AS an experienced preschool Mandarin educator, Ms Tng Bee Tin was quick to notice a young non-Mandarin speaking child in her kindergarten 1 class who was apprehensive about learning an entirely new language.
Rather than focus on his limited exposure to Mandarin, the 57-year-old senior Chinese teacher at a branch of Kinderland Academy & Preschool saw great potential in his diligent efforts despite his anxiety.
“He was fearful and very quiet in class, but he had a great attitude towards learning,” she recalled. “Whenever he encountered something that he didn’t understand, he would ask me to repeat it or pose his questions in English.”
LANGUAGE EDUCATION THROUGH A CHILD’S EYES
Having taught other children who were unfamiliar with Mandarin, Ms Tng has developed an effective educational approach that combines empathy with creative learning methods, aligned with the learning goals set by Kinderland’s curriculum department.
“I put myself in the student’s shoes and sometimes, when needed, incorporate English to ease their understanding. I use simple, clear terms and avoid idioms until the child reaches a certain level of proficiency,” she shared.
Ms Tng also makes learning enjoyable by using multisensory approaches such as outdoor lessons, pictures, objects and other fun teaching aids. She pairs students with a more proficient classmate to act as a buddy, ensuring that every child feels a sense of belonging and is comfortable in the learning environment.
Word by word, sentence by sentence, her efforts with the young boy began to bear fruit. By the time he graduated from Kinderland, he was valedictorian of his cohort and confidently delivered a thank you speech entirely in Mandarin. Impressed by his progress, the boy’s parents asked Ms Tng to write a testimonial to seek MOE’s approval for him to take Mandarin as his Mother Tongue Language in primary school.
This achievement is a source of great joy for Ms Tng, who chose a career in early childhood education to share her enthusiasm for Chinese culture and the Mandarin language with young learners.
All three of my children attended Kinderland Preschool @ Hougang since 2016. Among the many wonderful educators at Kinderland, Ms Tng taught two of my children for several years each. She is an extraordinarily passionate and caring educator who goes the extra mile to impart a love of the Chinese language to the children and looks out for their development in terms of character and abilities.”
“Teaching a language with a heritage spanning over 5,000 years requires educators to first and foremost have a deep love for traditional Chinese culture. Additionally, they must have a passion for interacting with young children and a genuine desire to impart knowledge to future generations,” she said.
But above all these considerations lies the need to be “young at heart”, she added.
“Educators must understand the perspectives and standpoints of the children they teach,” explained Ms Tng. “This involves knowing their preferences, interests, cognitive levels and thoughts, in order to build rapport and effectively engage them.”
For example, to work around the short attention spans of young learners, she uses learning techniques such as dramatisation, acting, storytelling and even singing about everyday activities.
“I sing a song about brushing teeth, while incorporating the actions of brushing up and down. This teaches the verbs ‘brush’, the adverbs ‘up’ and ‘down’, and the nouns ‘teeth’ and ‘toothbrush’. It helps children from diverse linguistic backgrounds to learn the language effectively,” she said. “As the saying goes, ‘Every little thing in daily life is a great teacher!’”
If an educator can set aside formality, engage in play and tell appropriate jokes to make Chinese class more enjoyable, it can help children form beautiful and unforgettable memories of learning Mandarin.”
MODELLING A LIFELONG LOVE OF LEARNING
When students are excited by their learning, Ms Tng encourages them to share their newly acquired knowledge with their parents and other family members. During parent-teacher meetings, drop-offs and pick-ups, she chats with parents about their child’s progress and informs them about upcoming educational activities, helping them continue language learning at home.
As technology plays an ever-increasing role in her students’ lives and their education, Ms Tng makes it a point not to fall behind. “Despite being older than many of my colleagues, I am committed to lifelong learning. I consistently attend seminars, workshops and courses organised by Kinderland. Having grown up before the computer technology boom, I have gradually learned to harness the power of technology to stay current and effective in my teaching methods,” she shared.
One of her fondest teaching memories from her 26 years in early childhood education illustrates the ripple effects of nurturing a student’s love of learning. A parent whose child had improved significantly in his Mandarin thanks to Ms Tng’s teaching, decided to enrol in a parent-child storytelling competition organised by the Speak Mandarin Campaign.
“After rounds of screening and numerous assessments, the mother and child won the championship,” said Ms Tng. “I still remember the feeling of pride and relief as I cheered for them. This episode stands out as testament to the lasting impact that early childhood education can have on a child’s linguistic development.”
Ms. Tng’s dedication to nurturing a love of learning and language in her students shapes their academic success and leaves a lasting impact on their cultural understanding and personal growth. Her innovative teaching methods and deep empathy make her an invaluable asset in early childhood education.