Composition makes up about 25% of your PSLE Chinese final score so its a very important component to be good at. But most pupils just read and write and blindly go about understanding it and failed to understand that in composition there are two vital points:-
1, reading is the basis of composition.
2,Vocabulary is the building blocks of composition.
If you do not understand the above then your approach to composition will likely not successful.
3 Tips for passing PSLE Chinese Compo
1, Always used ALL the 8 helping words, use the e-dictionary to find out their meaning!
2, describe the pictures as detailed as possible including the environment, the objects, the people etc.
3, Use primary 5 to 6 words and avoid repeating the same words again.
check comment for link to my vocabulary quick study guide (not free)!
Why vocabulary is king? Because with enough vocabulary you can read any passage and start to understand the authors intent aka your comprehension ability increases. And you can read all the questions correctly and figure out the meaning smoothly thereby enhances all areas of your subject Chinese Language.
单是说不行,要紧的是做。
鲁迅
许多同学跟我说他们会怎样,做什么,但是多数同学的话我只是听听而已因为我知道多数同学根本没有决心,没有勇气,最重要的是没有做学问的功夫去读书。比如每天读三五个字的人就寥寥无几,肯每天学习朗读一篇好作文的人更少,能动脑筋思考文章的人就是凤毛菱角。
总之,只要你每天读一点书,就会成功。
Step 1
This step is the most important step as it will build a study habit that will benefit you or your child for life.
(Ok A LOT OF pupils are trying to study till secondary 4 or JC 2 or university and STOP STUDYING For good. And to their surprise after they gone to work, they will realise that Learning is never going to stop!)
So building a studying habit like reading, studying at constant time in short duration is the best way to study anything even after PSLE.
Step 2
The second step to Good compo is to have a list of good phrases for all kinds of emotions and situations. EG
形容生气:
火冒三丈:妈妈发现弟弟受伤后,气得火冒三丈,把我骂得狗血淋头。
形容心情 / 行为:
着急:急得像热锅上的蚂蚁 / 急得团团转,不知所措
小明看见弟弟跌伤了,左脚鲜血直流,急得像热锅上的蚂蚁,不知所措。后来,他急中生智,想起房里有一个药箱,便连忙拿出来,为弟弟敷药。
匆忙/连忙:匆匆忙忙;三步并作两步
三步并作两步:小华看见老婆婆跌倒了,便三步并作两步地跑上前去,把老婆婆扶起来。
跌倒:四脚朝天;狗吃屎/“五体投地”
老婆婆一不小心,脚下一滑,跌了个四脚朝天,手上提着的一袋水果也掉了满地。小华看见老婆婆跌倒了,便三步并作两步地跑上前去,把老婆婆扶起来。
描述一件事情的经过:
把事情的来龙去脉一五一十地告诉(妈妈)/ 把事情的经过一五一十地告诉(妈妈)。
回到家后,妈妈看见小华成了落汤鸡,全身都湿淋淋的,便问小华发生了什么事。小华便把雨中事情的经过一五一十地告诉(妈妈)。
结尾:
(一) 如果做错事情被骂,可考虑用以下的段落/句子:
(老师)狠狠地骂了我一顿/把我骂得狗血淋头。我觉得很惭愧,红着脸,低下头,恨不得有个地洞让我钻进去躲起来。我诚心地向(老师)认错,答应他我会改过自新。(老师)见我勇于认错,便原谅了我。我很庆幸有一个宽宏大量的(老师)。
* 可以把()里的人物换成是长辈或父母。
(二) 如帮了人,被夸奖。快乐的心情可考虑用以下的段落/句子:
(老师)称赞我是一个乐于助人的好孩子。我觉得很不好意思,羞红了脸,低下了头,但是心里却甜滋滋的,好像喝了蜜糖似的。“助人为快乐之本”,我今天终于明白这句话的真正意义了!
慌张
我的心扑通扑通地跳个不停。汗水也一滴一滴从我的额头上流下来。我越想越心慌,越想越紧张……
至于好词, 那就只能熟读课文所有词语尤其小五小六的词语,不能老是开心高兴难过伤心之类的,一点都没有更厉害的词语如喜上眉梢、守株待兔、乐不思蜀等
点下下载
https://mrtansg.com/…/new-word-list-for-primary-5-and…/
Step 3
The vivid storytelling template
The key step in Composition Is to tell a story so interesting that your reader loved to listen to them. And this is s skill students need to learn.
(A) Every story has 4 stages: Introduction, Developing, Climax and Ending. Start with this simple 4 stage story writing process is the basic to good composition.
(B) Then at the end add a last paragraph for your feelings and thinking.
(C) Check for misspellings, make sure ZERO misspelling.
Step 4
Step 4 reading good composition and writing practices makes good composition easier to write.
Poiching school Chinese departmental blog got some interesting videos:
https://poichingchinese.blogspot.com/
作文群英2021,是福建会馆作文比赛中的优秀作品选,值得看一看。
https://www.shhk.com.sg/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/2020-Zuo-Wen-Qun-Ying.pdf
南洋小学2014-2018年最佳作文全在这里:-
https://nanyangwencui.wordpress.com/
美雅小学中文部作文网,里面应有尽有。
https://meiyazuowenwang.blogspot.com/
2021年学林小学作文分享会ppt
Now the meat below:-
How to score in Comprehension in six months?
