[PSLE MT] PSLE less weightage in Chinese / Mother Tongue
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Did everyone read the news on ST today. It had a coverage of views from both camps. It does appear that based on feedback to the forum. Around 80% are against lowering of MT.
I also found it heartening to know that those against the lowering of MT are young professionals who had benefitted from the bilingual system.
Another interesting observation was the 1991 GE results where due to CL decision at that point, it cost the ruling party 4 seats. Is our GE round the corner??? -
dimsum:
That's right. We should only listen to experts in education who have conducted extensive research on a huge number of kids. These people must also be experts in Chinese. Not just based on personal experiences only. LKY was a lawyer and politician, not an educator, and he is certainly not an expert in the Chinese language. A chinese teacher in primary school is more qualified than him to make any comments about this issue, because the teacher has taught hundreds of children, LKY has not.
Ermmm.. he made those statements based on his own personal learning experience (but he learned at an old age) and what her neurologist daughter said. So, I won't say it's based on some solid, scientific research.ksi:
Tamarind, I suppose the main data point is LKY. He stood up to say that it was a feat from a bio point for some people. For LKY to make such statements, it would be assumed that he had done his research sufficiently to make the statements. Of course there is a possibilty of error but let's give him some benefit of doubt. -
If there is no scientific evidence of MT disability, then ATTITUDE is the only explanation of why one can be tortured by MT given same good MT exposure at early age.
Perhaps those 10% are fully loaded thus able to afford giving up MT. they always have backup plan… -
tamarind:
That's right. We should only listen to experts in education who have conducted extensive research on a huge number of kids. These people must also be experts in Chinese. Not just based on personal experiences only. LKY was a lawyer and politician, not an educator, and he is certainly not an expert in the Chinese language. A chinese teacher in primary school is more qualified than him to make any comments about this issue, because the teacher has taught hundreds of children, LKY has not.
The fact is, LKY in his adulthood can make it in learning mandarin, why the young kids with all the teachers' help, cannot ? The ultimate analysis conclusion : attitude and will / determination. If the parents day in day out say it is difficult, the kids will find it so. If the parents say it is not difficult but is achievable, it can be achieved. -
http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=Ts9SsiA
A more meaningful thing to do, really is to set up a \"It is not too late to learn MT/CL\" foundation, to take care of people like 3Boys. Like he said, no stick. Use carrot.
I will volunteer my service. Anyone ? We can start a facebook page. -
Everyone, please bear in mind that LKY learned spoken Mandarin and what the children need to do in school is of higher proficiency than just spoken Mandarin. Also, for LKY, he has a political need to do so, so he has a strong motivation behind him and being an adult, he has also the maturity to understand why he needs to do so. For his Mandarin speeches, they were prepared for him, he only needed to learn the HYPY to deliver them. Can he script it himself? I doubt so but I give him alot of credit for learning spoken Mandarin at his age like all of you.
Children only know about fun, they don’t understand everything that LKY can understand as an adult, so the motivation is weak as long as the lesson is not engaging for them.
With that, I like to caution that while we are passionately putting across our reasons on MT should not be lowered, we should refrain from overcondemning why people cannot learn. They are people who really cannot and it is really an aptitude issue, we should leave it at that as they are, in any case, minority, no point moving the opposition up the creek and all things go irrational. There is no benefit to all. -
we do not condemn people who does not want to learn MT
what we are saying is that it is unfair to lower the weightage of any subject just to suit certain group of people
it is simply unfair
either abolish it or make it equal weightage
a pupil who can master all 4 subjects is simply more capable and more deserving than one who can only master 3 subjects -
Say hypothetically weightage is lowered to 20%
If some feel that lowering Chinese weightage can allow children to concentrate on the bigger slice of cake, I think their Maths is not right. 20% is still substantial! To be top of cohort, every tiny % counts, isn't it?
As for my personal stand, I'm pretty neutral whether MOE remain or reduce weightage.
Will simply tell my kids to garner any marks they can :ugogirl: :boogie: -
sleepy:
Don't think it can be 20%. It'll be difficult to divide the remaining 80% into 3 equally for the other 3 subjects. More likely 22% or 19%. If not, then one other subject need to reduce weightage too. So become 20,20 30,30. Easier to calculate.Say hypothetically weightage is lowered to 20%
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shine:
Regardless of 22% or 19%, it is still a substantial %
Don't think it can be 20%. It'll be difficult to divide the remaining 80% into 3 equally for the other 3 subjects. More likely 22% or 19%. If not, then one other subject need to reduce weightage too. So become 20,20 30,30. Easier to calculate.sleepy:
Say hypothetically weightage is lowered to 20%
Unless it is reduced to some negligible % (unlikely) I don't think it's wise to pay lesser attention to Chinese subject
My strategy remains the same - garner any marks within reach
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