I am sure every victim-cum-beneficiary of the bilingual policy has something to say about learning Chinese. Here are some thoughts after reading the recent articles on the subject.
1. I didn't know that we were expected to master both languages 'equally well'. I thought Mandarin was supposed to be our 'second language' and treated it as such. Perhaps things changed when it was no longer called 'second language' but 'mother tongue'.
2. What is this about Chinese being too hard in the 70s? Sure, it was hard as anything but it is much worse now, I think. The kind of vocabulary the kids are expected to know is incredible.
3. Yes, there is something in the argument that listening and speaking should come first but ultimately, the kids still need to read and write and, tedious as it may be, you can't run away from practising writing. Like how you just have to memorise the times tables over and over again.
4. All credit going to my Chinese teachers, learning the language was tough but the ride was interesting and enriching. It is sad to read of people who had such a bad time that they ended up with an 'indelible dislike' for it.
There are probably a million other things I could add but I am rather sleepy (hence today's lousy title) so I will just end by saying that it is not just Chinese teaching that needs to be 'fun' but all subjects should be made fun and meaningful.
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