<![CDATA[Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese]]>Is 2nd language compulsory in Primary Education ? I am not able to put my boy in any of the 3 languages offered in our primary schools… in fact,my mother tongue, Hindi is only offered at some schools,which are of cos more than 2 km from my home…


For example, Princess Elizabeth is offering my mother tongue as a 2nd Lang…but location at Bukit Batok…whereas I am staying at Jurong West … I was wondering if I get West Grove Primary …then my boy will have to attend the mother tongue session externaly on Saturdays.

I have written to MOE …but no reply… I wonder if the e-mail was correct …it was on the website only…anyone knows where else I can write to ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/1177/chinese-as-2nd-language-for-non-chineseRSS for NodeTue, 16 Jun 2026 01:06:45 GMTSun, 12 Oct 2008 11:13:32 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Fri, 12 Aug 2016 03:57:54 GMT]]>I’m Singaporean Chinese. I’m currently teaching Indian students to basic and simple Chinese language. Indeed, Chinese is not an easy subject to get high score in school especially for non-Chinese students. I’m believe to let the children have the passion on the language is very important. I have my own worksheet for them to learn step by step. pm me if you like to have your kids to try.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1709806https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1709806Fri, 12 Aug 2016 03:57:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Thu, 28 Jul 2016 04:49:48 GMT]]>Hi grapevine and all


Thank you for posting your message. I was thinking of that as well.. My children learns chinese in kindy but CHN is not their MT. we were thinking of exemption rather than stress and much tuition. however I am just puzzled about MOE MT policy , the last passage. does it mean those students(below) do not need to have any scores for university entry technically?


Quote **
Students who have been approved for exemption from taking a Mother Tongue Language or another language in place of an official Mother Tongue Language are deemed to have met the Mother Tongue threshold requirements for university admission.

- See more at: https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/retur ... gHg0K.dpuf
Unquote **

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1704175https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1704175Thu, 28 Jul 2016 04:49:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Fri, 22 Jul 2016 06:46:44 GMT]]>With the recent changes to PSLE, are parents still willing to get their kids to take Chinese as a second language. Chinese is not an easy subject even for native speakers. Now you can’t rely on other subjects to boot up your grades for T sore. Even if your kid does well enough to score 75 marks, it well result in 4-5 points compared to 1 point to those who score more than 90 marks.

I am not discouraging those who want to try but is this risk worth it?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1701961https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1701961Fri, 22 Jul 2016 06:46:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 13:42:09 GMT]]>Ic. Thank you for the info Gabby. Just abit nervous should my girl not get to study Chinese as 2nd language.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680616https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680616Tue, 17 May 2016 13:42:09 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 11:31:36 GMT]]>Form 1-NMTL (application for Non Mother Tongue Language)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680574https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680574Tue, 17 May 2016 11:31:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 11:28:48 GMT]]>Dont worry, there is a form for you to fill in during P1 registration.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680572https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680572Tue, 17 May 2016 11:28:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 11:20:48 GMT]]>

pirated:
zaza rissa:

Hi,

I'm registering my girl for next yr primary 1. We are non chinese and would like for her to take up Chinese as 2nd language since she's been learning it from her childcare. What are the procedures and supporting documents we have to submit? I saw a few posts from 2010 and 2011 but im wondering if the steps are still the same.

if your own mother tongue (TL, ML, etc) is not available as a second language in school, it will be easier to register, I guess ? Else you need to explain to MOE why you are not doing your own mother tongue

can call MOE to inquire first

https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/retur ... gue-policy

have seen Caucasians and south asians doing Chinese language for second language and no issue at all and doing well too

Thanks for the info :). Reason i want my girl to take Chinese is because she's been taking the language since nursery and i wish for her to continue it. Will try to email to MOE.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680570https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680570Tue, 17 May 2016 11:20:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 06:27:50 GMT]]>

zaza rissa:
Hi,

I'm registering my girl for next yr primary 1. We are non chinese and would like for her to take up Chinese as 2nd language since she's been learning it from her childcare. What are the procedures and supporting documents we have to submit? I saw a few posts from 2010 and 2011 but im wondering if the steps are still the same.
if your own mother tongue (TL, ML, etc) is not available as a second language in school, it will be easier to register, I guess ? Else you need to explain to MOE why you are not doing your own mother tongue

can call MOE to inquire first

https://www.moe.gov.sg/admissions/retur ... gue-policy

have seen Caucasians and south asians doing Chinese language for second language and no issue at all and doing well too

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680438https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680438Tue, 17 May 2016 06:27:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 May 2016 06:18:43 GMT]]>Hi,

