Private Tutors

I have been my boy's private tutor ever since he started pre-school, then kindie and now in primary school.  He is in primary 3 this year and I am so tempted to find him tutors to help him in some of the subjects especially Chinese subject to take a burden off my shoulders.

The standard of Chinese subject is getting a bit too hard for a 'semi-banana' mother like myself.  Why semi-banana?  Even though I went to a national primary school, our school had Chinese lessons, though the textbooks used were much simplified than the ones in a Chinese school.   I was the Chinese teacher's favourite back then and never failed to stay in the top 2 positions for this subject.   I always questioned my mother as to why I was the odd one in the family who went to a national school whereas my siblings all went to Chinese schools.  

I can read newspapers and novels in Chinese language effortlessly, reading here refers to understanding the content of the said reading materials.  I will be at a loss when it comes to pronouncing some of the words as I am handicapped in my Hanyu Pinyin.  I have to look up on the dictionary whenever I am in doubt of the accurate pronunciation.

Having said that, I am glad that my boy has a flair for languages as he scored highest marks in his class for his Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia and English papers during the recent school exam.  I think I will put the thought of getting him a tutor on hold, at least until next year, where and when the needs arise.  That would mean I'll have to do something to improve my Chinese language before its level gets even harder!