[PSLE MT] PSLE less weightage in Chinese / Mother Tongue
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tamarind:
As for those students who studied very hard, but still cannot do well in Chinese, they may not be using the effective methods to learn. Just like I cannot get an A in English no matter how hard I tried, I was not learning it correctly. We cannot do well in languages simply by memorizing the textbooks. Parents should put in effort to find out what are the correct and effective methods of learning a language.
I wonder why this madam never try to find more effective methods to learn Chinese for her grandchildren ?
http://www.straitstimes.com/STForum/Story/STIStory_517587.html
Do it quickly
THREE of my grandchildren who took their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) performed superbly in every subject bar Chinese, which devalued their performance and cost two of them a place in a top secondary school.
The one who was lucky got into the school of his choice only after appealing. He had scored A-stars in English, Maths and Science but managed only a B in Chinese.
Despite devoting most of his time to studying Chinese, it was this language which dragged his aggregate score down to 240 - and into the bottom classes of secondary school. Reason: the classes were divided according to PSLE scores.
By Secondary 3, he had worked his way back to the top classes. But it was the same story in his GCE O levels. He aced all his subjects bar Chinese in which he got a C. In junior college now, he is performing well in every subject but this time, his mother tongue may pose an even greater threat to his academic future. He failed H1 Chinese and the school advised him to retake the exam or compromise his scholarship applications.
Lose out on scholarships because of Chinese? If that happens, my grandson may be forced to fulfil his academic dream overseas. And with that, Singapore will lose another bright spark to a foreign country.
I am certain that thousands of students have suffered the same fate as my three grandchildren since the bilingual policy was introduced almost 40 years ago.
I worry because I have five other grandchildren who must take the PSLE. Our examination system should recognise a pupil's strengths, not penalise his weaknesses. The fairer weighting for a PSLE aggregate score is to calculate it based on a pupil's best three subjects. He should be required to only pass the fourth compulsory subject.
The Government should implement the new weighting immediately and not let another generation be penalised.
Chong Geok Kheng (Madam)
My version of story
Yes ! Do it quickly
THREE of my grandchildren who took their Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) performed superbly in every subject bar English, which devalued their performance and cost two of them a place in a top secondary school.
The one who was lucky got into the school of his choice only after appealing. He had scored A-stars in Chinese, Maths and Science but managed only a B in English.
Despite devoting most of his time to studying English, it was this language which dragged his aggregate score down to 240 - and into the bottom classes of secondary school. Reason: the classes were divided according to PSLE scores.
By Secondary 3, he had worked his way back to the top classes. But it was the same story in his GCE O levels. He aced all his subjects bar Englishin which he got a C. In junior college now, he is performing well in every subject but this time, his mother tongue may pose an even greater threat to his academic future. He failed English and the school advised him to retake the exam or compromise his scholarship applications.
Lose out on scholarships because of English? If that happens, my grandson may be forced to fulfil his academic dream overseas. And with that, Singapore will lose another bright spark to a foreign country.
I am certain that thousands of students have suffered the same fate as my three grandchildren since the bilingual policy was introduced almost 40 years ago.
I worry because I have five other grandchildren who must take the PSLE. Our examination system should recognise a pupil's strengths, not penalise his weaknesses. The fairer weighting for a PSLE aggregate score is to calculate it based on a pupil's best three subjects. He should be required to only pass the fourth compulsory subject.
The Government should implement the new weighting immediately and not let another generation be penalised.
Chong Geok Kheng (granma) -
MMM:
Wonder how does this affect students who are good in MT? Also kids from SAP school.
My friend's kid is in SAP school. The kids in the school are advised to take only normal CL for PLSE not HCL. I think this is not for every SAP school. -
To be fair, grandma Chong has a valid grouse
cos’ there r ppl who find it difficult to learn a
2nd language, though I also think she is
being selfish in her view.
Remember how many suffered thro’ the govt
bilingual policy many years ago?
The govt is not always rite despite its best efforts.
