[PSLE MT] PSLE less weightage in Chinese / Mother Tongue

[corneyAmber]

rains:

minnie2004:

There are research showing it benefits the brain development as the child has to constantly switch between languages and think in more than 1 language. Learning Chinese and Eng, in particular, involves using different parts of the brain (image and logic). This in turn, will help in Math and science.


No wonder multilingual countries like Switzerland can produce so many Nobel price winners :celebrate:

Really? I can't do maths and science to save my own life. I was a constant failure at maths and science. Actually I always feel that languages and maths and science are two different thinking paths. Whatever that's considered 'logical' in maths and science seem illogical to me. I never knew maths is classified as 'logical intelligence' until I learnt that. It was a complete shock to me.

So I don't agree that learning Chinese and English helps in doing Maths and Science.

There are always exceptions to the rule. The research studies the general trend.

[Busymom]

ksi:

Sigh..if you look at the polling, \"nay\" has dropped to less than 70%. I think the exam-oriented mindset is hard to change. Scoring for exams is all that matters for most people.

no lah, still > 70% now.

but since you mentioned, wonder if there are any students who voted in the poll?

[minnie2004]

rains:

minnie2004:

There are research showing it benefits the brain development as the child has to constantly switch between languages and think in more than 1 language. Learning Chinese and Eng, in particular, involves using different parts of the brain (image and logic). This in turn, will help in Math and science.


No wonder multilingual countries like Switzerland can produce so many Nobel price winners :celebrate:

Really? I can't do maths and science to save my own life. I was a constant failure at maths and science. Actually I always feel that languages and maths and science are two different thinking paths. Whatever that's considered 'logical' in maths and science seem illogical to me. I never knew maths is classified as 'logical intelligence' until I learnt that. It was a complete shock to me.

So I don't agree that learning Chinese and English helps in doing Maths and Science.

I'm sorry but I don't quite get what you were trying to say. You were saying that despite excelling in Chinese and Eng, you failed in math and science? Hence the conclusion \"So I don't agree that learning Chinese and English helps in doing Maths and Science\"?

From my personal experience, the top students I know from school (at least at primary school level) are usually all-rounders. I don't recall anyone who's great in languages but failed in other subjects.

Maybe it's as ksi said, there are exceptions to the rule. Then again, if you use the wrong study method, you can always fail in an subject irrespective of how smart you are.

[corneyAmber]

Busymom:

ksi:

Sigh..if you look at the polling, \"nay\" has dropped to less than 70%. I think the exam-oriented mindset is hard to change. Scoring for exams is all that matters for most people.

no lah, still > 70% now.

but since you mentioned, wonder if there are any students who voted in the poll?

Oh, it came back to 70+ again. Just now was 68%.

I don't know if they poll but ihavethingtosay claims to be a student.

[dimsum]

Emphasis on mother tongues a vital feature of Singapore’s education: PM Lee

Posted: 03 May 2010 1912 hrs

SINGAPORE : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said the emphasis on mother tongues is a vital feature of Singapore’s education system.

In a statement, Mr Lee said the government is determined to progressively strengthen and update its teaching and examination.

The government has noted public responses to Education Minister Ng Eng Hen’s recent comments on the weightage of mother tongue at the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).

Mr Lee said he knows many Singaporeans are concerned about this and will be meeting the media soon with Dr Ng to address this.

In a newspaper interview on April 21, Dr Ng had said his ministry is studying whether mother tongue language should carry a lower weightage than the other three subjects at PSLE.

Right now, it accounts for 25 per cent of the aggregate score used for entry into secondary school.

- CNA/al

[tamarind]

dimsum,

Thanks for posting this news. This is the front page news on the Zao Bao newspaper today. The Chinese news mentioned that many parents have sent in their feedback. My feeling is that Mr Lee is not in agreement with Mr Ng ?

[corneyAmber]

tamarind:

dimsum,

Thanks for posting this news. This is the front page news on the Zao Bao newspaper today. The Chinese news mentioned that many parents have sent in their feedback. My feeling is that Mr Lee is not in agreement with Mr Ng ?

Mr Lee was from Catholic High. I am sure he appreciates the learning of the Chinese language albeit he is using more English now.

[MMM]

I heard this on Channel 8 news and it was short and sweet.


Let’s wait for the session with PM Lee and Dr Ng. I assumed that if he is pro the lowering of weightage, he would have made strong comments supporting that. So there is still hope.

Within our family, we had this discussion during our gathering on saturday. We are in fact divided. My sil with a P6 son who is struggling with MT hopes for the change. We felt that she has not done enough to support the learning of MT so this should not be a easy way out. Meanwhile my bil and myself were like… no way they should change.

[tree nymph]

To the people who say YES to lowering the weightage of MT


Have you ever wondered - if MOE really lowers the weightage of MT in PSLE exams, do you really think that your kid will do better in PSLE and hence able to get into a better/good secondary school?

The general trend is that most kids are ‘English educated’, therefore most of them are probably not as good in Chinese language but better in the other subjects. Now if the chinese weightage is lowered, your kid should do better in the PSLE, so WILL (in general) the other kids! That means the entry level for the good secondary schools will also go up and the competition will still be there.

so if you think that by lowering the weightage of Chinese in the PSLE exams will increase the chances of your kid getting into a better/good secondary school, I say, THINK again.

[tree nymph]

ksi:

tamarind:

dimsum,

Thanks for posting this news. This is the front page news on the Zao Bao newspaper today. The Chinese news mentioned that many parents have sent in their feedback. My feeling is that Mr Lee is not in agreement with Mr Ng ?

Mr Lee was from Catholic High. I am sure he appreciates the learning of the Chinese language albeit he is using more English now.

And I think both Mr Lee and Senior Mr Lee spent a lot of effort brushing up their Chinese/Mandarin.