Secondary School Chinese

[chenlaoshi]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2012023\" time=\"1610556214\" user_id=\"178749:

Chen laoshi,

Do you have recommendation for assessment books to practice on HCL cloze passage which requires choosing say from a list of 8-10 words to fill in the blanks?
(Most cloze passages I found are those asking the child to choose the correct word out of 4 helping words for each blank)
Thanks!

Hi newbieks,

Just to clarify, have you mistaken the type of cloze passage that is tested for Sec level HCL with that of Pri level HCL? The one with

- 8 options listed in a box at the top of the section, with 5 questions in the passage is Pri level HCL.
- 4 options for each of the 5 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
- 4 options for each of the 10 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.

For Sec level students, they should attempt the ones with 4 options to each question so that they can get exposed to as many phrases as possible (i.e. check up the meaning of those that they do not understand, even if they may not be the answer to the respective questions).

For example there was this question: \"称得上是美味Q7（1宴会 2佳宴 3佳酿 4佳肴）\", even if the student knows the answer is 4, by reading up on the others options, he/she will be able to differentiate between their meaning and/or usage and pick up more vocabulary instantly (as in, don't have to wait till he/she comes across that unknown phrase in any passage some other time).
https://i.imgur.com/YkOxCyv.jpg\">

[newbieks]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2012070\" time=\"1610595941\" user_id=\"162894:

newbieks\" post_id=\"2012023\" time=\"1610556214\" user_id=\"178749:

Chen laoshi,

Do you have recommendation for assessment books to practice on HCL cloze passage which requires choosing say from a list of 8-10 words to fill in the blanks?
(Most cloze passages I found are those asking the child to choose the correct word out of 4 helping words for each blank)
Thanks!

Hi newbieks,

Just to clarify, have you mistaken the type of cloze passage that is tested for Sec level HCL with that of Pri level HCL? The one with

- 8 options listed in a box at the top of the section, with 5 questions in the passage is Pri level HCL.
- 4 options for each of the 5 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.
- 4 options for each of the 10 questions in the passage is Sec level CL.

For Sec level students, they should attempt the ones with 4 options to each question so that they can get exposed to as many phrases as possible (i.e. check up the meaning of those that they do not understand, even if they may not be the answer to the respective questions).

For example there was this question: \"称得上是美味Q7（1宴会 2佳宴 3佳酿 4佳肴）\", even if the student knows the answer is 4, by reading up on the others options, he/she will be able to differentiate between their meaning and/or usage and pick up more vocabulary instantly (as in, don't have to wait till he/she comes across that unknown phrase in any passage some other time).
https://i.imgur.com/YkOxCyv.jpg\">

Hi thanks for the detailed reply..

My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice?

[chenlaoshi]

newbieks\" post_id=\"2012077\" time=\"1610597652\" user_id=\"178749:

Hi thanks for the detailed reply..

My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice?

I see. Nope, it's still common for schools to test components that are eventually not tested in O Levels (some other examples were https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=620#p2011518), as assessment of learning.

For the type of cloze passage you mentioned, the options given are usually from syllabus text and/or the list of 250 must-learn idioms.

The ones with 4 options for each question are generally more difficult (since students will \"need to understand\" 20 phrases as opposed to 8 or 10) and since that is the O Level format, the assessment books practices are in accordance to it. If your child practices using the topical assessment book's (i.e. the ones with exercises for each chapter) cloze passage exercises, they should help too.

[newbieks]

chenlaoshi\" post_id=\"2012087\" time=\"1610602685\" user_id=\"162894:

newbieks\" post_id=\"2012077\" time=\"1610597652\" user_id=\"178749:

Hi thanks for the detailed reply..

My child’s Sec school still test on the 1st kind of cloze which you mentioned above at Sec 2 level... hmm is that an unusual practice?

I see. Nope, it's still common for schools to test components that are eventually not tested in O Levels (some other examples were https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=8835&start=620#p2011518), as assessment of learning.

For the type of cloze passage you mentioned, the options given are usually from syllabus text and/or the list of 250 must-learn idioms.

The ones with 4 options for each question is generally more difficult (since students will \"need to understand\" 20 phrases as opposed to 8 or 10) and since that is the O Level format, the assessment books practices are in accordance to it. If your child practices using the topical assessment book's (i.e. the ones with exercises for each chapter) cloze passage exercises, they should help too.

Thanks for the great idea!

[Zeal mummy]

Any recommendations for sec 1 assessment book for this year-new syllabus. Thanks.

[Mushroom hut]

Hi,


Can anyone please help advise me why are students who are very weak in CL still staying on the track instead of switching to do CLB? Both track will still require them to take the subject in JC. And if child is not considering any chinese related courses in Uni, it doesn’t matter if he takes CL or CLB yes?

Looking forward to your advice.
Thank you.

[Zeal mummy]

Mushroom hut\" post_id=\"2012462\" time=\"1610955034\" user_id=\"97687:[quote=\"Mushroom hut\" post_id=2012462 time=1610955034 user_id=97687]
Hi,

Can anyone please help advise me why are students who are very weak in CL still staying on the track instead of switching to do CLB? Both track will still require them to take the subject in JC. And if child is not considering any chinese related courses in Uni, it doesn’t matter if he takes CL or CLB yes?

Looking forward to your advice.
Thank you.[/quote]

What is CLB?

[floppy]

Mushroom hut\" post_id=\"2012462\" time=\"1610955034\" user_id=\"97687:[quote=\"Mushroom hut\" post_id=2012462 time=1610955034 user_id=97687]
Hi,

Can anyone please help advise me why are students who are very weak in CL still staying on the track instead of switching to do CLB? Both track will still require them to take the subject in JC. And if child is not considering any chinese related courses in Uni, it doesn’t matter if he takes CL or CLB yes?

Looking forward to your advice.
Thank you.[/quote]

“Very weak” is subjective.

Those who are very weak (grade C and below for PSLE) would have already been flagged out and asked to do MTL B.

The rest who are doing the normal MTL may be very weak but not weak enough. Also, the option to switch isn’t a decision made by the student / parent - the school would have to agree. In order to secure the switch, the student must be failing very badly - which would then affect overall grades -> class being assigned -> subject combo available etc.

But yes, if you aren’t thinking about Chinese courses, normal or B syllabus doesn’t matter.

[chenlaoshi]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2012156\" time=\"1610657862\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2012156 time=1610657862 user_id=58173]
Any recommendations for sec 1 assessment book for this year-new syllabus. Thanks.[/quote]

Similar for last year's Pri 6 batch, topical assessment books for this year's Sec 1 will probably only be out around CNY period - before end of term 1. In the meantime, the students can start reading up on the list of compulsory idioms, read up from materials like 《逗号》 (some schools included CL story books in the book list too, there will either be weighted assessment or assignments set based on these books) and practice cloze passages exercises from assessment books (esp. since close passage component in Sec level Paper 2 is unlike Pri level, i.e. phrases not listed in textbook may also be tested).

[chenlaoshi]

Zeal mummy\" post_id=\"2012590\" time=\"1611079004\" user_id=\"58173:[quote=\"Zeal mummy\" post_id=2012590 time=1611079004 user_id=58173]
What is CLB?[/quote]

Chinese Language 'B' Syllabus

https://www.moe.gov.sg/education/secondary/express-course-curriculum/changes-affecting-express-course#eligibility-mtl-b