Although English is Singapore’s first language and is compulsory, the education system is bilingual, with Mandarin Chinese being the most common second language. Other languages taught are Malay and Tamil. Most students lean toward their cultural background when choosing their second language. Looking for a trusted Chinese enrichment class for your child’s primary Chinese tuition in Singapore? Visit Chengzhu Mandarin Centre!
The challenge is that children need more time to practice what they learn during their Chinese lessons, especially when English is the primary language used in school and at home. A Chinese tutor will help provide extra hours dedicated to Chinese learning.
Benefits of Chinese Tuition for Kids in Primary School
The Chinese language curriculum carries some weight in the exams, so even though they spend a short time learning it, they are expected to perform just as well as other subjects. Additionally, juggling Chinese with all the other subjects can be overwhelming, and some students may choose to focus on subjects they consider easier.
Chinese is considered one of the most difficult languages to learn, especially for those not exposed to it regularly. So, it is not unusual to see some students focus less on it and more on subjects they understand. Chinese tuition will help bridge this gap and make it easier for kids to improve their performance.
Parents should consider introducing tuition in Chinese for kids in primary school, preferably in their first or second year of school because it solidifies their foundation in the language. At this point, kids are also not overwhelmed with other subjects, so they have enough time and energy to master Chinese reading, writing, and speaking.
Kids also get targeted support early enough. Like every other subject, the Chinese language gets more complex as the child progresses to higher levels of learning. Without the right foundation, children may struggle to understand Mandarin Chinese. Unfortunately, they are unlikely to find it easier as they grow older.
Chinese tuition may also take a different approach from the one used in school. For example, rather than focus on memorization, a Chinese tutor may choose a more interactive approach to help kids master the language. Both approaches are effective, and exposing a child to both may reinforce the way kids understand the language.
When to Introduce Chinese Enrichment and Tuition to Kids
It is never too early to introduce tuition in Chinese to kids. Doing it in primary school is ideal because kids are curious about everything to do with school. The trick is to make learning fun, and a Chinese tutor who understands this can make learning interesting. For example, they can use games and music to capture the learners’ attention.
Young children will also find it easier to adopt the Chinese accent and tones when they are still young. The time set aside for Chinese classes in primary school is not enough to expose a child to the language. Chinese tuition will give a child more time to learn Chinese and get more exposure to the language.
If parents don’t speak Chinese at home, kids don’t have sufficient exposure to the language. If the child is expected to learn the language through primary and secondary school, it should be given the same importance as other subjects. So, Chinese tuition is a solution for primary school kids.