It is estimated that in every 10 parents in Singapore, eight send their children for tuition. Also, English is Singapore’s most spoken language, but it wasn’t always like this. Approximately 80% of Singapore’s population is of Chinese descent, but in 2020 29.9% of households used Chinese in their homes. This was down from 35.6% in 2010.
Despite the decline in the use of the Chinese language, it is still the second most spoken language. More than half of Singapore’s population uses it as their second language. Since Chinese is an examinable subject in primary and secondary schools, most parents send their kids to Chinese tuition to perfect their knowledge of the language, both written and spoken.
Tuition in Chinese has proven very helpful for students in Singapore, but there are several misconceptions that we should debunk.
Chinese Tuition Is for Struggling Students
Many people struggle with learning Chinese and have labelled it one of the hardest languages. Unfortunately, this perception extends to tuition in Chinese where it is assumed that kids who request tuition in Chinese are struggling with it.
This is not entirely true because some parents enrol their kids to give them greater exposure to the language. A Chinese tutor also helps ensure the kids are ready to tackle their exams.
Chinese Tuition Is Repetitive Drilling
The Chinese language has its unique features, so it is not true that a Chinese tutor spends hours doing repetitive drills on the kids. The MOE has a Chinese curriculum that includes listening, reading, speaking, and writing. A good Chinese tutor will follow the teaching structure when giving extra classes. Be sure to understand the tuition centre’s programmes thoroughly before enrolling your child. Chengzhu Mandarin Centre offers a range of Chinese tuition programmes, including Chinese Enrichment classes from K1 – K2 and Pri 1 – Pri 3, as well as Exam Preparation classes from Pri 4 to Secondary 4. These programmes are tailored to different education levels, ensuring that your child receives the appropriate support and guidance at Chengzhu Mandarin Centre.
Chinese Tuition Is for Exam Preparation
Chinese is one of the subjects examined in Singapore, so Chinese tuition is technically for exam preparation. However, this is not the only reason why parents send their kids to Chinese tuition centres.
As mentioned earlier, Chinese is the second most spoken language in Singapore. So, Chinese tuition will help improve the child’s fluency in the language. Chinese tuition is also an investment for the future because it will improve the child’s career prospects. Learning Chinese is also an excellent way of bridging the communication gap between the older and younger generation.
It is Stressful
Another misconception about Chinese tuition is that it is stressful for students. Admittedly, it can be overwhelming since students have to set aside extra hours to learn their mother tongue. However, this time is not any different from tuition for any other subject. Just because it is taught using a different language doesn’t mean the child is more overwhelmed.
These are some of the common misconceptions about Chinese learning. However, parents need to follow up with their children to ensure they are coping with the Chinese tuition. Sometimes the problem is the approach used in the Chinese tuition Centre or the Chinese tutor.
Instead of parents taking these misconceptions at face value, they should check to find out if their kids are facing any difficulties and the reasons behind them. This is the only way to ensure parents get value for money, and the children get the best from the Chinese tuition. Learn more.