Online Primary Chinese Tuition in Singapore: One-to-One and Small-Group Tutors for P1 to P6
Primary Chinese begins with listening, speaking and the first few hundred characters, and by P6 asks for compositions, comprehension answers and a conversation with an examiner. onlinetuition.sg matches P1 to P6 pupils with Chinese tutors for live online lessons, one-to-one or in small groups, for the course their school places them in: Chinese, Higher Chinese or, from P5, Foundation Chinese.
Request an Online Primary Chinese Tutor
About the Primary Chinese Syllabus
Every primary school teaches MOE's Primary Chinese syllabus. The 2024 syllabus started with the pupils who entered P1 in 2024; older pupils continue on the 2015 syllabus that it builds on.
- Two stages
- A foundation stage from P1 to P4, then an orientation stage in P5 and P6
- Courses
- Chinese and Higher Chinese from P1, with Higher Chinese offered in P1 and P2 only at selected schools; Foundation Chinese is added in P5 and P6
- Modules
- Core modules fill 70 to 80% of lesson time; the rest goes to bridging or reinforcement modules for pupils who need more support, school-based modules or enrichment modules
- Lesson time
- Six hours of Chinese a week in P1 and P2, then four to four and a half hours a week from P3 to P6
- At the end of P6
- The PSLE, whose Chinese papers are set at the level of the core modules
Pupils who have had little contact with Chinese before P1 can take bridging modules in P1 and P2, and pupils who need extra help in P3 and P4 take reinforcement modules, both before the core work.
Common Challenges Primary Chinese Students Face
Tones and Hanyu Pinyin
Syllables that differ only in tone, or by a single letter, are easy to confuse when reading with Hanyu Pinyin.
Hundreds of New Characters
Every two years adds hundreds more characters to recognise and to write, and look-alike characters are easy to mix up.
Stroke Order and Neat Writing
Characters are written stroke by stroke, in the right order and with balanced proportions, which takes steady practice.
From Sentences to Paragraphs
Writing grows from single sentences in lower primary to whole paragraphs by P4, the groundwork for PSLE composition.
Speaking Up in Class
Children who mostly use English at home may understand more Chinese than they can say, so full spoken answers take confidence.
Reading for Hidden Meaning
By upper primary, pupils read stories, notices, posters and advertisements, and must find details, main ideas and what is only implied.
How Our Online Primary Chinese Tutors Help
Sounds and Tones Modelled Live
The tutor says each sound and tone clearly on camera, and your child reads aloud until it comes out naturally.
Characters Learnt Through Words
New characters are taught inside common words, with their radicals marked on the whiteboard so look-alike characters are easier to tell apart.
Stroke-by-Stroke Writing
The tutor writes each new character stroke by stroke on a shared screen while your child copies the order on paper.
Building Sentences Into Paragraphs
Short writing tasks grow from one sentence to a full paragraph, with the tutor's corrections shown on screen.
Conversation in Every Lesson
Questions about school, family and weekends get your child used to answering in Chinese without switching to English.
Help With the School Textbook
Bring the textbook pages and worksheets from school, and the tutor works through whatever your child finds hard this week.
Primary Chinese Skills Covered by Our Tutors
The 2024 syllabus sets its targets for each two-year stage, so the panels follow its stages. Character counts are the totals pupils should recognise and write by the end of each stage.
P1 and P2
- Focus
- Listening, speaking and spoken interaction, and recognising and writing characters
- Characters
- Recognise 700 to 750 and write 300 to 350
- Writing
- Basic strokes, stroke order and well-proportioned characters, practised until P3
- Typing
- Entering characters, words and sentences with Hanyu Pinyin input, from P1 to P4
P3 and P4
- Characters
- Recognise 1,300 to 1,350 and write 700 to 750
- Writing
- From P4, arranging paragraphs into a complete piece of writing
- End of P4
- The school recommends a subject combination for P5, and Higher Chinese may be offered to pupils who pass all four subjects and do very well in Chinese
P5 and P6
- Courses
- Foundation Chinese, Chinese or Higher Chinese
- Focus
- Spoken interaction, reading, writing, and written interaction such as emails and online posts
- Characters
- Chinese: recognise 1,600 to 1,700 and write 1,000 to 1,100 · Higher Chinese: 1,800 to 1,900 and 1,400 to 1,500 · Foundation Chinese: 1,300 to 1,350 and 700 to 750
Why Choose onlinetuition.sg for Primary Chinese Tuition?
Tutors Who Know the MOE Syllabus
Tutors need a deep understanding of the Primary Chinese syllabus your child's school teaches.
Chinese, Higher or Foundation
Lessons follow the course your child takes, from P1 Chinese to P6 Higher Chinese.
One-to-One or a Small Group
Choose one-to-one, or a small group of up to 4 pupils at the same level.
Live on Zoom, Cameras On
Your child hears the tutor's pronunciation clearly and practises speaking face to face.
A Trial Lesson First
Your child tries a lesson with the tutor before you decide.
No Agency Fees
And requesting a Primary Chinese tutor is free.
Frequently Asked Questions About Primary Chinese Tuition
Thinking of Primary Chinese Tuition?
When Should My Child Start Primary Chinese Tuition?
Whenever reading or speaking begins to fall behind the class. Many families start in lower primary, while characters and Hanyu Pinyin are new, or in P3 and P4, before the school recommends a course for P5.
We Speak English at Home. Will My Child Cope With Chinese?
Many families in Singapore mainly speak English at home, and the syllabus allows for it with bridging modules in P1 and P2. Regular speaking and reading practice each week helps.
Can My Child Take Higher Chinese in P1?
Only at selected schools. In MOE's 2024 syllabus, Higher Chinese runs from P1 to P6, but in P1 and P2 it is offered only at selected primary schools.
How Does the School Decide on Foundation or Higher Chinese?
After the P4 school exams, the school recommends a subject combination for P5 and you indicate your preference on an option form. The school can adjust the level again at the end of P5.
Will My Child Sit Exams in P1 and P2?
No. MOE removed weighted assessments and exams for P1 and P2 from 2019, and schools describe progress without marks.
Getting a Tutor
How Do I Request a Primary Chinese Tutor?
Fill in the free request form above with your child's level and whether they take Chinese or Higher Chinese. We'll reply on WhatsApp, aiming for within one working day.
Who Are Your Chinese Tutors?
Part-time and full-time tutors, current and former school teachers, and undergraduates, each screened for their qualifications, results and teaching experience.
Can the Same Tutor Teach English or Maths Too?
Tell us every subject in your request, and we'll arrange one tutor where possible.
Lessons
Can a P1 Child Learn Chinese Online?
Yes, at a quiet desk with a laptop, desktop or tablet that has a camera. You're welcome to sit in, but let your child answer on their own.
How Does the Tutor Teach Characters Online?
The tutor writes and annotates on a shared screen or digital whiteboard, and your child practises on paper and holds it up to the camera.
How Long Are Lessons?
Usually 1.5 or 2 hours, at the same time each week.
Can My Child Join a Small Group?
Yes. Groups have up to 4 pupils at the same level, all on the same Chinese course.
Others
How Much Does Primary Chinese Tuition Cost?
Fees depend on the level and class size. We'll confirm the fee on WhatsApp before the first lesson.
Are There Any Agency Fees?
No.
How Do Payment and Stopping Work?
Payment is by PayNow. Please give one month's notice to stop, out of courtesy to the tutor's planning.