There are too many stories about the difficulty of learning the Chinese language. The key is we do not have the environment as English has become the common language in the family. This is a general statement. There are some exceptions. Some English speaking families are able to encourage their children to learn Chinese and achieve good results.
So, this could be a management problem. If we apply the right solution, our children’s interest in Chinese language can be improved. Many a time, parents do not know what is teaching at school and leave it to the tuition teachers. The tutors teach according to the text book and repeat school lessons again. How can this root teaching generate interest, even with the latest IT support?
Family commitment is a critical success factor. Parents who do not understand Chinese can help their children by showing commitment. Leaving things to the schools and tutors is not a management solution. In stead, parents should learn together with their children in an informal way through family activities.
Singapore is a pragmatic society, so we better look at it as a management project. We already know the environment background. The current situation is whether we have options to improve the leaning of Chinese language. The SWOT analysis could be as follows:
• Strength is family commitment as tutors already engaged.
• Weakness is lack of language environment as parents don’t understand Chinese.
• Opportunity is to balance the east-west leaning, enlarging the knowledge base.
• Threat is others having advantage by mastering the Chinese language.
After analysis, the strategy is to improve the interest in Chinese learning. Scoring A should not be the KPI. For very weak students, a KPI of passing the exam may be impossible as this will create more pressure on them. Rather, the learning of Chinese should go through an informal way of family activities. The family must put in effort to engage in Chinese learning, from commitment of engaging tutors to parent’s involvement.
Education is passing basic and fundamental values to our children. There are universal values in the Chinese textbook that parents can share and exchange with their children over dinning table or even before sleep. By discussing the contents of the textbook and its values, learning interest can be improved as well as the rapport between parents and children.
Parents may need help to understand what the textbook is teaching, know the content even they don’t master Chinese language. Knowing the content in English can help parents to communicate with their children, discussing and sharing experiences about the universal and Chinese values. Take the P6 Chinese text book as an example, the 10 core passages provide a wide range of universal and Chinese values. They include forgiving, hardworking, caring, differentiating, sacrificing, seriousness, sporting, learning, wisdom and traveling.
In the first part of the Applied Chinese, summaries of the first 5 passages in the P6 Chinese textbook will be provided below. Parents can go through the summaries and then discuss the topics, meanings and values with the children.
In Lesson 1, a woman forgave a girl who stole her necklace. Forgiveness is in consideration when someone makes a mistake. The girl was given a chance to correct herself.
第一课Lesson 1: The Pearl Necklace
The passage tells the story of a woman who gave her mother a pearl necklace as a birthday present, which was stolen by a girl while she visited the restroom. Her mother stopped the girl before she could leave and related the significance of the necklace to her. She asked for help to find it. The girl agreed and very soon, the necklace was found and returned to her. “Why didn’t you call for security?” the writer asked her mother. “She could be from a poor family,” replied her mother, “If I called for security, she would have lost a chance to turn over a new leaf.”
In Lesson 2, hardworking is shown by Samsui women. This is part of our history and to build a country’s development, we need to work hard and go through many hardships. Instant success is not possible.
第二课Lesson 2: Samsui Women
It tells about the history of Samsui women in Singapore. They came from China to work here so as to earn enough money for their families. They were called “红头巾” because they wore red scarves over their heads at work. Being hardworking and thrifty, they went through hard times. Their effort had also contributed greatly to the building of our country in the early years.
In Lesson 3, caring is shown by grandfather and in return, when the grandson grows up, he shows the same concern to his grandfather. One needs to assist the weak and help the old to make a gracious society.
第三课Lesson 3: The Slanted Umbrella
It tells a story of the writer and his grandfather. In one of the rainy days, the grandfather came to the school with an umbrella. On the way home, the umbrella was slanted towards the writer. The writer found it strange and asked his grandfather about it. Once they returned home, the grandfather was shivering, but still concerned about whether the writer was wet. This was repeated whenever there was a rain. When the writer grew up, he also slanted the umbrella. “The slanted umbrella” tells the story of love and appreciation.
In lesson 4, differences appear even belonging to the same category. Animals have different colours of blood. They also have their different abilities and weaknesses. One will need to appreciate and recognize the differences.
第四课Lesson 4: Little Frog and Friends
The story tells the characteristics of Little Frog, Crab and Little Cat. While walking together, the crab fell down, but Little Frog was surprised to learn that the blood of Crab is blue. Crab also told that other animals have different colours of blood. While playing on another day, Little Cat complained about the poor eyesight of Little Frog. But Little Frog demonstrated he can catch fast-moving objects like mosquitoes. Little Cat also said that his eyesight is very special, sensitive to light, so he can catch mice even in the dark area.
In Lesson 5, sacrificing has its implication and meaning. To help others, yellow dragon risks its life, fights until the end and transforms into yellow river. A Chinese legendary was told in an interesting way.
第五课Lesson 5: The Transformation of the Yellow Dragon
There was a yellow dragon who liked to help the poor. But rain was controlled by the East Sea’s Dragon King and he refused to help. Yellow Dragon went ahead to use his powers to bring rain to farmers. East Sea’s Dragon King complained to the Jade Emperor who then imprisoned Yellow Dragon. The Dragon King was ordered to stop the rain but pretended to be sick. In order to help the farmers, Yellow Dragon had to escape from prison and use up all his energy. In the end, he was transformed into the Yellow River.
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