Chinese Language

Last few days passed so quickly when I have a task on hand. I was busy marking my students' work since they will be having a test this week. Lots of revision materials to help them revise. Most of my students were really hardworking but I have a few who are really quite laid back. They probably will not score well for the test and they seem - don't really care. Kids do not see why they have to learn Chinese language and I am really saddened by this fact. When I was young, I was really better in languages than Science and Maths. Reading was a favourite pastime since it opens up a whole new world for a kampong girl. My parents never really bring us anywhere and teach us anything and we grow up rather sheltered and ignorant. Only in books, I can lose myself into another world. Nowadays, internet is so informative and fun and colourful that kids will not want to read. Need to find more interactive games. sites in Chinese language that will interest the kids too so that they can master the language while playing at the same time.

Anyway,I am looking forward to sending my family back home in December so that there are more chinese programmes in Singapore. Here all Tv programmes in English and the kids are turning into bananas - yellow skin, white flesh. Hopefully my sons and Channery will learn to write and breathe the language.

Actually nowadays many families in Singapore do not speak Chinese language and the kids really struggle in school. They only have 2 periods of CL class daily and that is simply not enough to master the language. Need to have more exposure so that they can read and write well. Knowing how to speak the language is not good enough, writing and recognising the characters are most impt. We only have to learn 500 frequent words to become good in the language.

It's a long road to success to encourage my kids and students to learn and love the language but I will keep trying.