| My wife was introduced about the
popular zijing class by her friend that just came back
from UK. Her 9 year-old daughter used to hate the complicated
Chinese language ever since she started her education
here. However, after attending zijing class, she could
pick up Chinese very fast and begin to love Chinese. She
also appeared in a TV commentary on Chinese learning experience.
Both my wife and I are ¡°half¡± Chinese-educated in Malaysia.
Learning Chinese is very natural to us as a Chinese.
We never thought that with the English-biased education
system in Singapore, our next generation could face
so many problems in learning Chinese though this is
a Chinese predominant society. Moreover, they are also
studying in a famous Chinese SAP school. My daughter
even said once when she was 9 years old that she wished
her mother to be a Caucasian with blonde hair and blue
eyes which indirectly saying she wished to be borne
as a Caucasian.
It has always been my wish to really help our children
to be fluent in Chinese and strong in Chinese culture
not only because the next economic influence will be
from China but also to maintain the values and root
of Chinese culture. I have also brought them with me
for the first time to visit our ancestral home in Hainan
last year. We still own a shop in the city centre inherited
from my great grandfather.
After the first lesson and listening to the CD at home,
to my surprise, the youngest of my 3 children at 6 years
old can actually memorise and recite the first chapter
very fluently and with good punctuation. I have to admit
that some of the words are also new to me. The 4000-word
syllabus actually encompasses the 5000 years Chinese
and mankind civilisation ranging from history to scientific
inventions. My daughter also started to express interest
in Chinese now because of un-pressurised method of learning.
There is no homework to worry about. The interactive
CD-ROM also provided good tool for revision in a fun
way. I am looking forward that with the learning of
the 4000 words, 95% of Chinese characters, my kids can
read Chinese books and newspaper with ease, and thereby
lead to their affinity and affection of Chinese culture.
By:
Lau Tian Kit
Father of
Lau Siaw Young
Lau Siaw Ee
Lau Siaw Sam
21 May 2004
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