Exemption from MT (Chinese)

[mashy]

Parent2008:

peterch:

IMHO, please don't give up. She would 'tune in' somehow in future. Since the time is so limited, might try to get her exempted(if she is eligible). Getting exempted doesn't means quit learning MT. She would continue learn in school and she could get extra tuition at home, but she will not do any MT exam. She would be able to concentrate on other subjects. CMIIW. Cheers.....

Thats exactly what I am looking at doing and hoping forumers can help to direct what areas I can consider looking at which can make her eligible for exemption other than testing for dyslexia. Also any recommendation for people psychologist to talk to would be appreciated. Thanks!

Talk to the school? I think there are some whose Chinese really cannot make it got exempted from psle. Is she doing foundation Chinese?

[sharonkhoo]

Was she assessed for dyslexia in Chinese as well as English? Some studies indicate that a person can be dyslexic in one language but not another. See:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/sep/23/research.highereducation2
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2009/10/12/its-all-chinese-to-me-dyslexia-has-big-differences-in-english-and-chinese/

I recall that a friend of mine had her daughter diagnosed as having Chinese dyslexia, but she was OK in English. She was exempted from MT at PSLE in 2011.

[Parent2008]

slmkhoo:

Was she assessed for dyslexia in Chinese as well as English? Some studies indicate that a person can be dyslexic in one language but not another. See:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/sep/23/research.highereducation2
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2009/10/12/its-all-chinese-to-me-dyslexia-has-big-differences-in-english-and-chinese/

I recall that a friend of mine had her daughter diagnosed as having Chinese dyslexia, but she was OK in English. She was exempted from MT at PSLE in 2011.

Moe does not recgnise Chinese dyslexia according to my psychologist and das. if you can, please help me ask your friend where her daughter was diagnosed? that is what I am looking for. thanks!

[sharonkhoo]

Parent2008:

slmkhoo:

Was she assessed for dyslexia in Chinese as well as English? Some studies indicate that a person can be dyslexic in one language but not another. See:


http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/sep/23/research.highereducation2
http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2009/10/12/its-all-chinese-to-me-dyslexia-has-big-differences-in-english-and-chinese/

I recall that a friend of mine had her daughter diagnosed as having Chinese dyslexia, but she was OK in English. She was exempted from MT at PSLE in 2011.

Moe does not recgnise Chinese dyslexia according to my psychologist and das. if you can, please help me ask your friend where her daughter was diagnosed? that is what I am looking for. thanks!

Sent you a pm.

[mommyNg]

We are thinking of applying to MOE to waive my dd’s Chinese exemption. She got her exemption because we were away in the US for a long time, and she was pretty resistant to Chinese when we first came back. She is entering Sec 1 next year, and we think she should do Chinese now that she is more matured. We think she should be able to do it as long as she puts in the effort with the right learning attitude (she has been attending Higher Chinese classes in school all these years). She herself is also willing to do it now. Do you think it is advisable? What are the challenges in sec sch Chinese (not Higher Chinese)? Do you think MOE would grant the waiver?


Thanks!

[sharonkhoo]

mommyNg:

We are thinking of applying to MOE to waive my dd's Chinese exemption. She got her exemption because we were away in the US for a long time, and she was pretty resistant to Chinese when we first came back. She is entering Sec 1 next year, and we think she should do Chinese now that she is more matured. We think she should be able to do it as long as she puts in the effort with the right learning attitude (she has been attending Higher Chinese classes in school all these years). She herself is also willing to do it now. Do you think it is advisable? What are the challenges in sec sch Chinese (not Higher Chinese)? Do you think MOE would grant the waiver?


Thanks!

I believe that you can give up the exemption any time you wish to. If you want to keep your options open, you can tell the school that you want your child to be treated as if she is going to take the O level exam, but don't inform MOE yet. I think you don't need to inform MOE until closer to the time she needs to register to take the O levels. Do check with the HOD at the school about the details. My daughter (who returned in P6 and was exempted from MT, then we went away again and she returned permanently in mid-sec 2) also attended the MT classes at first, leaving it open that she might eventually take O levels. However, it's really been too much for her to catch up, so she now just attends for exposure without needing to do exams. I believe (but don't know) that sec school MT may be quite different from Pr school, so maybe she should try lessons for one year first?

[mommyNg]

slmkhoo:

I believe that you can give up the exemption any time you wish to. If you want to keep your options open, you can tell the school that you want your child to be treated as if she is going to take the O level exam, but don't inform MOE yet. I think you don't need to inform MOE until closer to the time she needs to register to take the O levels. Do check with the HOD at the school about the details. My daughter (who returned in P6 and was exempted from MT, then we went away again and she returned permanently in mid-sec 2) also attended the MT classes at first, leaving it open that she might eventually take O levels. However, it's really been too much for her to catch up, so she now just attends for exposure without needing to do exams. I believe (but don't know) that sec school MT may be quite different from Pr school, so maybe she should try lessons for one year first?

Thanks simkhoo for your suggestion! The only problem is that she may want to attend a SAP school (where her friends will be), and MOE may not allow her to go to a SAP school if she is exempted from MT... :frustrated:

[janet88]

once you ask for waiver of MT exemption and want exemption again, you will not be allowed to do so.

[sharonkhoo]

mommyNg:

slmkhoo:

I believe that you can give up the exemption any time you wish to. If you want to keep your options open, you can tell the school that you want your child to be treated as if she is going to take the O level exam, but don't inform MOE yet. I think you don't need to inform MOE until closer to the time she needs to register to take the O levels. Do check with the HOD at the school about the details. My daughter (who returned in P6 and was exempted from MT, then we went away again and she returned permanently in mid-sec 2) also attended the MT classes at first, leaving it open that she might eventually take O levels. However, it's really been too much for her to catch up, so she now just attends for exposure without needing to do exams. I believe (but don't know) that sec school MT may be quite different from Pr school, so maybe she should try lessons for one year first?

Thanks simkhoo for your suggestion! The only problem is that she may want to attend a SAP school (where her friends will be), and MOE may not allow her to go to a SAP school if she is exempted from MT... :frustrated:

You may want to post a question specifically about whether SAP schools accept students exempted from MT? Try posting it in the thread for that particular SAP school? I don't know as we ruled out all SAP schools simply because we thought an MT-exempted kid would always be a bit sidelined in a SAP school.

[Autumnleaf]

Has anyone come across or heard of getting MT exemption due to a diagnosis of executive dysfunction?