Learning Chinese in A Non-Chinese Speaking Environment

Both husband and I can't speak our ancestral language. Somehow it stopped at two generation above us. Got to do with some historical background, as I have repeated that many times to total strangers.

Then, after so many years in Singapore, we still couldn't. Not that we're not learning at all. But I guess the will is not strong enough yet to master the language. I know... Shame on us.

However! After much deliberation, we decided that our two kids shall return to the light. They shall learn Chinese. *shaking in fear* We braces ourselves to the fact that their grades will be pulled down by this subject. The benefit outweighs this fact as what we've seen. 

So, now my eldest is P3. We do struggle with it. And dear daughter has lovingly told me that of course she can't do well because mommy can't teach her at home. Oh well... But, I think, I hope, I can fairly say that she is on the surviving side. She got higher Chinese, and in school she got into the best Chinese class.

This post is not to gloat. But I do hope to share our journey with families in similar situation. 

We started Chinese lesson for her from 18 months plus (!) This kiasu-ness is because I think language exposure is best to be started as early as possible. I chose one of the best language school in town. 

[Verdict] At this age, we don't have to go to the best. Go to the most fun. Consider the fact whether the school allows the use of non-Chinese language in teaching. Pure 100% Chinese only scared my kid.

The trauma is such that we keep it on hold until she was in nursery (4 years old). That time, thankfully, we got a great recommendation for a Chinese tutor from her kindergarten. Our son has started his lesson with the same tutor too, at around the same age

[Verdict] Private tutors are great at supporting a specific area that we need to enhance. Parents need to closely monitor because they are not running based on any firm lesson plan. Make use of the flexibility well by specifying clearly what you want. Share with them the school exam dates and school works progress (both, good and bad). Lastly, monitor so that the kid is not doing homework or writing work at lesson time. It will be much more effective to use the time to converse, to learn new thing, to fix mistakes.

Our younger son started Berries at 3 years old mark. This is the youngest age Berries accepted. Daughter started from 5 years old there, after the kindergarten fed back that she still doesn't speak enough Chinese.

[Verdict] Comparing son and daughter, true enough, he can recognize character and listen to the language fairly better. Before P1, Berries is seemingly all play. The kids go home happily clutching a little toy or artwork or food related to the lesson.

How about home then?

Be prepared to help them. At the very least, the effort both supporting the kids morally, and showing them the "there's a will, there's a way".

I am a great fan of Pleco, available for both Apple and Android. The OCR is great. That's the first add-on I purchased. Moving on, I ended up buying the whole bundle. The handwriting recognition and flash card are excellent too. You don't need other apps once you have this, I think.

Before Pleco, I used Besta electronic dictionary to painstakingly translating word by word of her Chinese reading. After she entered P1, I realized that the pinyin tone is slightly different for a few words. Fret not, Pleco pinyin tone is so far matched the Primary textbook.

Armed with electronic dictionary and Google Translate (better to translate lengthy text efficiently), I still help the kids with their homework, miraculously. Lucky, Chinese grammar is quite simple.

Other than that, we also invested in a lot of Chinese books. A bit heart breaking to see the books are seldom touched. But at least when the mood strikes, the environment is ready. After some times, seems like both kids are slowly warming up to Chinese.

Kid no 2 is lucky. I have no 1 as guinea pig. So after observing her weak point in primary, now I started the younger one on comprehension earlier. It forced him to read Chinese slowly but surely. Otherwise, the jump from P2 to P3 curriculum is too wide. Seems like from character recognition they need to jump to composition.

Well, can't say much beyond P3. So I need to end this here. Good luck :)

[Good Book] I think it is ... Basic Chinese 500 by Lucia Lau

There is a series of book, which we like.

Since I'm a total newbie in the Chinese language learning league, I have no idea on what is the correct title.
One of the cover looks like this (source: https://www.popular.com.sg/jsp/product/product_detail.jsp?vca001=106&vpd001=94004#):

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1. It is systematic! We really appreciated that the books introduce Chinese character one at a time. Per character, we get to learn the stroke sequence, and there is a mini story that follows, using... the new character AND the previous ones. So if you're as blur as I am, please start from the very first one (marked by big no '1' instead of '2' like in the pic, and the domino like circle starts with one dot).

2. Price wise, it's quite reasonable, unlike those hyped-up system. It's about 6$ per book, by the way. You can get cheaper during Popular promo or if you're Popular member (which I secretly think all parents in Singapore ought to be :p)

3. Pictures... pictures... pictures... :D My three year old loves to trace the strokes with his fingers and simply looking at the pictures. In a true blue kay poh manner, he insisted on doing the higher level ones. Because the first one is 'boring', always repeating few characters.

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The minus is... this is rather discouraging... I can only find the first 15 books in Popular! Per book, they cover 20 characters. So that's only 300 of them. Oh well...
But anyway, we have yet to finish what we have. So we can still keep our fingers crossed. :)

PS : There... out of my chest... so long I've been wanting to share that.

[It Works] Berries World of Learning School

We are non-Chinese-speaking family. Both hubby and I know nuts on the language.

However, realizing the benefit of speaking the language in this everything-are-made-in-China age, we were quite adamant (until now) that our offspring pick-up our ancestor's tongue.

Background wise, my first born has tried 'Growing Up Gifted' bilingual enrichment class and Hua Language School before (both are located in United Square).

And since Nursery age we were introduced to a tutor who comes to our house once a week. She's also good, but I'm not sure whether she'd like to be broad casted here.

Last year, back from Parent-Teacher-Conference, I searched for more Chinese school to top up the home tutor. Because the teacher's feedback is that kid-no-1 oral Chinese needs improvement. So we contemplate between increasing the home-tutor frequency and an enrichment class. Finally we opt for class, where, by right, she can interact with her class mate. And... different exposure is good too...

Landed on Bishan's Berries.

[+]
1. They, at least they do give impression of, know their stuff. Curriculum, teaching materials are well prepared. Simple toys such as telephony-cups are included, which yield young kids motivation. If not to learn the Chinese, at least to go for lessons.
2. Teachers are kids friendly. Especially this year, I started 3 years old kid-no-2 too. He loves his teachers there now, after less than 2 months.
3. Gradually difficulties level is increased or mixed. Initially, I thought that they are teaching easier words to accommodate English-speaking kids. But I grew to realize that they are trying to strike a balance. Delicate work, but hey is works.
4. This impressed me. They have a unique system where you can collect lesson-voucher as MC replacement (can be used to offset next term fee). Taking make-up lesson at any day is highly encourage too. Arrangements are surprisingly easy. On top of the two method, we can also arrange one-to-one make up class with shorter class duration. With three option, it's difficult to waste the fee. Leaving me thinking, why didn't all school do the same...
5. The teachers do speak English. Even if it's simple English. Kids won't be so scared then.

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Bad thing for me, but good for the kids.
Parents beware. Berries GIVES homework. Full stop. Every week, kids need to complete a homework which the parents are expected to mark.
Bright side, forcing me to learn too...

How? Let's leave it for another post, need to put two rascals to sleep now. They've been joking and joking on the bed.

[Post published edit] In June '13 haze, Berries has proven to be a good educational institute. They have reacted promptly to enable home based learning for the week affected by the haze. It is not required of them, but they did it. Three cheers for all service provider that goes the extra mile!