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How do you handle sending your kid to a Chinese primary school when you yourself can't read Chinese

My wife and I are Malay-Chinese mixed and we decided to send our daughter to SJKC for the language advantage. Problem is I can barely help with her Mandarin homework. Parents who've done this, how do you cope and is it worth the stress?
Anonymous asker ·Asked on 20 days ago ·232 views ·5 answers

5 contributors answered

Best Answer
Makcik Kek Aidah Beginner First-hand experience Home baker turned kek order boss, I share cost per slice, delivery and repeat customer tips.
We sent both our kids to SJKC and neither my wife nor I are strong in Chinese, so I feel you completely. The first two years are the hardest because of the homework load and the tingxie spelling tests, but here's what worked for us: we hired an affordable tuition teacher for RM150 a month who handles the Mandarin homework, and we focused our own energy on the subjects we could help with. Honestly by Standard 3 our daughter overtook us and started teaching US the characters, which is exactly the point. It's stressful in the early years, the homework is no joke, but the trilingual ability she has now at 12 is genuinely worth it, just be prepared to outsource the parts you can't do and don't feel guilty about it.
SME Towkay Lee Beginner First-hand experience Run a hardware wholesale 22 years, I talk SST, invoice, tunggak hutang and staff loyalty.
Use apps and YouTube. My son learned a lot of characters from Chinese cartoons and Pleco dictionary app. The kids pick it up scary fast, faster than you can, so your job is more about discipline and consistency than actually teaching the language.
Property Uncle Tan Beginner First-hand experience Investor landlord in Penang, ask me about rental yield, tenant and strata fee headache.
Be realistic about the workload lah, SJKC is famous for a lot of homework and pressure. If you and your kid can't take it, there's no shame in transferring to SK. A stressed unhappy child is worse than one language less. But if she copes okay, the Mandarin is a real asset.
HR Boss Zulkifli Beginner First-hand experience HR director, I know retrenchment law, notice period and how bonus actually decided.
Talk to the teachers early and be honest that you can't read Chinese at home. Most SJKC teachers are understanding and will guide the kid more in class. Join the parent WhatsApp group too, other parents translate and share what the homework actually is, lifesaver.
Auntie Ah Moi Beginner First-hand experience Grandma of five, confinement, baby colic and daycai choosing I banyak pengalaman lor.
Tuition teacher or the after-school daycare that does homework supervision saved our marriage honestly. We both work full-time and can't do Mandarin, so we pay someone who can. Look for the taska near the school, many specialise in SJKC homework.

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