Bi-lingualism at school a mistake ?

[clarabella]

Just to share this http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/11/24/%E5%8D%8E%E6%96%87%E9%80%80%E5%87%BA%E6%96%B0%E5%8A%A0%E5%9D%A1%E8%88%9E%E5%8F%B0/.

Be warned though that it's a very lengthy article written in Chinese

[kiasimom]

tamarind:

[quote]
Since it has been implied that those with no formal knowledge about techniques of teaching Chinese should not offer an opinion, I suppose I should recluse myself from participating in that discussion.

I never wrote anything about formal knowledge. Anyone who is good in Chinese knows what it takes to excel in the language.

I absolutely agree that there are people who struggle with the Chinese language. The truth is that these people have not studied Chinese using effective methods. I myself also struggled with English all the way until I was 18 years old, but I did not complain non-stop that English is difficult to learn. I realized that I had not studied English using effective methods when I was young, thanks to the way MOE teachers teach English.

Let's not lament about the past anymore. Nowadays in Singapore, kids have the opportunity of learning both English and Chinese as a first language, that is, the language that they learn since birth. Even if parents do not speak Chinese, there are many excellent pre-schools that they can send the kids from as young as 2 - 3 years old to learn Chinese. Both my SILs cannot speak mandarin to save their own lives, but they understand that they must send their kids to learn Chinese from a very young age.[/quote]Hi tamarind,

I fully agree with what you wrote in all your posts here.

I myself do not find Chinese easy to learn. But after learning Chinese in a more effective and fun way, it arouse my interests in learning Chinese.

So once you grasp the correct and effective way in learning, the route will be easier.

No doubt that all subjects are taught in English, I stll want my children to learn Chinese, not necessarily superb but at least proficient :celebrate:

[3Boys]

tamarind:

I myself also struggled with English all the way until I was 18 years old, but I did not complain non-stop that English is difficult to learn..

There is a difference between the 2 in the Singapore context, and your experience is proof positive. Someone in the reverse situation, of similar abiliites, would not have fared so easily. That is something the Chinese speaking camp cannot come to grips with, but thankfully MOE has.

tamarind:

Let's not lament about the past anymore.

Agreed

[cafelatte]

Very interesting debate here ! I am encouraged to see parents of KSP can disagree with each other with respect and courtesy!


Tamarind, I agree with many of the points you raised. My personal view, Chinese is a more difficult language to learn - it requires more focus, memory work and reasonably good penmanship. The learning curve is steep and new learners (if not motivated or encouraged) can "lose steam" very quickly.

Anyway, I am butting in here just to say that if anyone has concrete ways or experience to share about learning Chinese in effective & fun way, to arouse interest in the language, please share in the academic or support sections. The way I see it, we, the parents have a big role to play in that. So far, my child’s chinese school teachers do not seem to be able to do that - perhaps due to lack of resources.

[ruolei]

[quote]We must also read interesting Chinese story books to them, like short stories taken from the 4 great classical novels, especially 西游记, as well as 封神榜, 山海经， etc, and true stories from the history of China. These are very fascinating to kids, much better than Disney cartoons [/quote]
I totally agree with this. Children like 西游记very much, just as they like Harry Potter! They just need you (teachers or parents) to introduce these magical stories to them.

[kiasimom]

I try to get my children interested by finding out what can arouse their interests.


My children enjoy watching 封神榜 and have picked out chinese idioms from the show.

I also let my children watch the Chinese drama they like.

The key elements to learning a language is:

1. Listen
2. Speak
3. Read

In fact, my children watch more Chinese programmes at home. They are exposed to English most of the time, that’s why back home, they will watch more Chinese programmes.

I try to get them to speak Mandarin by taking the initiative to speak to them in Mandarin.

Kids are smart.
My children speak Mandarin to my parents as they know my parents cannot speak English well. In a way, they are "forced" to speak in Mandarin if they want to communicate with my parents.

[mathsparks]

Ermmm insider, I’ll protest definitely. home wreckers come to mind. You know how many pot-bellied ah peks I’ve seen often in east coast park…sneaking behind their wives.


I won’t even hire a mynmar maid, in case, she gets along too well with my mil.

[mathsparks]

insider:

I am confident to be able to find many decent Chinese girls (mostly not from major cities and so yet to be 'polluted'). Those who are home wreckers are the rotten ones. Still have many many good ones there... (their P6 Chinese can anytime hatam our O level A1 student...)

But of course. that's true. and our P6 English can anytime hamtam their secondary students. hmmm. since they dont take o or a levels, what do you call their equivalent?

[mathsparks]

:oops:

[kiasimom]

My children had one to one tuition with a Native china teacher.

I specifically asked for native teacher so that they can be taught the pure chinese not the spore type of mixed chinese.

Both my children had a good headstart.

Once the foundation is there, it is easier to carry on.