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5 unique places to visit this March holidays for an immersive Chinese learning experience
March 12, 2020
4 min
Activities
Trapped in Singapore during the March holidays? Fret not. Take this opportunity to embark on a discovery trail across our little red dot and experience Chinese culture in a whole new light with your child.
In addition to being a fun and educational way to spend the next week as a family, immersing your child in the fascinating world and history of Chinese culture could also get them interested in the Chinese language.
1. Explore the “SINGAPO人” Exhibition @ The Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre
Begin your discovery trail at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, our nation’s hub for all-things-Chinese – from free daily activities (like Taiji, wushu and drumming-related fitness classes) to ticketed events and school programmes.
The centre’s showcase exhibition is titled “SINGAPO人” and offers an interesting look into the history of Chinese culture in Singapore. Your family will discover how Singapore Chinese culture has evolved over the decades, thanks to diverse influences in our community. While interacting with the exhibits, you can spark your child’s interest in Chinese by talking to them about the unique aspects of Singapore’s fascinating Chinese culture.
Venue
Singapore Chinese Culture Centre
1 Straits Boulevard, Singapore 018906
Opening Hours
Monday 2pm – 8pm
Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 8pm
Price
Free admission
Helpful tips
Here’s a fun idea for bringing Chinese culture into your home. Shadow puppetry is a fascinating aspect of Chinese culture that can be done with your child at home. You can use simple shadow puppets to pique your child’s interest in the language and culture. Watch how My First Skool teachers do this in school!
[Video]
2. Storytelling Sessions @ The National Library
Use the power of stories to pique your child’s curiosity in Mandarin. The National Library organises Mandarin storytelling sessions at public libraries across Singapore, absolutely free of charge. Let expert storytellers regale your child with fantastic tales, building their interest in the language and their listening comprehension skills.
Venues
Public libraries across Singapore
Dates and Times
For more information on storytelling sessions at a library near you, click here.
Price
Free
Helpful tips
Teachers at My First Skool use stories and storytelling sessions to develop children’s interest in Chinese all the time, and you can do the same at home. If you’d like some tips on how to make story time even more fun and engaging, watch the videos below to see our teachers (and their students) in action!
3. Haw Par Villa
A Chinese cultural trail wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the iconic Haw Par Villa. This attraction depicts Chinese folklore through an assortment of fascinatingly gruesome sculptures that illustrate stories about the values of filial piety, as well as other common Chinese virtues and values.
Over 1,000 of these sculptures fill the park and provide you with excellent opportunities to tell your child about Chinese classics like Journey to the West, the Eight Immortals, and many more.
Venue
262 Pasir Panjang Rd, Singapore 118628
Opening Hours
Open daily, 9am to 10pm (Last adminssion at 9.30pm)
Price
Free admission
Helpful tips
Values are an integral part of Chinese culture and shape the way we live every aspect of lives. These values are also a key part of My First Skool’s Skool-aCe© curriculum, which focuses on respect, honesty, care and responsibility.
4. National Gallery
The National Gallery offers a series of fascinating tours that art lovers (including painters and photographers) will absolutely love. If your child has an interest in art, a tour around this gallery will be eye-opening and inspiring.
When signing up for a tour, you’ll get a choice of your preferred language – select the Mandarin tours to immerse your children in art, culture and an appreciation for Mandarin. Participating in activities like these tours will help your child to broaden their vocabulary as they get to listen to (and learn) a wider range of Chinese words – in addition to the terms they hear more commonly in everyday life.
Venue
National Gallery
1 St Andrew’s Rd, Singapore 178957
Opening Hours
Friday 10am – 9pm
Saturday to Thursday 10am – 7pm
Price
Free admission
5. A Stroll Through the Park @ Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Gather the family and participate in a guided walk through the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. A guide from National Parks will lead you and other families through this picturesque landscape, explaining details of the surrounding flora and fauna in Mandarin.
Children learn languages quickly when they have more experiences using the language in real-life settings. In Chinese, we refer to this as “多听，多说， 多读”, or “listen more, speak more, read more” – and doing so in this immerse, natural environment is a fantastic way for your child to appreciate both Chinese and nature.
For more information, please visit https://www.nparks.gov.sg/activities/events-and-workshops
Venue
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Date
15 March (Saturday) 8am
Price
Free
Helpful tips
As you cross the boardwalk at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, make the experience more engaging by singing the popular nursery rhyme “Bear crossing the bridge” (小熊过桥) to your child. Watch how teachers at My First Skool inject even more fun into this popular tune with fingerplay and body movements! [Fun with nursery rhymes]
More than words
Pre-schoolers learn languages quickly through games and facilitated play. That’s why My First Skool’s curriculum is packed with interactive activities that have been specifically designed to nurture children’s interest in Chinese language and culture. What’s more, being bilingual also brings other advantages – bilingual children tend to be more creative, focus better and accomplish tasks faster.
Nurture your child’s love for Chinese at NTUC First Campus’ My First Skool, check out a school near you today!
