CL textbook and the Higher CL one. She told me there is an introductory chapter in the normal CL as compared to HCL which goes straight to the chapter itself.
Sorry if I am not able to explain myself clearly.

[MMM]

I’ve never done the comparison. I heard it’s just alittle different. But I realised that in my kids’ case, P2 is required to write mini composition for CL. I don’t think my P2 niece who is doing normal CL has that. The requirements is much higher.

[janet88]

Hi MMM,

For Compo, the teacher seems to expect 好词好句 to boost the content. It’s not just mentioning a rainy day for eg, but to describe more in the first paragraph. Also there is a need to include conversation even in the 1st paragraph.

My son’s first CL homework is to write a compo on ‘我的梦想’. NO pictures or helping words. :!: Thank goodness he had tuition that day.

[Lionel Ong]

Dear All,


Can I ask whether is it compulsory to take Higher Chinese at PSLE as a subject to qualify for entry to a SAP Secondary School like River Valley High? Can my daughter just take normal chinese at PSLE and still apply for a SAP secondary school with the required minimum cut off point for the respectively SAP secondary school?

Thanks alot.

Regards,
Lionel

[hquek]

Lionel Ong:

Dear All,


Can I ask whether is it compulsory to take Higher Chinese at PSLE as a subject to qualify for entry to a SAP Secondary School like River Valley High? Can my daughter just take normal chinese at PSLE and still apply for a SAP secondary school with the required minimum cut off point for the respectively SAP secondary school?

Thanks alot.

Regards,
Lionel

I don't think so. But doing well in HCL in PSLE will give additional points to make up that cutoff for SAP Sec schools. Doing well in HCL will NOT give any additional points if child is going to Non-SAP sec schools.

[verykiasu2010]

Lionel Ong:

Dear All,


Can I ask whether is it compulsory to take Higher Chinese at PSLE as a subject to qualify for entry to a SAP Secondary School like River Valley High? Can my daughter just take normal chinese at PSLE and still apply for a SAP secondary school with the required minimum cut off point for the respectively SAP secondary school?

Thanks alot.

Regards,
Lionel

in a SAP sec school, everyone does Chinese at HCL level, but they are not a \"chinese\" school

[xxjustakidxx]

mummytofengkai:

Which school are u particularly interested in? Even in SAP schools, standards of chinese varies. Hong Wen , Nanyang, Ai Tong and Tao Nan are those I know that have high standard for their chinese.

If i had understood it correctly, it's at P5 that the kids can opt out of higher chinese. Advice from teacher : Just let the child take it as far as he can... unless u see him / her struggling, it's probably time to pull him/ her out. It wouldnt be useful to pull him out after a yr of higher chinese.... becoz i myself was tempted to. I thought abt it this way: what values am i teaching him, to give up after a short try? So i just continue to support him in any way i could : financial by getting tutor, emotional: when he feels the going is tough to encourage him. His chinese teacher actually told me he cried in school twice becoz he had to write faster n much more, teacher made them do BI JI, extra notes for the class. And most importantly to create the environment for him, borrow chinese books from library , buy too, get him to watch chinese news.... even to get him to read chinese papers....

I've got friends that were from the P6 batch (2009) last year (1st class some more). Their chinese weren't really good. Or I should say, they can write, but can't speak.

[janet88]

My boy is in P4…at the end of this year, he will be streamed.

He has been taking HCL since P1 and I personally find it tough. Depending on his results later, I will see if he should opt out of HCL…but I heard that even normal Chinese is not easy either.

My friend’s son is in P5 and still continuing with HCL. The teacher made the class write lots of 笔记…if the kids need to go to the loo, they have to ‘borrow’ a ‘pass’ to do so…I was :!: bcos it’s not healthy to hold back urine. Anyway, will see how it goes. Sister-in-law’s daughter in St Nicholas doing Normal Chinese this year at P5 and recently heard that the poor girl is struggling. I pity the kids now. They have no chance to enjoy childhood.

[Charnic]

I fully agreed with you. Nowadays, children do not seem to enjoy childhood. My gal is in P2 now. Every night, if not her school work, she is tied down to her tuition work or assessments. Sigh... how I miss her kindy days..