Teaching Reading to Kids

[slmkhoo]

Just my thought...it is unlikely as parents you are able to pronounce English or Chinese properly. I suggest you get your kid through ICR (or MES) reading program, about 2 years (total maybe SGD4K). The end result is really worth it. My kids can correct my pronounciation and speaks way better English than what I hear from my colleagues with heavy Singlish accent. I believe after they reach P5 or P6 level, it is extremely hard to correct their reading habits even if you splurge triple that amount. I read books to my kids at night since in the womb. Total books easily exceed 1-2K. They are heavy youtube viewer and even pick-up British accent from Peppa pig video. Taxi uncle thought we are BBC (British born chinese). And yet only going through 2 years with ICR reading program their pronounciation and usage has a significant improvement. Previously their english is like parrots where some phrases are very accurately brits, the rest are mixed Singlish-Filipino-Chinese pronounciation.

There is a difference between pronunciation and accent. Although accent does include how words are pronounced, it also includes other features such as intonation.

As Singaporeans, I think we should encourage our kids to learn to speak with standard pronunciation and vocabulary (either Brit or US) as this will make it easier for them to be understood in the wider English-speaking world in later life. This doesn't mean that they need to adopt a Brit or US accent. My own experience is that it is perfectly possible for a Singaporean to pronounce words correctly, and yet not have a western accent. I lived in the UK for a couple of years as a small child, and returned with a very strong British accent which my classmates had difficulties understanding (we were 7 yrs old). I rapidly adjusted the intonation, but still spoke with standard pronunciation. I also learned to speak in the Singlish style which I can "switch on/off" at will, which is a great connector with the Singaporeans in general. I have lived in the UK for several years at various times in later life, and I do notice the accent "coming back" to some degree after living there a while, but it switches back to the comfortably Singaporean when with other Singaporeans or after returning to Singapore.

As for speaking Singlish, I think kids should learn to use it, but be taught to distinguish between Singlish and standard English (without the foreign accent), and learn to use the appropriate style in different contexts. After all, we are Singaporeans, and that accent is unique to us.

[mhy8304]

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[gsgs1300]

I just bought a lot of books at home and limited my daughter screen time. She will pick up a book and enjoy reading by herself.

[swortionery]

I love reading and cannot tear myself away from books (unless forced to by time constraints) lol.

[Mich_wong]

I think it's important to make it a habit to read. I try to ensure my kids gets expose to reading everyday before they sleep.