Comments on: Why did you choose Chinese School/Kebangsaan School? http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/ My very own mini, personalised, parenting resource. A cyber filing cabinet of parenting articles and links. I love sharing my children's favourite sites, online games, crafts and exchanging childcare stories and parenting issues faced with other parents. Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:38:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: narrowband http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-313142 narrowband Wed, 27 Aug 2008 09:41:31 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-313142 Chinese school is correct :) Congratulations. Chinese primary + Kebangsaan secondary = More well-rounded individual. <strong>We hope that it'll turn out ok. Thanks.</strong> Chinese school is correct :) Congratulations.

Chinese primary + Kebangsaan secondary = More well-rounded individual.

We hope that it’ll turn out ok. Thanks.

]]> By: jenjen http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-312117 jenjen Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:21:49 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-312117 I am also in this dilemma.So much of pro and cons. My son is turning 7 next year. still the same question till now. I am chinese but hubby is Indian. at home we speaks in english and sometimes malay (bahasa rojak) due to that both of us are from national schools. Been hearing lots of comments from many parents who send their kids to national school and chinese school. National school: So much of problem, eg. teachers were so busy , they marks the kids books only every half a year - during holidays. how do you expect the child to know his /her mistakes instantly? second racist..if you get a malay teacher...they will put all the malay children in front and Indians at the back of the class..happened to my friend's kid , parent complain due to the kid can't copy the teacher's writing on the board (he is abit short in height) but only for few days the kid was transferred nearer but later went back to the same position again. My friend later transfered her kid to a private school. For me , my kid will be in Indian category..i wonder since when its so biased in school these days wonder how racial integration can work. Nowadays, there is so few chinese in national school, in fact many malays and indians too are sending their kids to chinese school - lost hope on national schools, my point of view is other races are going for vernacular education, why do we want to lose such opportunity? Third, they are so relaxed, national schools always have no teachers..either sick for whole month and the children are left with cikgu ganti(relief teacher) which says 'buat apapun boleh, tapi jangan bising'- at last they will have to sit for exams which have not been taught. Many of the teachers are not english fluent, so when the gov implements science in english, the children complained they don't understand the teacher who spoke broken english.For chinese medium school according to many parents, racism is not an issue , but $$$ is. Some chinese school will expect you to give lots of $$ in order to make sure that your child get adequate attention from the teachers. I would say my son is not the study type..he is the playful and happy go lucky type..obviously not so keen on doing homework.If I am sending him to a national school which is not strict and always teachers are not around, I afraid he will be worse and more lazy. Being in chinese school will sure to pressure him and me too..But at least I would want to give him a chance in learning Mandarin, no doubt that the strictness and discipline will eventually tone down his playfullness. I don't mind he get abit of rotan , that is the pain most of us went thru, in order to succeed in life. Private schools using national curriculum seems to be a perfect solution. Nowdays private schools have made Mandarin as a compulsory subject for the primary, whether your child wants to take it up for UPSR is up to the child's performance. However the setback many parents told is that the monetary point of it. upper and Middle class parents only could afford it. Must think carefully too...since it involves $$, if say suddenly you do not the funds due to economic setback, will the child be able to go back to government national school or chinese school psychologically? I am not so sure ...many parents who send their kids to private school complains that their kids are deteriorating in performance - it shouldn't be happening in private school I guess- or it the the real reason behind it - Is that they could no longer afford it??? If the reason being that China open market...that is why we need to learn Mandarin..that is not a point at all. Due to China going so internationally, many of its people have already received English education and many of them in private sector is well equipped with English language. I have worked with China counterparts..and all of the speaks so well in English. I have a Chinese friend (real real banana) whom is from Peranakan origins, who doesn't speak a word in Cantonese or Mandarin, currently is residing in Guangdong China for 2 years already due to husband is working in China. She managed to get a job (HR) in the same company with her husband. I was really surprised when she told me all the personnel in her company speaks English very well. She only managed to pick up few important words in Mandarin - only for usage with taxi drivers and eatery outlets. So I don't see the China open market as an issue as China is also open to globalisation as well. FYI, I have registered my son in Chinese school due to the setbacks of National schools but if I have a daughter I would not mind National school because girls are basically are easier to control , self motivating compared to boys. It is the discipline view that I am looking at for my son. <strong>We're all in the same dilemma, aren't we? :) Though my boy and girl are different, the boy is more lazy compared to the girl, I hope to let them have the same education whether it is National or Chinese so that they would be able to relate to and understand each other better. Another thing, like you say private school is expensive so we hope to hold it off till secondary school and send them then, that is if we could afford it then.