Chen Lao Shi's Thread on CL Learning (Pri & Sec), Grp Classes & Workshops

[00skyblue00]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2068964\" time=\"1653788859\" user_id=\"162894:

Regarding interest, sometimes you need a spark/trigger so by introducing the children to a variety of sources, we can help them find that faster/easier.

For example, I was never interested in Chinese history or warfare stuff but I caught an episode of Romance of the Three Kingdoms 三国演义 when I was in lower Sec, which happened to be showing Zhuge Liang's 草船借箭. I got interested in the tactics and stratagems involved, continued following the drama and subsequently read the English comic of the classic (easier to understand at that stage, as well as to know about the different characters since there are so many names throughout the story), followed by the Chinese comic and then the full Chinese version of 三国演义. In a way, it’s a bit of 误打误撞 - if I hadn’t caught that episode that Sat afternoon after CCA, my interest in 古典文学 wouldn’t have grown.

I think myths & legends, fables, cultural and tradition related stories/content are something good to start with in terms of cultivating interest and/or finding \"connection\" (after all, it's the \"roots\" for those whose MT is Chinese). For example, with the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival, we can share with children stories relating to the festival and rice dumpling’s origin etc.

Doing it naturally and leisurely helps too, imo - i.e. not doing it (or letting the child think you're doing it just) with the pure intention of wanting them to learn Chinese. Just a chit-chat topic per se.

It can be really random - like when eating 油条, introduce them to it’s origin and related ppl like 岳飞、秦桧. Speaking of which, origins of idioms 成语故事are useful too. For example, as I covered 对症下药, I introduced to students to 华佗 and for 大公无私, I told them about Justice Bao (whom sadly, lots of kids nowadays have never heard about - we are lucky that back in our time we have 金超群’s 包青天 drama ).

Hmm... I rest my case...

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Chinese roots are not important and i am sure many parents like me are appreciative of the effort that many Chinese teachers and tutors like Chen laoshi are making.

Tried since preschool times... there are some kids who just do not appreciate the above, only likes fantasy books like WOF or Warriers. Kid just not interested in those topics. Not that kid dislikes learning Chinese but I recognised that there isn't interested topics or materials to prompt her interest to find out more about the language. I believe this is the key.

[Liew Nga Wing]

I have recalled a few days ago, there is a parents said her kid is good at CL, then I asked her to share how to achieve this and the answer is they are a Chinese speaking family. I have shared my family experience in this thread on April 19 and is having the same answer as all my family kids have to speak Mandarin to grand parents. And therefore it is not only whether the topics or materials are interesting or not, if the parents never speak or write in Chinese with their kids, it will be difficult to arouse the interest of their kids in CL.

[chenlaoshi]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2068988\" time=\"1653813031\" user_id=\"143605:

Hmm... I rest my case...

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that Chinese roots are not important and i am sure many parents like me are appreciative of the effort that many Chinese teachers and tutors like Chen laoshi are making.

Tried since preschool times... there are some kids who just do not appreciate the above, only likes fantasy books like WOF or Warriers. Kid just not interested in those topics. Not that kid dislikes learning Chinese but I recognised that there isn't interested topics or materials to prompt her interest to find out more about the language. I believe this is the key.

I understand what you mean, skyblue. However, the definition of \"no interest\", \"not interested\", \"boring\" etc. can be quite vague/inaccurate for some children - some say these even before they attempt or find out more. We can help unlock the doors they shut off unintentionally/unknowingly or pave more paths for them to explore.

I like the quote \"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant\". I believe if we consistently try to expose children to different aspects of Chinese language and culture, it will make a positive impact in the long run (no matter how big or small that may be). :rahrah:

[SG_KP1]

To me, the reason why so many kids are uninterested is because CL is usually viewed as their "lowest scoring subject." Few people like doing things they are "bad" at. Hence, when all the additional hoopla comes out in an effort to raise the marks, it is still often rejected in favor of something else.


The more the home/family members can do things in Chinese that are not related to academics, I think the better the chance the kids will develop an interest in the language. Could be as simple as watching tv shows/movies, playing games, and reading together.

But for some, the above is also very hard to implement. If you have an English dominant home (and grandparents), you cannot just switch to broken Chinese to try and crank up the kid’s interest here. In fact, doing so may result in more harm than good (when balancing EL and CL together).

Also, some kids just aren’t interested in Math or Science or some humanities subjects, and no one really bats an eye. We may not like it but this will be the case for some kids with CL…

[00skyblue00]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2069059\" time=\"1653889174\" user_id=\"162894:

I understand what you mean, skyblue. However, the definition of \"no interest\", \"not interested\", \"boring\" etc. can be quite vague/inaccurate for some children - some say these even before they attempt or find out more. We can help unlock the doors they shut off unintentionally/unknowingly or pave more paths for them to explore.

I like the quote \"Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant\". I believe if we consistently try to expose children to different aspects of Chinese language and culture, it will make a positive impact in the long run (no matter how big or small that may be). :rahrah:

Appreciate what you are saying. However, there is a gap of more palatable and modern/relatable materials and topics. Most of those available e. g. 三国 are from ancient China. Kids who are strong in English didn't pick up books on ancient roman, will similarly not pick up 三国.

This conclusion was not derived without attempts, years of attempt from sch, Chinese teachers, parents and yes, grandparents who are speaking mandarin. But all these attempts, kid is doing soso only. Kid is linguistic but not doing self prompt in finding out more. On the other hand, kid is self learning a foreign lang now. Kid did not get a place in her foreign lang of choice. Only recently I found kid using app to learn and doing own study. In own free time. Hence my conclusion. Non of us speak that foreign lang.

