Secondary School Chinese
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Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2011533\" time=\"1610208742\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2011533 time=1610208742 user_id=58173]
Ehmm I wouldn't say so - the priority is to fortify language (grammar) foundation and expand on range of vocab. When this is achieved, students will have no/little problem
Thank you for the detailed explanation. Would you recommend focusing on compo and or compre instead, as a long term solution?
May I also ask for IP schools who takes higher Chinese. Do the children take O level HCL and/or Chinese? Or just HCL. Thanks![/quote]
- understanding passages (be it compre, cloze passage or editing)
- expressing their views (email writing, discursive writing, evaluative questions in OE compre, oral conversation)
- writing (avoid direct English translation or broken sentences given the amount of CL reading they would have done) and summarising (while attempting the paragraph summary question, know what phrases can be used to replace existing ones in the passage)
- avoiding and identifying grammar mistakes (for editing section)
- choosing the appropriate phrases (for cloze passage)
When their 听、说 and 读 skills are on point, their 写 will not be too far off as they will be able to apply what has been learnt appropriately.
As for the other question, they only take HCL (unless they drop after Year 2 or Year 3).
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kylene\" post_id=\"2011540\" time=\"1610238008\" user_id=\"6993:
Yup, definitely, that's the fundamental that has to be taken care of. Was just highlighting that unlike Pri level CL, relying on syllabus text alone will not be sufficient to do well for Sec level HCL.
Thank you for taking the time to explain !
My DS is in Sec 1 now so I suppose he still needs to know the textbook words to a certain extent .
Any suggestions how we can prepare for the HCL Os ? Thanks so much !
(1) Read up in order to expand range of vocab, learn language expression as well as gain knowledge regarding issues/topics. Some materials to consider include:
https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/chinese-books-recommended-reading-list-for-sji-lower-secondary/products/9789814861694
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/keywords/dou-hao-0magazine (made compulsory by some schools)
Lower Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/10099301-2021
Upper Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/16734955-21
(2) Watch and listen - again, get to improve on language skills + gain knowledge. Especially useful in preparation for oral practice since HCL oral exam has a 口头报告 component where student need to watch, listen and take down notes during the preparation period. HCL oral video also includes \"people being interviewed\" at times. Programmes like 前线追踪 and 星期二特写 are informative and up to date - very useful for working on email writing, discursive writing and oral conversation.
If parents have the time to accompany their child in watching the programme, they can have some light hearted discussion too - family time + working on verbal skills.
A lot of the writing by upper Sec requires expression of views so being exposed to various topics is a big plus (pointers for content + saves time trying to squeeze out ideas/thoughts).
For example, I was covering the topic of 小贩文化/申遗 (Singapore's hawker culture added to Unesco list) a couple of weeks ago and used 前线追踪's 1 Jan 2021 issue which covered related content as useful additional/after lesson material for the students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zQrVkaPLKk&list=PLHjeeBYXV10cH1ThEzQsqZ7KqDrIHgA4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvCUKGmxdE&list=PLHjeeBYXV10fE1RK_6lEyOL-EC_cyMVG9
(3) Holistic and all rounded approach in learning. Doing cloze passage doesn't mean you are practicing for cloze passage only, likewise for compre. Have https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=600#p2002580 of how students can pick up skills/information useful for compo writing while practicing on compre. Have a notebook to jot down good descriptive phrases, proverbs and quotable quotes that you come across from passages in various exercises. -
chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2011646\" time=\"1610302982\" user_id=\"162894:
Thank you Chen Laoshi !
Yup, definitely, that's the fundamental that has to be taken care of. Was just highlighting that unlike Pri level CL, relying on syllabus text alone will not be sufficient to do well for Sec level HCL.kylene\" post_id=\"2011540\" time=\"1610238008\" user_id=\"6993:
Thank you for taking the time to explain !
My DS is in Sec 1 now so I suppose he still needs to know the textbook words to a certain extent .
Any suggestions how we can prepare for the HCL Os ? Thanks so much !
(1) Read up in order to expand range of vocab, learn language expression as well as gain knowledge regarding issues/topics. Some materials to consider include:
https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/chinese-books-recommended-reading-list-for-sji-lower-secondary/products/9789814861694
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/keywords/dou-hao-0magazine (made compulsory by some schools)
Lower Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/10099301-2021
Upper Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/16734955-21
(2) Watch and listen - again, get to improve on language skills + gain knowledge. Especially useful in preparation for oral practice since HCL oral exam has a 口头报告 component where student need to watch, listen and take down notes during the preparation period. HCL oral video also includes \"people being interviewed\" at times. Programmes like 前线追踪 and 星期二特写 are informative and up to date - very useful for working on email writing, discursive writing and oral conversation.