I’m registering my girl for next yr primary 1. We are non chinese and would like for her to take up Chinese as 2nd language since she’s been learning it from her childcare. What are the procedures and supporting documents we have to submit? I saw a few posts from 2010 and 2011 but im wondering if the steps are still the same.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680435https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1680435Tue, 17 May 2016 06:18:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Thu, 06 Aug 2015 06:03:57 GMT]]>Hi all, may I find out how your children cope with Chinese as 2nd language? Do you have any recommended tutors? My daughter will be in Primary 1 next year and she has been learning Mandarin since Playgroup and we would like her to continue with the language although my husband and I are non-Chinese and we don’t speak Mandarin. Any advice on growing her vocab other than weekly enrichment classes? Thanks in advance for your help.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1555383https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1555383Thu, 06 Aug 2015 06:03:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:07:50 GMT]]>Hello,


You can apply for an exemption. School has a form and you need to fill up. MOE will grant in most cases but will want you to take up another lang such as French German etc and you need to show the registration. as far as I know kid won’t be tested and no one checks on it. You can ask the school to let her stay in class so she can still take part and be exposed to the language (but depends on the school and teacher I suppose) my son’s class teacher mentioned that fr P3 onwards they will be kept out of class.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/541809https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/541809Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:07:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:05:32 GMT]]>You’ll have to write in to MOE to seek exemption from MT.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/537488https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/537488Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:05:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:22:20 GMT]]>Hi,


I know this post has been ‘silent’ for over 8 months now.

But I am in a similar predicament.

As we would be moving to Singapore soon it appears that she would have to take either Malay, Tamil or Mandarin as her MT.

We are non-Chinese. My DD has some very basic Mandarin from her Kindie days. Would she be able to take Mandarin as a MT but not tested on the same?

Cheers,

Devils Advocate

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/537411https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/537411Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:22:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:56:13 GMT]]>Thanks mum03 for taking the time ro reply.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304429https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304429Sat, 27 Nov 2010 11:56:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 02:06:22 GMT]]>Hi chutiya,

We are non chinese, and our DD takes chinese as her MT. Last year when i register her for Pri 1, the sch requested that I get a letter from her sch that she is proficient in the language.
So far, my DD is coping well in her MT. I pay extra attention, to this subject as i cud not coach her.
I am a Kiasu Parent so I send her to berries once a week, and she as home tuition twice a week. I know that its too much, that is the only way she cud be able to be on par with the native speaking kids. She as done well in her year end exam (band 1). I am extremly happy wz it.
As long as you can support him, and direct him on the right path, i m sure your child cud do well.
Don worry just inform the sch that you know what you r doing, and that u will take full responsibility.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304144https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304144Sat, 27 Nov 2010 02:06:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:15:12 GMT]]>Hello all,


I would like to hear your views on taking up CHN as a MT for Non chinese ppl. I have enrolled my son for P1 next yr n y’day I had a call from the principal asking me to re-consider taking CHN. She was adament that we opt for other indian languages. since we are not Indians, whether we tk CHN, Tamil, malay , French or any other language will still be a new & foreign lang. to us.

While I know CHN will be difficult, son has been xposed to CHN since kindy and we are getting 1 to one from a tutor. Currently he’s OK with his studies and enjoys the lang.
Have you experianced pressure from schools to change like this? Without even trying out in school how can they judge that he’ll be a failure? if he’s really bad later we can try for an exemption. Am I right? before even starting the school yr, I hv a bad taset in the mouth already with this request fr. school.

Hope some of you can shed some light.
Thanks

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304113https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/304113Sat, 27 Nov 2010 01:15:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:04:38 GMT]]>Hi Vividlaurel / Chixchix


Can you share your experiences pls? I have kid who is currently learning Mandarin at school and other who learns Hindi.

Chixchix, Hindi Society or DAV will arrange to teach hindi during their mother tongue time in school. They will send a teacher , even for just one students ( the fee varies). You will have to contact them and they will coordinate with whichever school you enrol your kid in.The school is usually very accomodating of such requests.

vividlaurel:
Hi Chixchix,

I just saw your post while I was browsing the site. Have you already gotten a reply from MOE? Do let me know if you haven't then I can share my experiences with you. We are also Indians, but my kids are learning Mandarin in the CC and also Hindi externally. They go to P1 next year.

Vividlaurel
chixchix:

Is 2nd language compulsory in Primary Education ? I am not able to put my boy in any of the 3 languages offered in our primary schools.... in fact,my mother tongue, Hindi is only offered at some schools,which are of cos more than 2 km from my home...

For example, Princess Elizabeth is offering my mother tongue as a 2nd Lang..but location at Bukit Batok..whereas I am staying at Jurong West .. I was wondering if I get West Grove Primary ...then my boy will have to attend the mother tongue session externaly on Saturdays.

