Exemption from MT (Chinese)

[verykiasumummy]

hi gxmas,


exemption will only do gd to him if chi is the weak subject, so it doesnt pull down his aggregate in p6… if he is coping chi well, his grades will be pulled up instead… so why drop?

[Gxmas]

Hi, thanks for your reply!


Right now he is relying on memory, not sure if he can still cope or do as well when high order of understanding is required. Also the validity of his report (dyslexia) expires next year.... he might just do ok later...but learning languages is nonethless difficulty for him, so to do well in PSLE might be too challenging...he also has English to deal with.....

I'm thinking of channeling his efforts and time towards his strengths instead. Hopefully he can continue learning the subject, but just not taking any national exams. Not sure how that would impact his future path/options beyong PSLE though :?

[verykiasumummy]

yes it will definitely impact his results. say like if :

eng - 55
chi - 65
math - 50
sci - 50
est psle aggreg will be 165

if u drop chi, but having same grades for other sub as above.
est psle aggreg is 155

[verykiasumummy]

u count urself… if chi is the better sub, it is not wise to drop… even if dun spend time on it, some ppl are naturally better in chi due to family language…

[peterch]

Yes, if possible, don’t choose the option. CMIIW, I was told that those who are exempted from MT would not be able to get higher aggregate compare to those who took MT and get just a passing mark

[mel2sg]

Hi


I can understand where you are coming from. My boy is diagnosed as GDD (Global Dev Delay) when he was 2. Like yours, the doctor keep telling us to drop MT (Chinese) as very likely he will not able to cope, and the strategy is just to focus on Maths & Eng.

Nevertheless, this year he is in P1 we still let him continue MT just to gauge which level of understanding he is, & besides that we feel that Chinese will going to be an universal language in time to come given the arising of China.

Thanks god, he is doing ok, averaging 70 - FYI my boy also hates MT, this is far better than our expectation. What I am trying to put across is just let him learn & try, you may be surprise he may excel. Cheers.

[verykiasumummy]

much as the doc is just looking for a solution, he may not understand the importance of chi in our race. every child is different, so it doesnt help to ask all the kids diagnosed with anything, (ASDS, GDD etc) to drop the MT…

[phankao]

peterch:

Yes, if possible, don't choose the option. CMIIW, I was told that those who are exempted from MT would not be able to get higher aggregate compare to those who took MT and get just a passing mark

Not true lah. My ds' classmate who was exempt MT got a PSLE Aggregate that was in the high 260s and got into a good IP school. He's enjoying himself there now and still not doing MT bc once exemption is approved by MOE, it's for \"life\". No need to do MT at all up to JC or even need for local university admission - I know quite a number of other kids who are exempt MT too.

[ammonite]

Maybe wait and see? I don’t think u need to make a decision at this point. My son also struggled juggling everything initially due to learning issues, his Chinese scores were in the dismal fifties and sixties for P1 and now P2. But I really want him to learn and LIKE Chinese the way I do. He had a really hard time with hanyu pinyin, so I actually didn’t focus too much on it.


I went straight to characters, and watched Chinese dramas, chinese dubbed foreign movies, and cartoons with him. I looked for Chinese books that are beautiful and funny to read to him. Chinese riddles. Chinese coaches. I’m happy to say that though he is still weak in Chinese and he is aware of it, he does not dislike or avoid the subject and is able to learn the materials with less and less effort now. I also sing praises of his Chinese teacher so he feels positive towards her. Interestingly, he does not have a problem with the bite sized Chinese composition for P2.

Of course it will be great if he can get a high score for MT, but I know he cannot do it at this point because he lacks the foundation. But some things cannot be rushed. I believe with interest and the right materials, attitude plus effort, he will be okay, and more importantly, appreciate the language, history and culture.

[Gxmas]

Thank you everyone for the feedback :thankyou:


I very much would like him to continue learning Chinese. I'm just thinking of not taking the national exams. If he is allowed to continue his lessons without taking the Chinese PSLE, then he gets to learn the language without having his T-score affected. Of course I'm assuming now that Chinese will not become his strong subject later, which I'm actually quite sure.... but how the T-score is calculated without MT is another mystery.... :?

I think I will see how he is coping in P3 next year, as that is another new level before I decide then....