</strong> I am also in this dilemma.So much of pro and cons. My son is turning 7 next year. still the same question till now. I am chinese but hubby is Indian. at home we speaks in english and sometimes malay (bahasa rojak) due to that both of us are from national schools. Been hearing lots of comments from many parents who send their kids to national school and chinese school. National school: So much of problem, eg. teachers were so busy , they marks the kids books only every half a year - during holidays. how do you expect the child to know his /her mistakes instantly? second racist..if you get a malay teacher…they will put all the malay children in front and Indians at the back of the class..happened to my friend’s kid , parent complain due to the kid can’t copy the teacher’s writing on the board (he is abit short in height) but only for few days the kid was transferred nearer but later went back to the same position again. My friend later transfered her kid to a private school. For me , my kid will be in Indian category..i wonder since when its so biased in school these days wonder how racial integration can work. Nowadays, there is so few chinese in national school, in fact many malays and indians too are sending their kids to chinese school - lost hope on national schools, my point of view is other races are going for vernacular education, why do we want to lose such opportunity? Third, they are so relaxed, national schools always have no teachers..either sick for whole month and the children are left with cikgu ganti(relief teacher) which says ‘buat apapun boleh, tapi jangan bising’- at last they will have to sit for exams which have not been taught. Many of the teachers are not english fluent, so when the gov implements science in english, the children complained they don’t understand the teacher who spoke broken english.For chinese medium school according to many parents, racism is not an issue , but $$$ is. Some chinese school will expect you to give lots of $$ in order to make sure that your child get adequate attention from the teachers. I would say my son is not the study type..he is the playful and happy go lucky type..obviously not so keen on doing homework.If I am sending him to a national school which is not strict and always teachers are not around, I afraid he will be worse and more lazy. Being in chinese school will sure to pressure him and me too..But at least I would want to give him a chance in learning Mandarin, no doubt that the strictness and discipline will eventually tone down his playfullness. I don’t mind he get abit of rotan , that is the pain most of us went thru, in order to succeed in life. Private schools using national curriculum seems to be a perfect solution. Nowdays private schools have made Mandarin as a compulsory subject for the primary, whether your child wants to take it up for UPSR is up to the child’s performance. However the setback many parents told is that the monetary point of it. upper and Middle class parents only could afford it. Must think carefully too…since it involves $$, if say suddenly you do not the funds due to economic setback, will the child be able to go back to government national school or chinese school psychologically? I am not so sure …many parents who send their kids to private school complains that their kids are deteriorating in performance - it shouldn’t be happening in private school I guess- or it the the real reason behind it - Is that they could no longer afford it???
If the reason being that China open market…that is why we need to learn Mandarin..that is not a point at all. Due to China going so internationally, many of its people have already received English education and many of them in private sector is well equipped with English language. I have worked with China counterparts..and all of the speaks so well in English. I have a Chinese friend (real real banana) whom is from Peranakan origins, who doesn’t speak a word in Cantonese or Mandarin, currently is residing in Guangdong China for 2 years already due to husband is working in China. She managed to get a job (HR) in the same company with her husband. I was really surprised when she told me all the personnel in her company speaks English very well. She only managed to pick up few important words in Mandarin - only for usage with taxi drivers and eatery outlets. So I don’t see the China open market as an issue as China is also open to globalisation as well. FYI, I have registered my son in Chinese school due to the setbacks of National schools but if I have a daughter I would not mind National school because girls are basically are easier to control , self motivating compared to boys. It is the discipline view that I am looking at for my son.