If parents have the time to accompany their child in watching the programme, they can have some light hearted discussion too - family time + working on verbal skills.
A lot of the writing by upper Sec requires expression of views so being exposed to various topics is a big plus (pointers for content + saves time trying to squeeze out ideas/thoughts).
For example, I was covering the topic of 小贩文化/申遗 (Singapore's hawker culture added to Unesco list) a couple of weeks ago and used 前线追踪's 1 Jan 2021 issue which covered related content as useful additional/after lesson material for the students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zQrVkaPLKk&list=PLHjeeBYXV10cH1ThEzQsqZ7KqDrIHgA4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvCUKGmxdE&list=PLHjeeBYXV10fE1RK_6lEyOL-EC_cyMVG9
(3) Holistic and all rounded approach in learning. Doing cloze passage doesn't mean you are practicing for cloze passage only, likewise for compre. Have https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=600#p2002580 of how students can pick up skills/information useful for compo writing while practicing on compre. Have a notebook to jot down good descriptive phrases, proverbs and quotable quotes that you come across from passages in various exercises. -
Chen laoshi,
Do you have recommendation for assessment books to practice on HCL cloze passage which requires choosing say from a list of 8-10 words to fill in the blanks?
(Most cloze passages I found are those asking the child to choose the correct word out of 4 helping words for each blank)
Thanks! -
:goodpost:
chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2011646\" time=\"1610302982\" user_id=\"162894:
Yup, definitely, that's the fundamental that has to be taken care of. Was just highlighting that unlike Pri level CL, relying on syllabus text alone will not be sufficient to do well for Sec level HCL.kylene\" post_id=\"2011540\" time=\"1610238008\" user_id=\"6993:
Thank you for taking the time to explain !
My DS is in Sec 1 now so I suppose he still needs to know the textbook words to a certain extent .
Any suggestions how we can prepare for the HCL Os ? Thanks so much !
(1) Read up in order to expand range of vocab, learn language expression as well as gain knowledge regarding issues/topics. Some materials to consider include:
https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/chinese-books-recommended-reading-list-for-sji-lower-secondary/products/9789814861694
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/keywords/dou-hao-0magazine (made compulsory by some schools)
Lower Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/10099301-2021
Upper Sec: https://yuyi.com.sg/collections/magazines/products/16734955-21
(2) Watch and listen - again, get to improve on language skills + gain knowledge. Especially useful in preparation for oral practice since HCL oral exam has a 口头报告 component where student need to watch, listen and take down notes during the preparation period. HCL oral video also includes \"people being interviewed\" at times. Programmes like 前线追踪 and 星期二特写 are informative and up to date - very useful for working on email writing, discursive writing and oral conversation.
If parents have the time to accompany their child in watching the programme, they can have some light hearted discussion too - family time + working on verbal skills.
A lot of the writing by upper Sec requires expression of views so being exposed to various topics is a big plus (pointers for content + saves time trying to squeeze out ideas/thoughts).
For example, I was covering the topic of 小贩文化/申遗 (Singapore's hawker culture added to Unesco list) a couple of weeks ago and used 前线追踪's 1 Jan 2021 issue which covered related content as useful additional/after lesson material for the students.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zQrVkaPLKk&list=PLHjeeBYXV10cH1ThEzQsqZ7KqDrIHgA4Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvCUKGmxdE&list=PLHjeeBYXV10fE1RK_6lEyOL-EC_cyMVG9
(3) Holistic and all rounded approach in learning. Doing cloze passage doesn't mean you are practicing for cloze passage only, likewise for compre. Have https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=600#p2002580 of how students can pick up skills/information useful for compo writing while practicing on compre. Have a notebook to jot down good descriptive phrases, proverbs and quotable quotes that you come across from passages in various exercises. -
:thankyou:
chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2011645\" time=\"1610302853\" user_id=\"162894:
Ehmm I wouldn't say so - the priority is to fortify language (grammar) foundation and expand on range of vocab. When this is achieved, students will have no/little problemZeal mummy\" post_id=\"2011533\" time=\"1610208742\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2011533 time=1610208742 user_id=58173]Thank you for the detailed explanation. Would you recommend focusing on compo and or compre instead, as a long term solution?
May I also ask for IP schools who takes higher Chinese. Do the children take O level HCL and/or Chinese? Or just HCL. Thanks!
