A student practices writing Chinese charactersImage via WikipediaI came across this article by SignOnSanDiego.com titled “Kindergartners urged to learn key languages.” It highlights an elementary school in Fairfax stepping up to the call of Pres. Bush to “teach the youngest students Chinese and other foreign languages considered critical to the nation’s future security.” The program is called the National Security Language Initiative.

Besides Chinese, other languages regarded as “critical languages” are Arabic, Russian, Hindi and Farsi. However, it is reported that Chinese is the most popular because of the booming business in China. The U.S. Education Department encourages teaching of these languages even at kindergarten level and has allocated $26 million in grants to communities around the country.

The reason why this article caught my attention is because I am impressed that the U.S. education department has not only realized the value of learning languages like Chinese but has also taken active steps to make sure the schools provide the learning opportunity to the children.

Here in Malaysia, more and more parents also see the great value and advantage of learning chinese. I’m not just talking about the chinese people. Even the other races (Malays, Indians, “dan lain lain”) in Malaysia acknowledge the benefits of learning this language. Unfortunately, what seems to be the best option is packing our children into Chinese schools. Seeing that there is an exploding interest in learning Chinese, I wish our education department would also take active steps in providing this language development to our children in national schools.

Let’s take a quick look at this business of learning Mandarin in Malaysia. Like just mentioned, many believe the best way is for children to attend a Chinese school. However, Chinese school’s are also famous for their endless stream of homework. Listening to parents talk about their children doing homework till 11pm and losing out on their childhood is heartbreaking indeed. And unlike this school in Fairfax where children play Jeopardy to learn the language, I don’t think anyone has enthusiastically commented how fun it is to learn chinese in our schools. Let’s not forget how crowded it is getting too. One teacher to 50 students is far from ideal. Some parents like the idea of discipline in chinese schools. Unfortunately, it is the same “discipline” that is killing their creative natures.

So, it is really sad to me that Chinese schools are considered the best option for our children to acquire the chinese language. I, for one, believe there must be a better way.

Complaining will get us no where. Finding solutions is better use of our energy. Therefore, I’m calling all parents out there to put on their thinking cap and tell me, what do you think is a good way for our children to learn Mandarin?

Let me start the ball rolling:
1. Give children a choice to learn it in national schools like the P.O.L. (People’s Own Language) classes. My daughter attends a school which is 99.9% malay. The option of learning mandarin is not available to her. However, if mandarin was an option, like part of the school syllabus, I am sure many non-chinese will want to learn too.
2. Play groups. Not those high paying tuition or enrichment centres. Just mothers getting their children together to learn conversational skills, story telling and children songs.

Okay, I would like to hear your ideas now.

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