What specific advice does Desmond Lee give parents struggling with mother tongue teaching?

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Desmond Lee Encourages Parents on Mother Tongue Teaching with Practical, Low-Pressure Tips

Education Minister Desmond Lee has advised parents that they do not need to be perfect speakers of their mother tongue to effectively teach their children. He stressed that consistent effort and engagement are more crucial than flawless fluency, offering practical suggestions to integrate language learning into daily routines. This guidance comes as Singapore aims to bolster mother tongue language proficiency through expanded elective programmes and new educational tools.
Focus on Effort and Consistency Over Perfection

Lee emphasized that parental fluency in their mother tongue is not a prerequisite for successful language transmission to children. He stated, "we do not need to be perfect speakers… what matters is effort and consistency." This perspective aims to alleviate pressure on parents who may feel their own language skills are insufficient, encouraging them to focus on the act of engaging with the language rather than achieving native-level mastery.
Practical, Low-Effort Suggestions for Daily Integration

To make mother tongue learning more accessible, Lee suggested starting with small, manageable activities. These include reading picture books to children at bedtime, discussing their day in the mother tongue, or listening to songs together. These methods are designed to weave language exposure into existing family activities, making it less of a separate, daunting task and more of a natural part of daily life.
Acknowledging and Navigating Home Language Challenges

Lee acknowledged the increasing difficulty of providing consistent home exposure to mother tongues due to the dominance of English in Singaporean society. He noted that fewer families use their mother tongue as their primary language at home. Despite these challenges, he expressed encouragement for households that continue to use both English and their mother tongue, highlighting the value of this dual-language approach.

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What specific advice does Desmond Lee give parents struggling with mother tongue teaching?

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