We’re all in the same dilemma, aren’t we? :) Though my boy and girl are different, the boy is more lazy compared to the girl, I hope to let them have the same education whether it is National or Chinese so that they would be able to relate to and understand each other better. Another thing, like you say private school is expensive so we hope to hold it off till secondary school and send them then, that is if we could afford it then.

]]> By: KittyCat http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-308475 KittyCat Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:47:38 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-308475 Hi MG - I'm living in China now and my toddler is starting to pick up Mandarin/Putonghua. The banana that I am, I've been picking it up too from everyday business. Will we send him to Chinese school when we return? NO! I treasure my multi-racial friendships and experiences, laughter, fun and childhood from my Convent school days. Despite the deteriorating standards of these schools, nothing beats the Malaysian and real world environment they are made of, which until now, is NOT seen in Chinese schools despite their many merits. <strong>While I agree with you on that, the sad thing is the standards in National schools has deteriorated and you'd almost be a minority if you sent your child to one. One commenter mentioned that her friend had sent their child to National school only to pull them out after the first day because the kid turned out to be the only Chinese in the class of 50. However, when doing school hunting you'd have to visit each one to have a better idea of the standards. I visited several schools, looked at the premises, spoke to the heads, looked at the organisational chart of teachers etc to give me a better idea about the school. I saw some good and bad ones.</strong> Hi MG - I’m living in China now and my toddler is starting to pick up Mandarin/Putonghua. The banana that I am, I’ve been picking it up too from everyday business.

Will we send him to Chinese school when we return? NO! I treasure my multi-racial friendships and experiences, laughter, fun and childhood from my Convent school days.

Despite the deteriorating standards of these schools, nothing beats the Malaysian and real world environment they are made of, which until now, is NOT seen in Chinese schools despite their many merits.

While I agree with you on that, the sad thing is the standards in National schools has deteriorated and you’d almost be a minority if you sent your child to one. One commenter mentioned that her friend had sent their child to National school only to pull them out after the first day because the kid turned out to be the only Chinese in the class of 50. However, when doing school hunting you’d have to visit each one to have a better idea of the standards. I visited several schools, looked at the premises, spoke to the heads, looked at the organisational chart of teachers etc to give me a better idea about the school. I saw some good and bad ones.

]]> By: Daddy Parenting Tips http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300992 Daddy Parenting Tips Sat, 09 Aug 2008 03:23:47 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300992 The coming generation will feel the need to become global citizens and a good understanding of languages and cultures are critical to play that role. Written Mandarin has a strong foundation of characters that are almost similar to other difficult languages like Japanese and Korean. Besides, you will be able to do business in China, Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong easily. It seems foolish to want to spend so much time to be busybodies and get involved in so many things, but that's the same way how our parents or previous generations would think of the Internet. The world is changing and it is only heading towards a more global world if we are at all working together. Nevertheless, there is a need for crucial skills in learning languages and cultures quickly. By mastering a difficult language, it will build such a good foundation for picking up another 5 languages maybe? Don't laugh ... we are becoming machines in this world since the industrial revolution. Of course, it helps to love such skills to be able to enjoy your life. But, how do you love learning languages and cultures unless you can do it well? http://daddyparentingtips.blogspot.com/ <strong>You are right of course. I think that as parents, what we can do to encourage the love of learning languages is to first cultivate the love for learning itself, right from the time they are very young. We can encourage them to love to learn, by listening to them and answering their many questions about the things they see around them then building on their interest by reading and playing with them on the things/topics that they are currently interested in. This way, I find that they will become keen to learn and they will develop a love for reading and a thirst for knowledge. Parental support is so very important.</strong> ]]> By: mott http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300710 mott Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:38:12 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300710 oops, not meant to have a "!" at the end there.... heheheheh..didn't want to sound like I was scolding you...! ;-) <strong>Aiyah, you scold me, I scold you back loh. No worries. Haha.</strong> oops, not meant to have a “!” at the end there…. heheheheh..didn’t want to sound like I was scolding you…! ;-)

Aiyah, you scold me, I scold you back loh. No worries. Haha.

