Commonly Asked Questions

What is the best age for children to start Chinese enrichment?

Giving your child an early start in Chinese can make a big difference! When children develop an interest in the language from a young age, it significantly smooths their transition into primary school, minimizing any potential learning gaps. 

Students often don't realize these gaps exist until Primary 3/4, when the curriculum speeds up and reduced usage of Hanyu Pinyin 汉语拼音. At this point, an insufficient vocabulary starts to affect their ability to read, write, and speak at the desired level. Learning a language, especially Chinese, is all about building up grammar and vocabulary over time, which is why starting early makes such a big difference. We recommend beginning Chinese enrichment classes at K1, K2, or Primary 1. This leverages their natural linguistic abilities and sets them up for greater success.  

At these foundational levels, students not only build a strong base but also gain significant confidence. They'll stay ahead of their peers and smoothly reach each learning milestone, setting them up for long-term success in the language.

Hua Cheng Education Centre (Fernvale branch) currently offers K1-P6 programmes. WhatsApp us at 88002451 for more information.

My child failed his Chinese test but refuse to go for tuition class?

If test results start slipping, it will be advisable to get help immediately before the child loses confidence in the subject and lags too far behind their learning objectives. At this point, a student might lose too much confidence; they will reject help from tuition classes and give up on the subject. Often, parents come to us for help when the child has given up. It is important to encourage them to seek tutor help to turn things around, as Chinese language will remain a major part of our life in the future. At this point, it will take time to accumulate the knowledge and regain confidence, but things can turn around if the tutor, student, and parents cooperate. At our centre, we have witnessed numerous turnarounds when the student and parents work together with our tutor. It is important to recognize the situation and take immediate action to seek help. 

Do I need Chinese tuition to score well in Chinese? 

The effectiveness of a Chinese tuition program can vary based on several factors, including the student's individual expectations, parental goals, their innate ability, and their existing foundation in the Chinese language. There's no one-size-fits-all answer.

However, most students significantly benefit from the structured Chinese tuition program at Hua Cheng Education Center. Our students receive proper guidance, timely feedback, and ample practice from their tutors. Parents are kept in the loop with constant feedback from tutors, enabling them to plan effective practice sessions at home.

Our well-structured program helps students identify their weaknesses and provides numerous opportunities for practice, ultimately boosting their confidence in both writing and oral communication.

Navigating Key Milestones in Primary School Chinese

Primary school presents several significant milestones for students learning Chinese:

• P1 Transition: Students begin with the foundational Hanyu Pinyin.

• P3 Focus: This year introduces composition writing and more complex Chinese exams, alongside the removal of Hanyu Pinyin as a direct aid.

• P4 & P5 Intensification: The curriculum significantly ramps up, requiring students to build a strong Chinese foundation. Many students find the difficulty increases considerably during these years.

• P6 PSLE Preparation: The final year is dedicated to gearing up for the PSLE.

Hua Cheng Education Center's structured Chinese program is designed to guide students smoothly through these milestones, helping them excel in their exams. Remember, building a strong language foundation takes time. Parents should take immediate action if they notice any drop in grades.

Here are some recommended steps:

• Dedicated Review: Spend more quality time reviewing school Chinese work. Help your child understand that Chinese is a requirement for PSLE, not an option. Encourage exposure to high-quality Chinese books and shows to build interest and foundational knowledge.

• School Teacher Consultation: Talk to your child's school teachers for their insights and recommendations.

• Hua Cheng Trial Class: Consider attending a trial class and speaking with our Hua Cheng Chinese teachers. They can provide personalized recommendations for your child's learning plan.

What is the fee for Primary school course?

Discover the perfect learning environment at Hua Cheng! We offer many different class types, designed to cater to various student needs and abilities. You'll find our prices are highly competitive and offer great value for money. Connect with our friendly service team on WhatsApp to explore your options. Our dedicated teachers are ready to advise you on the most suitable class to help you succeed. 

Do you have any holiday program?

Keep your child engaged and inspired this holiday! Our program helps them catch up, prepare, and build a continuous learning attitude for the year ahead. WhatsApp 88002451 to keep up to date with our holiday programs. Our holiday programs are specially designed by a team of experienced curriculum designer to improve your child's skills and exposure.

Is there a lot of homework ?

Guided practice by teachers during class provides immediate feedback and teaches students special techniques to approach questions. We don't assign a lot of compulsory homework. Instead, we strongly encourage students to review their worksheets one to two times after each lesson. This voluntary practice is statistically proven to help improve grades by reinforcing memory of words and sentence structures. As the wise saying goes, "熟能生巧" (Practice makes perfect), and this principle remains true today. 

Do you accept foreign students ?

Hua Cheng (Fernvale branch) has quite an international community of students. Most are doing very well in Chinese as their second or third language. It is very encouraging to see students willing to put in such extra effort to learn a new language. We have students from Myanmar, India, Vietnam, and the Philippines doing surprisingly well. Our teachers are all bilingual and patient.

Small Group Chinese Tuition class or Private Chinese tutor ?

When trying to make a decision on engaging a Small Group Chinese tuition class or Private Chinese tutor, it depends on many factors. Each child has different learning styles, so there is no straightforward answer.

• Firstly, consider if the tutor is of high quality and disciplined.

• Secondly, determine if your child prefers one-on-one or group tuition, as many children enjoy group tuition and learn better in that setting. Interaction with classmates can be a motivation factor to learn well. Our small group tuition is the best of both worlds, typical class is ~10 students or less.

• Finally, ensure your tutor knows the updated syllabus. Hua Cheng syllabus is constantly updated by a expert team of writers and immediately updated based on MOE changes. 

Impact of Screen Time on Studies

This topic is well-researched. There is no doubt that uncontrolled screen time leads to behavioral, focus, and brain development issues. All of these are undesirable for kids. The effect on behavior is immediately evident.

• The most noticeable issue is a loss of interest in all other activities, including studying.

• Loss of focus, with difficulty sitting and concentrating for more than five minutes.

• A craving for more and more screen time. Potentially aggressive, frequent mood swings

• Undesirable behavior and language.

The addictive nature of screen time makes a child's behavior similar to that of someone with any other addiction. The flood of the brain chemical, dopamine, during screen or online gaming time makes the brain "high" and causes them to crave more. The naturally addictive nature of screens is so strong that even mature adults tend to lose control.

Modern parents must supervise and schedule screen time, making sure to monitor their children's behavior and the content they are exposed to. Intervene early before the addiction worsens.

You might have difficulty implementing all of the items below all the time, but this is the balance a modern-day parent has to juggle. Caring parents know this is the right thing to do and need to take a balanced approach to ease their child into the right routine. Children are unable to appreciate the gravity of these actions, but that's why they need good, strong parents who look out for them for the long term. They are kids, after all.

• Reward screen time only when all tasks, revision, and self-improvement are completed.

• Ban short videos and reels. This type of video reduces attention span and will affect long-term learning and behavioral development.

• Always limit screen time. Lock away the device and manage their behavior.

• Correct and explain the right behaviors and language that they learn from videos or games.