Frequently asked questions:
Does my child need to take mother tongue in High School?
Any student who is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident must take their mother tongue language
unless he/she has obtained the approval of exemption from the Ministry of Education of Singapore.
Non-Singaporeans are free to choose from the language options available.
Will my child be able to access the High School Chinese curriculum having only studied one or two
years of Chinese?
SJI International offers a comprehensive programme for learning Chinese from the Elementary School
(ES) through the High School (HS). The Chinese Departments in the ES and HS work closely to ensure
that there is a smooth transition for the students learning Chinese. Both schools share the same aim of
developing an interest in the language and appreciating the culture. Students will develop the ability to
communicate effectively in listening, speaking, reading and writing. There are three different courses
available to meet the needs of the students, they are “Advanced Chinese”, “Intermediate Chinese” and
“Foreign Language Chinese”.
“Advanced Chinese” is meant for students who have attained a higher level of Chinese. “Intermediate
Chinese” is meant for students who have learned the language for some years and have attained a
satisfactory level of competency. “Foreign Language Chinese” is meant for students who learn it as a
foreign language.
ES students from the “Chinese as a Foreign Language” Course will usually join “Foreign Language
Chinese” course when they graduate to the HS. For the Chinese Language ES students, they will either
continue with Intermediate Chinese or Advanced Chinese in the HS depending on their level of
proficiency. There is communication between the schools to ensure that students are placed in the
appropriate course.
ES students learning Chinese as a Foreign Language use the textbook “My First Chinese Reader” which
provides the foundation for learning Chinese. When they join the HS in Grade 7, the textbook “Easy
Steps to Chinese 3”continues to scaffold their learning.
Students who enroll in our school only in Grade 5 or Grade 6 may need more time to meet the
expectations. The ES and HS provide support for these students. In the ES, there is an after school
activity “Chinese Bridge” which is a basic course for new students. In the HS, subject teachers conduct
extra lessons for these students. There is also “Conversational Mandarin”, an activity which aims to help
students improve the listening and speaking skills.
How can we best support our child with their work in Chinese, when we do not speak any Chinese at
home?
Parents with no Chinese experience should encourage their child to seek to exploit all opportunities for
speaking, reading and writing the language in school. The class teacher will offer support and extra help
as required, both within and outside lesson time. Also, extra-curricular activities such as, ‘Conversational
Mandarin’ exist for this very purpose. We strongly encourage students to read Chinese newspapers as
newspapers offer essential support in language learning. Students will be encouraged to subscribe to
various types of local Chinese newspaper suitable for their levels.
How do we purchase the Chinese textbooks?
Currently students order their textbooks of other subjects through the appointed book distributor in SJII.
However, we have arranged for students to purchase directly from the distributor of our Chinese
textbooks because this distributor is able to offer us the lowest price through direct sales. Hence, you
will not find the list of Chinese textbooks to appear in the booklist issued by SJII. Students will pay cash
to their subject teachers, and thereafter, receive the textbooks.
What are the language options in Grade 9 and how are these affected by the language my child chose
in Grade 7?
Please see the following table.
What implications do the language my child chooses at Grade 7 have for their study at IB level?
Please see the following table.