P1 Chinese - General Discussion

[Callie Tan]

Hi Cambriant,


Personally I think it is not only essential but also crucial for your child to have an understanding/a foundation in Hanyu Pinyin before P1 because I feel that P1 Chinese teachers assume that this is the case for all P1s.

Personally, I thought I am very good in hypy but yet I still get quite intimidated when I saw the worksheets (no chinese words/characters, ONLY hypy, even the instructions/sub-headings!) from my girl’s enrichment centre… I must say it might be a tall order for some kids with little or no foundation in Hanyu Pinyin.

That being said, I do make an effort to write the chinese characters beside the hanyu pinyin so that my girl will also know how they look like. I am hoping by doing so, she will not be too reliant on hanyu pinyin…

[Tinkerbelle]

cambriant:

Thanks so much for all the comments and thoughts!


I have signed up my son for the hanyu pinyin class offered by my son's kindergarten, which will teach hanyu pinyin on a leisurely pace throughout the year. Hopefully, being able to read hanyu pinyin will lessen some of the stigma of reading chinese books for him..

I have also heard that learning hanyu pinyin too early will result in the child being over reliant on it and not wanting to read the chinese characters. Sigh, but we have to start somewhere right?

So, just to make things straight, the primary one chinese textbook for the first six months only has hanyu pinyin and no chinese characters at all? or the chinese characters are still present?

Thanks!

Hi cambriant,
Think you've made a 'smart' investment sending your DS to HYPY class. Got to start some time.....and sooner is better than later.

1st half of Chinese Textbook 1A is completly HYPY. Second half of textbook 1A has simple chinese characters. So rough estimation, the kids start basic chinese characters in March.

[janet88]

auntieM:

Hi cambriant,

Maybe you can check out those P1 text/ workbooks at Popular bookshop to get a rough idea of what to expect...
Umm..m.. you kindy actually offered HYPY classes as an extra :shock: ..

I was once advised to get my son's phonics strengthened in K2...did that as well and included the blends like 'sh', 'st' so that he knows these are English phonics and not to be confused with hanyu pinyin. At P1 then, I didn't touch this as he was in a 'sea of hanyu pinyin'.

[jesschan]

janet_lee88:

My daughter is so fed-up with the repetition of a e o i u. So now, I'm coaching her in 部首 like 女，口. Primary 1 textbook is nothing but hanyu pinyin...but 2nd half of textbook will start with 课文 with chinese characters.

Janet, if your girl is already good with her hanyu pinyin, you can start her on recognising and writing of Chinese characters already. They will need to recognise Chinese characters or identify objects and write down their hanyu pinyin at a later stage.

[janet88]

jesschan:

janet_lee88:

My daughter is so fed-up with the repetition of a e o i u. So now, I'm coaching her in 部首 like 女，口. Primary 1 textbook is nothing but hanyu pinyin...but 2nd half of textbook will start with 课文 with chinese characters.

Janet, if your girl is already good with her hanyu pinyin, you can start her on recognising and writing of Chinese characters already. They will need to recognise Chinese characters or identify objects and write down their hanyu pinyin at a later stage.

Jess, I don't think she is good with hanyu pinyin...since she only started learning this year. But I do teach her simple Chinese characters.

[jemlth]

http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?t=18474

[Daddy D]

Callie Tan:

Personally, I thought I am very good in hypy but yet I still get quite intimidated when I saw the worksheets (no chinese words/characters, ONLY hypy, even the instructions/sub-headings!) from my girl's enrichment centre... I must say it might be a tall order for some kids with little or no foundation in Hanyu Pinyin.

I was taken aback by all the hypy too... think it's pretty extreme to have all in hypy and no chinese characters....
Wonder if any changes to the chinese textbooks/curriculum next year with the new changes annouced?

[jemlth]

I don't think the changes will be rolled out so quickly. Hanyu pinyin must be accompanied with recognition of characters. Hanyu Pinyin should become less foreign when they are familiar with the 'sounds' of Chinese characters. besides, children at a young age are more adept at pictorial memory.

Daddy

Callie Tan:

Personally, I thought I am very good in hypy but yet I still get quite intimidated when I saw the worksheets (no chinese words/characters, ONLY hypy, even the instructions/sub-headings!) from my girl's enrichment centre... I must say it might be a tall order for some kids with little or no foundation in Hanyu Pinyin.

I was taken aback by all the hypy too... think it's pretty extreme to have all in hypy and no chinese characters....
Wonder if any changes to the chinese textbooks/curriculum next year with the new changes annouced?

[janet88]

Hi Mummies,

My daughter's P1 听写 list is out. First one is on 'a e i o u' with the 4 different tones. I hope that should not be a problem. Week 2 will have 5 different Chinese characters to choose. Ok, cross the bridge when it comes...don't think so far. :roll:

[Daddy D]

jemlth:

I don't think the changes will be rolled out so quickly. Hanyu pinyin must be accompanied with recognition of characters. Hanyu Pinyin should become less foreign when they are familiar with the 'sounds' of Chinese characters. besides, children at a young age are more adept at pictorial memory.

I read that the change will take place for PSLE 2017... so meaning those from Pri1 2012 will be the 1st batch of students taking the new exams... shucks!
Hate to be guinea pigs....