I have written to MOE ..but no reply.. I wonder if the e-mail was correct ..it was on the website only..anyone knows where else I can write to ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/36528https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/36528Mon, 29 Jun 2009 05:04:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:06:38 GMT]]>Hi Chixchix,


I just saw your post while I was browsing the site. Have you already gotten a reply from MOE? Do let me know if you haven't then I can share my experiences with you. We are also Indians, but my kids are learning Mandarin in the CC and also Hindi externally. They go to P1 next year.

Vividlaurel

chixchix:
Is 2nd language compulsory in Primary Education ? I am not able to put my boy in any of the 3 languages offered in our primary schools.... in fact,my mother tongue, Hindi is only offered at some schools,which are of cos more than 2 km from my home...

For example, Princess Elizabeth is offering my mother tongue as a 2nd Lang..but location at Bukit Batok..whereas I am staying at Jurong West .. I was wondering if I get West Grove Primary ...then my boy will have to attend the mother tongue session externaly on Saturdays.

I have written to MOE ..but no reply.. I wonder if the e-mail was correct ..it was on the website only..anyone knows where else I can write to ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/24471https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/24471Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:06:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:27:44 GMT]]>

mum03:
Hi EON,


I could only speak English, can't even speak a word of chinese.

We send our daughter to Holy Grace Kindergarden where Mandarin is the 1st language. The teachers only speak Mandarin to them, does our daughter pick it up since she was in Nursery. She does go for enrichment class once a week at Berries (it does help).

Thks Rds
Bel
Thanks Mum03 for that invaluable insight :celebrate:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17213https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17213Wed, 18 Feb 2009 01:27:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:31:51 GMT]]>Hi EON,


I could only speak English, can’t even speak a word of chinese.

We send our daughter to Holy Grace Kindergarden where Mandarin is the 1st language. The teachers only speak Mandarin to them, does our daughter pick it up since she was in Nursery. She does go for enrichment class once a week at Berries (it does help).

Thks Rds
Bel

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17130https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17130Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:31:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:37:42 GMT]]>

mum03:
Hi everyone,

I need all your expert adv on this issue. Our daughter will be registering for her pri one this year (still deciding which sch to send her). She is from a mixed marriage (myself indian and hubby british).
Presently she is taking chinese has her 2nd language. From what I understand, does she has to take tamil as a 2nd language when she goes to pri one. She could understand tamil, but unable to even speak a word of it. She is fluent in chinese language.
Will there be any complication when I register her for pri one??? :? . Will they insist that she as to take her Mother tougue as a 2nd language??. We has her parents prefer our daughter to take chinese has a 2nd language

I am lost. Pls adv??? :?:

Bel
Hi Mum3,

English is my mother tongue. I can speak Mandarin but only enough to order food at the hawker centre and get well around Singapore.

We intend for our children to take up Mandarin as a second language and you've mentioned that your daughter spoke fluent Mandarin.

How was it so? Was it through enrichment classes or can you speak Mandarin, yourself?

Because as far as I see it, our kids will have \"no chance\" of using Mandarin except in school as English will be the medium of communication with all our relatives.

I will definitely engage a private Mandarin tutor for our kids but how did you get your kid to pick up this language fluently?

Thanks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17117https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17117Tue, 17 Feb 2009 06:37:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:51:19 GMT]]>Thks Kelyn,


It takes a load out of me. I will keep that in mind.

Bel

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17056https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/17056Mon, 16 Feb 2009 23:51:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:48:05 GMT]]>Hi mum03,


During the school registration, just fill up a form that you want your daughter to study Chinese as 2nd lang.

After that during school orientation, some more forms to fill up and you need to proof that your daughter studied chinese during her kindergarten by submitting her progress report (at least 2 or 3 years) or a letter from the kindergarten's Principal. The school will then submitted to MOE for approval.

Usually, MOE will just approve it.

Hope this info help. 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/16930https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/16930Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:48:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Chinese As 2nd Language For non-Chinese on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:12:28 GMT]]>[Moderator's note: Topics merged.]


Hi everyone,
I need all your expert adv on this issue. Our daughter will be registering for her pri one this year (still deciding which sch to send her). She is from a mixed marriage (myself indian and hubby british).
Presently she is taking chinese has her 2nd language. From what I understand, does she has to take tamil as a 2nd language when she goes to pri one. She could understand tamil, but unable to even speak a word of it. She is fluent in chinese language.
Will there be any complication when I register her for pri one??? :? . Will they insist that she as to take her Mother tougue as a 2nd language??. We has her parents prefer our daughter to take chinese has a 2nd language

I am lost. Pls adv??? :?:

Bel

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/16928https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/16928Mon, 16 Feb 2009 01:12:28 GMT