[00skyblue00]

SG_KP1\" post_id=\"2069070\" time=\"1653891875\" user_id=\"188234:

To me, the reason why so many kids are uninterested is because CL is usually viewed as their \"lowest scoring subject.\" Few people like doing things they are \"bad\" at. Hence, when all the additional hoopla comes out in an effort to raise the marks, it is still often rejected in favor of something else.
could be, esp those kids failing or borderline case. Or those whose first lang is more advanced than MT, harder to level up

The more the home/family members can do things in Chinese that are not related to academics, I think the better the chance the kids will develop an interest in the language. Could be as simple as watching tv shows/movies, playing games, and reading together.

But for some, the above is also very hard to implement. If you have an English dominant home (and grandparents), you cannot just switch to broken Chinese to try and crank up the kid's interest here. In fact, doing so may result in more harm than good (when balancing EL and CL together).
agree totally. Speaking rojek or singlish as a base lang is not desirable vs Speaking rojek or singlish as a choice with strong base in ch or Eng

Also, some kids just aren't interested in Math or Science or some humanities subjects, and no one really bats an eye. We may not like it but this will be the case for some kids with CL...
true

[chenlaoshi]

00skyblue00\" post_id=\"2069150\" time=\"1653959980\" user_id=\"143605:

Appreciate what you are saying. However, there is a gap of more palatable and modern/relatable materials and topics. Most of those available e. g. 三国 are from ancient China. Kids who are strong in English didn't pick up books on ancient roman, will similarly not pick up 三国.

This conclusion was not derived without attempts, years of attempt from sch, Chinese teachers, parents and yes, grandparents who are speaking mandarin. But all these attempts, kid is doing soso only. Kid is linguistic but not doing self prompt in finding out more. On the other hand, kid is self learning a foreign lang now. Kid did not get a place in her foreign lang of choice. Only recently I found kid using app to learn and doing own study. In own free time. Hence my conclusion. Non of us speak that foreign lang.

I think the advantage for those who's Mother Tongue (顾名思义，”母语“) is Chinese is that topics and materials can be integrated much easier from daily life \"sources\". I mean, after all, it's our roots, it's \"part of us\" - so it shouldn't be learnt just because it's a testable subject or ignored because there's no/little perceived interest. Unfortunately, the competitive (academic) environment can (understandably) cause deviation/cloud many's vision.
(Edit: On a side note, the new Pri 6 syllabus included 三国 content in Pri 6A textbook. Hopefully, it's the start of more integration of such literature content and exposure to the student's learning materials. )

Regarding the self learning of other languages, I'm sure something(s) would have triggered the child's interest (to want to explore/learn more). It could be an interesting ancient character, a video game, a movie, a song etc. Therefore, I think it's related to the point of cultivating interest via exposure and introduction through various means and sources. You know, like how some ppl pick up Japanese or Korean during the J-pop/J-drama and K-pop/K-drama craze The earlier/younger the better of course, because as some of them grow/mature, by the time we try to open more \"doors/windows\" for them, they may choose to shut them off.

Nonetheless, my personal hope is that children do not go to the extent of disliking/hating Chinese and focus more on mastering 听、说、读、写（esp. the first 3）skills. Just knowing the language & culture and being able to communicate clearly in it would be good imo.

[Toomuchlaundry]

HI Chen Lao Shi,


I am concerned that my kid will not go to a SAP primary school. The neighbourhood school we are aiming to send him to only has HCL in P5 onwards. Are the standards between CL and HCL very far? His elder sibling went to SAP school and the high HCL standards pulled her up.

[chenlaoshi]

Toomuchlaundry\" post_id=\"2069182\" time=\"1653975786\" user_id=\"197996:

HI Chen Lao Shi,

I am concerned that my kid will not go to a SAP primary school. The neighbourhood school we are aiming to send him to only has HCL in P5 onwards. Are the standards between CL and HCL very far? His elder sibling went to SAP school and the high HCL standards pulled her up.

Hi Toomuchlaundry,

Generally speaking, for Pri level, the difference in standard between CL and HCL is not that great - which is why sometimes you may find some students faring quite well or even better for HCL (esp. paper 2) as compared to CL. The major difference between the 2 is in terms of tested components and question types.

Regarding the high HCL standards you mentioned that helped improved your elder child's command of CL, I believe it's more to do with the cultural aspect and learning environment that the school provides - my teaching experiences at Kong Hwa and SAJS were very different (which was great as it involved learning and combination of teaching styles & pedagogies) - and you can see how the students are imperceptibly influenced.

[Toomuchlaundry]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2069192\" time=\"1653981338\" user_id=\"162894:

Hi Toomuchlaundry,

Generally speaking, for Pri level, the difference in standard between CL and HCL is not that great - which is why sometimes you may find some students faring quite well or even better for HCL (esp. paper 2) as compared to CL. The major difference between the 2 is in terms of tested components and question types.

Regarding the high HCL standards you mentioned that helped improved your elder child's command of CL, I believe it's more to do with the cultural aspect and learning environment that the school provides - my teaching experiences at Kong Hwa and SAJS were very different (which was great as it involved learning and combination of teaching styles & pedagogies) - and you can see how the students are imperceptibly influenced.

May I know how a SAP school differs in its pedagogy or teaching style vs a normal school? I only know that Art, Music, morning assemblies are in Chinese.