]]> By: mott http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300708 mott Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:36:34 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300708 wah..ouch! Everybody boo-ing kebangsaan school. Wooi..i came from there wor! I didn't do well in school, but I did marvellously well in Uni! Goes to show that the system they're using didn't work well with me, but the assignment based system (read : relate and understand), worked better for me. To be honest, I think if you can choose a really good kebangsaan school..ahem..with good rep (read : good dedicated teachers - they still do exist), then it shouldn't be a problem. Language to me, is personal. Either you have a knack for it..or you don't. If your kids sound like they are able to absorb and learn a new language...go for it. Listen to your kids?! <strong>mott, I am also a product of kebangsaan school ler. However, kebangsaan school stds today is different from our times. The std has gone down the drain but of course there are still some good ones around. My girl has a knack to learn languages but I'm still against rote learning, drilling, too much homework and tuition. So how? Haha.</strong> wah..ouch! Everybody boo-ing kebangsaan school. Wooi..i came from there wor! I didn’t do well in school, but I did marvellously well in Uni! Goes to show that the system they’re using didn’t work well with me, but the assignment based system (read : relate and understand), worked better for me.

To be honest, I think if you can choose a really good kebangsaan school..ahem..with good rep (read : good dedicated teachers - they still do exist), then it shouldn’t be a problem.

Language to me, is personal. Either you have a knack for it..or you don’t. If your kids sound like they are able to absorb and learn a new language…go for it. Listen to your kids?!

mott, I am also a product of kebangsaan school ler. However, kebangsaan school stds today is different from our times. The std has gone down the drain but of course there are still some good ones around.

My girl has a knack to learn languages but I’m still against rote learning, drilling, too much homework and tuition. So how? Haha.

]]> By: Lian's Parenting Tips http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300052 Lian's Parenting Tips Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:39:05 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-300052 Sorry ah, a bit off topic but just wondering what comment plugin are you using. I like how your replies appear directly under the comments you are replying to. <strong>Actually I have no idea *red faced*. I went to my plugin management page to check for you but I couldn't see anything remotely close enough to describe it. Hehe. Sorry.</strong> Sorry ah, a bit off topic but just wondering what comment plugin are you using. I like how your replies appear directly under the comments you are replying to.

Actually I have no idea *red faced*. I went to my plugin management page to check for you but I couldn’t see anything remotely close enough to describe it. Hehe. Sorry.

]]> By: blurqueen http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299844 blurqueen Thu, 07 Aug 2008 03:16:02 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299844 I am not a parent yet but I spent a good 6 years in a chinese school and spent 3 secondary years taking up Chinese as a compulsory subject for my national exams. It was not easy as my parents are not chinese educated. I was quite lost during the good 6 years and it shows in my result. I remember asking my mom how to solve arithmathics questions and I had to translate those questions from Chinese to English so my mom could understand before helping me to solve those questions. Come to think of it, that was quite funny. As I moved on to secondary years, I was giving tuition to some of my classmates in English and helping them in English composition writing. Mmm, I guess those arithmathics-chinese-english-translation-with-mom must have helped in some way. I notice most chinese educated students have problems in english composition writing. Reason being they were trained to write in chinese but when it comes to english writing, they will use the same chinese writing method but translate the writing from chinese to english. If you decide to send your kids to chinese school, I think you should continue to encourage them to read a lot of English books - just to strike a balance. It is a struggle to master few languages all at one time, even more so at that tender age. Do not be discouraged if the results for some language subjects are not up to your expectation. I continued my tertiary education overseas doing something that requires a lot of writing and understanding in the english language. As for those friends that I used to tutor, they also did well in their tertiary education overseas. I think your kids will be fine. <strong>blurqueen. Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, that is exactly what I am afraid of. That my kid will have to translate to me in order for me to help her out. lol!</strong> I am not a parent yet but I spent a good 6 years in a chinese school and spent 3 secondary years taking up Chinese as a compulsory subject for my national exams.