- understanding passages (be it compre, cloze passage or editing)
- expressing their views (email writing, discursive writing, evaluative questions in OE compre, oral conversation)
- writing (avoid direct English translation or broken sentences given the amount of CL reading they would have done) and summarising (while attempting the paragraph summary question, know what phrases can be used to replace existing ones in the passage)
- avoiding and identifying grammar mistakes (for editing section)
- choosing the appropriate phrases (for cloze passage)
When their 听、说 and 读 skills are on point, their 写 will not be too far off as they will be able to apply what has been learnt appropriately.
As for the other question, they only take HCL (unless they drop after Year 2 or Year 3).[/quote] -
newbieks\" post_id=\"2012023\" time=\"1610556214\" user_id=\"178749:
Hi newbieks,
Chen laoshi,
Do you have recommendation for assessment books to practice on HCL cloze passage which requires choosing say from a list of 8-10 words to fill in the blanks?
(Most cloze passages I found are those asking the child to choose the correct word out of 4 helping words for each blank)
Thanks!
Just to clarify, have you mistaken the type of cloze passage that is tested for Sec level HCL with that of Pri level HCL? The one with
- 8 options listed in a box at the top of the section, with 5 questions in the passage is Pri level HCL.
- 4 options for each of the 5 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
- 4 options for each of the 10 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
For Sec level students, they should attempt the ones with 4 options to each question so that they can get exposed to as many phrases as possible (i.e. check up the meaning of those that they do not understand, even if they may not be the answer to the respective questions).
For example there was this question: \"称得上是美味Q7（1宴会 2佳宴 3佳酿 4佳肴）\", even if the student knows the answer is 4, by reading up on the others options, he/she will be able to differentiate between their meaning and/or usage and pick up more vocabulary instantly (as in, don't have to wait till he/she comes across that unknown phrase in any passage some other time).![](\"https://i.imgur.com/YkOxCyv.jpg\")
https://i.imgur.com/YkOxCyv.jpg\">
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chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2012070\" time=\"1610595941\" user_id=\"162894:
Hi thanks for the detailed reply..
Hi newbieks,newbieks\" post_id=\"2012023\" time=\"1610556214\" user_id=\"178749:
Chen laoshi,
Do you have recommendation for assessment books to practice on HCL cloze passage which requires choosing say from a list of 8-10 words to fill in the blanks?
(Most cloze passages I found are those asking the child to choose the correct word out of 4 helping words for each blank)
Thanks!
Just to clarify, have you mistaken the type of cloze passage that is tested for Sec level HCL with that of Pri level HCL? The one with
- 8 options listed in a box at the top of the section, with 5 questions in the passage is Pri level HCL.
- 4 options for each of the 5 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
- 4 options for each of the 10 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
For Sec level students, they should attempt the ones with 4 options to each question so that they can get exposed to as many phrases as possible (i.e. check up the meaning of those that they do not understand, even if they may not be the answer to the respective questions).
For example there was this question: \"称得上是美味Q7（1宴会 2佳宴 3佳酿 4佳肴）\", even if the student knows the answer is 4, by reading up on the others options, he/she will be able to differentiate between their meaning and/or usage and pick up more vocabulary instantly (as in, don't have to wait till he/she comes across that unknown phrase in any passage some other time).
My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice? -
newbieks\" post_id=\"2012077\" time=\"1610597652\" user_id=\"178749:
I see. Nope, it's still common for schools to test components that are eventually not tested in O Levels (some other examples were https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=620#p2011518), as assessment of learning.
Hi thanks for the detailed reply..
My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice?
For the type of cloze passage you mentioned, the options given are usually from syllabus text and/or the list of 250 must-learn idioms.
The ones with 4 options for each question are generally more difficult (since students will \"need to understand\" 20 phrases as opposed to 8 or 10) and since that is the O Level format, the assessment books practices are in accordance to it. If your child practices using the topical assessment book's (i.e. the ones with exercises for each chapter) cloze passage exercises, they should help too.
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chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2012087\" time=\"1610602685\" user_id=\"162894:
Thanks for the great idea!
I see. Nope, it's still common for schools to test components that are eventually not tested in O Levels (some other examples were https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=620#p2011518), as assessment of learning.newbieks\" post_id=\"2012077\" time=\"1610597652\" user_id=\"178749:
Hi thanks for the detailed reply..
My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice?
For the type of cloze passage you mentioned, the options given are usually from syllabus text and/or the list of 250 must-learn idioms.
The ones with 4 options for each question is generally more difficult (since students will \"need to understand\" 20 phrases as opposed to 8 or 10) and since that is the O Level format, the assessment books practices are in accordance to it. If your child practices using the topical assessment book's (i.e. the ones with exercises for each chapter) cloze passage exercises, they should help too.
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