*provided one has already passed comprehension. If not it would take one to one and a half year.
Step 1: Start by reading the textbook passages aloud a sentence at a time, then a paragraph at a time, then a passage at a time. There should not be any hesitation in reading, and the reading should be fluent and a bit loud.
Word recognition, vocabulary, sentence construction and paragraphing is the key to comprehension so one has to know all these before even understanding the passage.
Step 2: Memorise the storyline of each passage and start by memorising the paragraph then a few paragraph then the whole passage. To test memory, just write out the storyline IN THEIR OWN WORDS.
Comprehension is the understanding of passages aka composition. So a strong foundation in composition is required to improve comprehension. To write the storyline in their own words meant one’s level of understanding of the passage.
Step 3: Read a lot of grade A primary 5/6 compositions and memorise a few of the best. And try to write their own stories.
Reading Storybook and Novel help one gain insight to the way of storytelling helping one understand the hidden meaning behind each line.
Step 4: drill with past year Primary 6 school papers comprehension questions 34 to 40 daily and check with answer sheet what they missed. using this trial and error method one can understand the passage and get some idea what is required of their answers.
Now that is a lot of work so practically not many will complete it. Those who do those work daily will win.
I have a pupil who are super weak in comprehension who score like 22/40 at the beginning of the year. I done with him the 4 steps and in the prelims he got 34/40.
SO If you want to make the reading interesting, you can read the story with them first and add LOTS of dramatic effects to attract their attention.
In conclusion, the method to win comprehension is not easy, there is no short cuts or super easy way to score.
Bonus:How to improve your PSLE Chinese Composition : Avoid the number 2 problem in Composition.
Words + sentence + paragraphs = compositions
so good use of words, good sentence structure and excellence paragraphing makes a good composition. This may not be the only truth now. You have to do 6 steps to write a Good composition.
In picture composition nowadays, you have to look at all the six pictures and form a theme about the 6 pictures,
Step 2 storyline
then link the pictures with a interesting account of the events in the pictures.
No longer you can just take the pictures and write each picture as you think, then put in the opening and ending paragraphs from your clever mind. Opening and ending is not a big gauge of your writing power anymore, you have to form an interesting storyline with good amount of details which is very descriptive and creative.
Step 3 words and idioms, figurative speech and conversations.
Use all the words given and more if possible. use the words and idioms correctly.
Use figurative speech would help make the essay interesting.
Use of conversations are encouraged.
Step 4 Paragraphing
Make sure each paragraph has 1 main storyline, avoid sub storyline, distractions and useless details. You do not need to follow the 1 picture 1 paragraph rule but keep each paragraph for one storyline.
For example
a) he and friend meet on the way home and they want to run in evening.
b) they meet in stadium and put their bag on bench.
c) they went running.
d) another user mistook his bag which is identical.
e) he found out his bag is taken and discover a similar bag.
F) ?????? he waited for a while and the other person came back with his bag. the other people apologized for his mistake.
The theme: an misunderstanding. Its not a theft, nor a missing bag.
Step 5 use all your senses and the 5W1H to write. you can write what you saw, what you heard, what you think, what you said, what you sense, what you felt and more.
Step 6 Do modify those famously known opening and ending or even better create something for yourself only. If that is not possible just do a simple opening with one day.
now for an interesting composition as example.
往事像一条条溪流,汇成小河,奔向大海,再也不回头。在记忆的沙滩上,留有我一行深深的足迹,那是一件令我难忘的事……
红彤彤的太阳高挂在空中,放出耀眼的光芒,把大地照得暖乎乎的。这天,我约小明到公园跑步。当我抵达公园时,看到五颜六色的花,听到一阵清脆悦耳的鸟鸣声。突然,我听到有人正在叫我的名字。我转头一看,发现原来是小明。我们打过招呼后就开始跑步。我们跑得汗流浃背,上气不接下气。
这时,我们听到有人在喊叫。在好奇心的驱使下,我和小明去看个究竟。原来,是一个小男孩掉进水沟!他边哭边喊:“救命啊!我的脚好痛!”听了他的喊叫声,我和小明像箭一样冲了过去。
我们费了九牛二虎之力,才把小男孩拉上来。小男孩向我和小明道谢。可是,鲜血从他的膝盖流了下来。我和小明看到这一幕,一时不知所措。当我们回过神后,终于想起来附近有一个公共电话。于是,小明三步并作两步地跑过去召救护车。我则坐在小男孩身边,告诉他一定要坚强。
救护人员接到通知后,火速赶到现场。他们帮小男孩包扎好伤口,然后送到医院治疗。我和小明也打了电话通知他的父母。在医院里,我们把事情的经过一五一十地告诉了小男孩的父母。小男孩的父母夸奖我们说:“你们俩真实好孩子,如果没有你们,我们的大华现在不知会怎么样!谢谢你!”
“没什么!所谓’助人为快乐之本’,看到别人需要帮助,应该伸出援助之手。这是我们应该做的!”我和小明不约而同地回答。
当我和小明正要回家的时候,一阵微风刚好吹过,仿佛在说:“你们做了一件好事,真了不起!”
今天,我和小明感到格外轻松愉快。原来“助人为快乐之本”这句话真没说错!