It was not easy as my parents are not chinese educated. I was quite lost during the good 6 years and it shows in my result. I remember asking my mom how to solve arithmathics questions and I had to translate those questions from Chinese to English so my mom could understand before helping me to solve those questions. Come to think of it, that was quite funny.

As I moved on to secondary years, I was giving tuition to some of my classmates in English and helping them in English composition writing. Mmm, I guess those arithmathics-chinese-english-translation-with-mom must have helped in some way. I notice most chinese educated students have problems in english composition writing. Reason being they were trained to write in chinese but when it comes to english writing, they will use the same chinese writing method but translate the writing from chinese to english.

If you decide to send your kids to chinese school, I think you should continue to encourage them to read a lot of English books - just to strike a balance. It is a struggle to master few languages all at one time, even more so at that tender age. Do not be discouraged if the results for some language subjects are not up to your expectation.

I continued my tertiary education overseas doing something that requires a lot of writing and understanding in the english language. As for those friends that I used to tutor, they also did well in their tertiary education overseas.

I think your kids will be fine.

blurqueen. Thanks for sharing your experience. Yes, that is exactly what I am afraid of. That my kid will have to translate to me in order for me to help her out. lol!

]]> By: physiomom http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299104 physiomom Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:25:50 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299104 BTW, at home they solely speak English with us. With frens and teachers they communicate in Mandarin. what a beauty. At times they use the language to "bully" their mummy when they have their mini conference exp on issues they dont want me to understand. ha ha. <strong>Doesn't it feel strange to have your children communicate in a language you can't understand?</strong> BTW, at home they solely speak English with us. With frens and teachers they communicate in Mandarin. what a beauty. At times they use the language to “bully” their mummy when they have their mini conference exp on issues they dont want me to understand. ha ha.

Doesn’t it feel strange to have your children communicate in a language you can’t understand?

]]> By: physiomom http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299103 physiomom Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:19:00 +0000 http://mumsgather.com/2008/08/05/why-did-you-choose-chinese-schoolkebangsaan-school/#comment-299103 Going to a Kebangsaan school life is less stressful compared to Chinese school that's for sure. Both of us parents not Chinese educated.But had sent both twins to a Chinese school so that they master another language that will take them far in future now that China is opening their market. Even Mat Salleh overseas prefer candidates who knws Mandarin. That's our rationale for sending them to Chinese school.But we do pity them for having so much homewrk brought bck each day.8-9 sometimes.. It's not the same like what some people say you can always send them to chinese classes even if u put them in kebangsaan school mah. less stressful. I was doing that during my school days. Till now I only understand minimal mandarin, read and write my own name and recognise 1-10 characters. dont even knw hw to read a chinese newspaper. that's why we put them in a proper chinese school. 3 years in primary nw, the twins are coping well with the language verbally..written needs polishing, though. Planning to send the grils who are 4 and 3 now to a Chinese school, too. <strong>8-9 homework! Even now I have to shout at my girl to get her 2-3 kindy homework done. Lol!</strong> Going to a Kebangsaan school life is less stressful compared to Chinese school that’s for sure. Both of us parents not Chinese educated.But had sent both twins to a Chinese school so that they master another language that will take them far in future now that China is opening their market. Even Mat Salleh overseas prefer candidates who knws Mandarin. That’s our rationale for sending them to Chinese school.But we do pity them for having so much homewrk brought bck each day.8-9 sometimes.. It’s not the same like what some people say you can always send them to chinese classes even if u put them in kebangsaan school mah. less stressful. I was doing that during my school days. Till now I only understand minimal mandarin, read and write my own name and recognise 1-10 characters. dont even knw hw to read a chinese newspaper. that’s why we put them in a proper chinese school. 3 years in primary nw, the twins are coping well with the language verbally..written needs polishing, though. Planning to send the grils who are 4 and 3 now to a Chinese school, too.

8-9 homework! Even now I have to shout at my girl to get her 2-3 kindy homework done. Lol!

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