Let’s hope MOE consider carefully n thoroughly
before implementing any changes.
Any change should cater to this group of ppl
without penalizing those who r good in languages. -
snowz:
Most SAP schools advise the kids to take HCL unless their CL is really very bad. For eg, in NYPS, at least 75% takes HCL. They must have some \"secrets\" to make the kids master the languageMMM:
Wonder how does this affect students who are good in MT? Also kids from SAP school.
My friend's kid is in SAP school. The kids in the school are advised to take only normal CL for PLSE not HCL. I think this is not for every SAP school. -
snowz:
Which SAP school is dat?
My friend's kid is in SAP school. The kids in the school are advised to take only normal CL for PLSE not HCL. I think this is not for every SAP school.
This is d school's policy?
Or just an individual(s) opinion for certain kids? -
Way2GO:
[color=darkblue]Ah Tamarind (& Blobbi), I caught your drift
the first time round though
I didn't elaborate in my response above.
Being Singaporean is a nationality
Chinese, Malay, Indian, etc is a race
You can change nationality
but u can never change the race
u r born with.
I didn't elaborate either, but if I did, I would said similar things to what you said, Way2Go. Absolutely, being Singaporean is a nationality, and it does not explain our colouring, our biological race.
Which is why no matter what, for the sake of our own identity, I cannot support reducing the importance of learning Chinese. If the government lowers the bar, it's only natural that the standard goes down with it. And as so many people have pointed out, the standard isn't that great to begin with.
Another issue that is stirring is the importance of the Chinese economy on the world stage. We have these standards so that children can aspire and work towards them. We don't reduce these standards because they're not doing well. Can you imagine if Taiwan, Korea and Japan were to do away/minimize the importance of English in school? They'll get even better marks for sure, but can they be competitive globally?
I completely believe in the sanctity of good teachers. As embarrassingly jia kantang as I am, there was one yr in Sec 1 when I scored top marks for Chinese, because the teacher (an old retired teacher from China) was wonderful - he drew cultural and historical references into the language. To this day, I remember these little anecdotes and I pass it along to my son when I can. So rather than give up and alter the requirements, can we put in more effort and ingenuity in arousing interest?
Until we believe that we truly have the best, most interesting curriculum in place, and despite this, our children are failing, we shouldn't be thinking of lowering the bar. -
Funny how people think that bright sparks only exist in the those strong in English. If I recall rightly, during my time many could do well in all subjects except English and lowering English standards was completely unheard of and in the end we managed to raise the bar on our English standards. So why give up on MT and become monolingual in a multi-racial country? Are we not special as Singaporeans because of our linguistic capability? In India, I know of friends who have mastered 9 or 10 Indian languages and 3-4 Indian languages is the average. And mind you, they emphasized to me they are languages with proper scripts for each, not dialects.
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Agree with ur points Blobbi.
Instead of lowering d bar further
we should teach our young to strive
harder to achieve. Absolutely.
If u speak to those who hv gone
thro’ d Chinese schools in d 50s n 60s,
our current CL std is oredi laughable
for an A* grade in PSLE -
Way2GO:
Actually this happens in every SAP school. By P5 they will decide to proceed with hcl for PSLE or drop to normal Chinese. However majority will continue like what someone mentioned 75% in NYPS will do it.
Which SAP school is dat?snowz:
My friend's kid is in SAP school. The kids in the school are advised to take only normal CL for PLSE not HCL. I think this is not for every SAP school.
This is d school's policy?
Or just an individual(s) opinion for certain kids? -
Granny Chong may have a valid point. But there are 2 possibilities - that her whole brood is genetically disinclined towards learning a second language, OR, the environment is not conducive.
Can’t do anything about the 1st although it’s statiscally unlikely - for eg the Ashkanazi Jews have a predisposition to Tay-Sachs disease, but not all of them have it. Instead she can try to uplift the second. Go Granny Go! Talk about your ancestors in China, bring them back for a holiday, immerse them in the language, watch Chinese videos together, have a speak Chinese day of the week … The list goes on.
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