phtthp:

Scarlett2014:

I was from Nan Hua Primary as with all my siblings. I'm wondering if Chinese culture is really strong in this school and if it's possible for one not to take Chinese as a subject (pardon the stupid question)


My situation is my hubby is from the UK and currently my 4 year old girl is in an international school (preschool) and she does not speak or understand Mandarin. I tried sending her to Berries, have tried to teach her at home but somehow she is not taking to the language. I understand that I need to start early (like volunteer work, join as an alumni) so I'm thinking if I should even consider Nan Hua (since it's a school we could possibly get in). If she cannot speak Mandarin at all by the time she's 7, is it possible to be in NH and not take Chinese?

Other primary schools around us are MGS (within 1km) but i think even with that it's difficult to get in.

Nan Hua is a SAP school.

There is only one Mother Tongue offered, in this school : Chinese
No other Mother Tongue like Malay, nor Tamil offered, as this is a SAP school.

It is compulsory for all pupils enrolled here, to take Chinese, from primary 1, including all the Non-Chinese students enrolled here.

The only exception is child face learning difficulty, seek to gain exemption from Mother tongue.
For application of exemption purpose, from Chinese Mother tongue
Moe look at supporting evidence documents submitted, from educational / medical psychologist report(s), submitted.

Otherwise, it is compulsory to take Chinese Psle exam.

Since you were an ex student before, your daughter can be enrolled, under Phase 2A2, or you may join Phase 2A1 (alumni member), before the due dateline stipulated.

It is safer for you to join as an alumni member, just in case when your turn come to enrol your child for that year or batch, balloting is required under Phase 2A1 outside 2 km for Sg citizen, in this school.

Nan Hua primary has a very strong, vibrant and rich traditional Chinese culture.

From now until P1 registration due, there is still plenty of time, for your child, to catch up in Chinese. She is still young. You may consider letting her join Kumon (Chinese). You may bring your kid down to a nearby Kumon branch in the country you are currently residing in, find out more about how this programme can help young kids develop an interest towards Chinese, from reading, learning.

Berries doesn't help, because it is once a week programme, only.
And only for a short duration 1.5 hr, once a week, out of 7 days.
What about rest of the remaining 6 days ?

Not only Berries, but other Chinese type of enrichment once a week (1.5 hr) : won't help much, because it is too little exposure.

Kumon (Chinese), is much more effective, because it is a daily constant exposure to her. Not once a week (1.5 hr or 2 hr) type of enrichment.
I had seen little Indian kindergarten children from India, who after 2 years of immersion in Kumon (Chinese), are able to speak & read fluently in Mandarin.
If start early, your daughter is still rescuable, in Chinese.
Bring her to a nearby centre : let the Principal of the Kumon centre assess her, see which level she can possibly start off with.

At home, u need to play your part too.
Read more storybooks aloud to her, try to catch her interest & attention : by varying the tone of your voice or changing your voice sound, or enact a scene dramatically.
eg
Last time, my kindergarten niece also very little interest in Chinese.
My cousin read the story about \"3 little pigs\", in a funny manner, to her. She read the story aloud to my niece, and enacted the storyline drama, by huffing and puffing away.
When my niece saw how her mother enacting the role of the wolf huffing and puffing away the roof top trying to eat the 3 little pigs, she giggled.
Slowly, she began to pick up Chinese storybook on her own, and began to read. Today at P2, niece has overcome her Chinese dislike.

Thanks for the advice!
After considering all the factors, I think I will give NH a miss. It's a shame since my family is so much connected to NH in many ways (my siblings and their children are there, and we are a family friend of their ex-principal). I feel that with the very little exposure my daughter has at home and the fact that at this age she still cannot understand a single word of Chinese (she's closer to her dad than to me ....) , she will find it hard to catch up with the rest of her classmates, and I do not want her to feel stressed.
Now, we will just think of which other school around us we can enrol her in. I guess MGS and Pei Hwa (the nearest schools) are out too.

sky minecrafter:

Scarlett2014:

if Chinese culture is really strong in this school and if it's possible for one not to take Chinese as a subject

Hi Scarlett2014, Dc's classmate, G - mother is Chinese, father is Caucasian. G took Chinese as the mother tongue language. Of course G did not do well & had to be taken out for special Chinese lessons - Rainbow class. I am a lifetime member of Nan Hua alumni & the Chinese culture is strong. I suggest you discuss with MOE/Nan Hua directly, the answer will be less equivocal. On a separate note, one occasionally sees Indian children in Nan Hua & they attend Chinese lessons too.

Yes, that is my worry; that if she does not do well in Chinese due to lack of exposure at home, it will affect her overall PSLE grades.

I was from Nan Hua Primary as with all my siblings. I’m wondering if Chinese culture is really strong in this school and if it’s possible for one not to take Chinese as a subject (pardon the stupid question)


My situation is my hubby is from the UK and currently my 4 year old girl is in an international school (preschool) and she does not speak or understand Mandarin. I tried sending her to Berries, have tried to teach her at home but somehow she is not taking to the language. I understand that I need to start early (like volunteer work, join as an alumni) so I’m thinking if I should even consider Nan Hua (since it’s a school we could possibly get in). If she cannot speak Mandarin at all by the time she’s 7, is it possible to be in NH and not take Chinese?

Other primary schools around us are MGS (within 1km) but i think even with that it’s difficult to get in.