Third languages

[soonlee.012396ng.012396resources-sg.012396com]

I put up a late application and received the news earlier today that the application is successful for Japanese. Anyone know if we need to pay any fees for third language? Thanks.

[iNJCian]

ER:

I put up a late application and received the news earlier today that the application is successful for Japanese. Anyone know if we need to pay any fees for third language? Thanks.

The 3rd lang fees are completely free, but you have to buy the text books which are very expensive cos they are imported.

[soonlee.012396ng.012396resources-sg.012396com]

Thank you.

[Careermum]

DS also late applicant for MSP. (submit last wk of dec 2011). Today confm can do, fr online chk.

[JustOneStudent_100]

Not sure which third language to choose any preference? :scratchhead:

[GLORYmum]

Anyone taking French please share your experience and also what do you learn in year 1?

[Dazzle]

May I know what is the advantage of taking third language?

Is it compulsory?

[emoh]

Dazzle:

May I know what is the advantage of taking third language?

Is it compulsory?

http://www.moe.edu.sg/education/secondary/language-programmes/

[findingnemo]

GLORYmum:

Anyone taking French please share your experience and also what do you learn in year 1?

Hello, I took french all the way till sec 3 mid year, then dropped it (main reason was actually I didn't go for the exam due to some reasons-didn't want to look bad on the report card, and lost interest, although regretting now...)

The first lesson, you will be introduced to the alphabet, and the various pronouns (je, tu, il, ils). and the conjugation of être (is-like He is, we are that sort of thing), which is the basis of everything. also, some prepositions.

In subsequent lessons, you will learn conjugation of more words, some grammar usage and sentence construction and a bit of vocab (like weather specific, buildings etc). I believe its the same as learning any new language. Then towards the end, there will be passé composé (past tense) and continuous tense. (there are much more tenses in French).

At the end of year 1 (provided with some effort), you should be able to read a simple text, write a simple compo of 100 words, and able to comprehend some slow reading (like introducing yourself etc). Of course, year 1 is very important, as it is the foundation for subsequent things. It is very important to do all your homework meticulously every week, especially the worksheet, workbook and elearning exercises, never procrastinate, as if you lag behind just a bit, you will not understand subsequent lessons. Also, you will need to spend a bit of time memorising vocabulary, and the various exceptions (there are tons of them). There is really no other easy way.

In the following years you will get to know more tenses, learn some more grammar, and hopefully get to know a lot more vocab. Actually, a good teacher from the start is very important. Like I had very good teachers in sec 1, who really knew how to teach the material and can explain well, so I had the motivation to make an effort. However, in sec 2, I got another teacher, who doesn't know how to teach at all. He will spend the entire 3 hours going through this stack of worksheets, going to one table at a time (so it's like small group tuition, while others are talking, doing their own things etc), so I think I didn't learn a lot from year 2 onwards and thus did worse-lagged behind-cannot understand futher-which is a vicious cycle. As a starter, I think you should find out who are the better teachers, and transfer to their classes if possible. It will be easier as times go by.

Some of my friends actually go for French tuition at Alliance Francaise etc. It is really expensive, and I think it's not necessary actually.

[mamakata]

Does anyone have experience/comment on the teaching of Malay Special Programme or Bahasa Indonesia at the MOE language centre?