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Primary Chinese Tuition

How to Give Your Child Who is Scoring AL 5-7 the Targeted Help They Need to Succeed in Chinese

Learning Chinese in a Singapore MOE Primary school is not easy.

By Primary 4, students are expected to have mastered over 1,200 Chinese vocabulary words and another 500-600 in Primary 5 to 6. Without a solid foundation, it’s no surprise many children struggle to keep up, lose confidence, or begin to hate the subject altogether.

At MandarinStars, we specialise in helping students who are struggling with Chinese Mother Tongue through our proven, child-focused teaching approach.

We are not your typical Chinese language tuition centre. We’re the proven solution for students who are finding it hard to keep up in school, or been rejected by other Chinese centres.

Instead of repetitive drills and large word lists, we flip the coin around by customising the teaching and lessons to how each individual student learns.

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Featured in Straits Times

Who Should Enrol With MandarinStars

MandarinStars is for students who need a curriculum tailored to their pace, strengths, and learning gaps — not rushed through generic lessons.

We provide the exact support and guidance your child needs to finally pass and succeed in Chinese!

You should consider MandarinStars for your child if:

They’re scoring AL5, 6 or 7, or 30–60 marks consistently

They lack confidence or hate Chinese and complain they cannot keep up in class

They grew up in a non-Chinese-speaking environment

They can’t read or write well, even with tuition

They’re in the Foundation stream and at risk of failing the PSLE

You’ve tried other tuition centres with no improvement

They feel lost in class because lessons move too fast for them

They have been diagnosed with ADHD, Dyslexia, and/or literacy delays, learning disorders

Choosing a learning centre for your child is an important decision — one that shapes their learning.

We have helped many students and their families. Talk to us about your concerns and let’s have an open conversation on how we may be able to help your child.

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MandarinStars vs Other Tuition Centres

MandarinStars vs Other Tuition Centres

How We Are A Better Fit For Your Child

MandarinStars Other Tuition Centres

MandarinStars

Other Tuition Centres
Help struggling students with AL5-7 PASS their Chinese ✅ ❌
Psychologically and academically backed teaching methods ✅ ❌
Adaptable teaching pace to cater to each student’s needs ✅ ❌
Use visual supports and memory strategies to help students read and remember words ✅ ❌
Capable of helping students with learning difficulties (e.g. ADHD, Dyslexia, autism) ✅ ❌
Less than 5 students per class ✅ ❌

Interested to know more? Keep reading to find out!

Interested to know more?
Keep reading to find out!

Why Enrol With MandarinStars?

We’re A Proven Education Centre That Helps Struggling Students Improve 1 AL Grade in 12 Months

From failing marks to confident speakers, we’re a specialised primary Chinese tuition centre built specifically for students who are:

  • falling behind their peers
  • turned away by other mainstream centres with curriculum catered for students aiming for AL1-3
  • not seeing results from attending tuition a few times a week
  • have learning difficulties like ADHD, Dyslexia, or memory gaps

Unlike traditional programmes, we are hyper focused on helping struggling learners pass Chinese while reigniting their interest in Chinese culture, pass confidently, improve steadily, and build real skills that last beyond PSLE.

With proven methods, engaging lessons, and a team of experienced teachers, we have helped countless students improve their WA results by at least 1 AL band or more.

Customised Teaching Methods for The Learning Needs of Each Child

Our lessons are carefully broken down into bite-sized, scaffolded steps — designed for students who need more time, support, and repetition.

Built by a deeply experienced team of experienced Chinese teachers, curriculum specialists, and a child psychologist, our customised teaching methods include:

  • memory aids, writing scaffolds and templates
  • interactive displays and game-based learning
  • differentiated pacing

While other centres may focus on cramming in as many new words as possible each lesson, at MandarinStars, we prioritise depth over speed — ensuring that students truly understand, retain, and confidently use what they learn.

We’re not just preparing your child to succeed in primary school. We’re building a strong foundation that carries them through secondary school and beyond.

Personalised Attention From Experienced Teachers With Just 2-5 Students Per Group

Our ultra-small class size allows teachers to identify each child’s pace and needs.

Children are grouped by similar reading and writing proficiency, so your child is not placed in a class that moves too fast or too slow for them.

  • ask questions without fear
  • engage actively without judgment
  • learn from their mistakes
  • receive targeted feedback based on their progress

In this setting, our teachers can adapt on the spot, offering real-time feedback, targeted support, and encouragement that simply isn’t possible in a crowded classroom.

This way, your child gets the exact help they need, right when they need it.

Our Chinese Language Programmes

Primary 1–2

These early years are critical. If your child is already showing signs of struggling with the local school syllabus, we rebuild their basics from the ground up.

For younger students who dislike Chinese or struggle with comprehension:

  • Basic reading & vocabulary
  • Hanyu pinyin
  • Oral communication drills
  • Fun games to engage all learning styles

Our Chinese enrichment class helps students who’ve been left behind in class catch up fast and rediscover their confidence in Chinese.

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Primary 3–4

Targeted support for students starting to face longer passages, open-ended questions, and more complex writing:

  • Composition planning frameworks
  • Picture-to-story training
  • Word recognition and vocabulary building for comprehension passages
  • Oral fluency & exam format practice

If your child is losing marks due to weak writing and poor comprehension, this programme will close those gaps with practical strategies and practice!

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doing-worksheets

Primary 5-6

This is our signature intensive support class, including those in the Foundation stream or diagnosed with Dyslexia, ADHD, or literacy difficulties, designed to prepare students for their PSLE.

We focus on:

  • Listening Comprehension
  • Vocabulary Application
  • Sentence Construction and comprehension techniques
  • Composition Writing
  • Exam Paper Practice with Strategy

We target PSLE Chinese exam formats and focus on helping borderline students secure AL4–AL6 results — even if they’re currently failing.

Learn more

For fees and class timetable, please refer to our page here

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Real Stories from Real Parents

Still Not Convinced? Look at Our Results Straight From The Source

Zhiwen: Primary 3 (2024) with dyslexia

Initial Challenges:

Intermediate level in spoken Mandarin, but severe difficulties in:

  • Recognising Chinese characters
  • Reading school textbooks
  • Completing school worksheets independently
  • Required help understanding new vocabulary from the P3 curriculum
  • Gaps in foundational character recognition from earlier years

MandarinStars Strategy:

  • Enrolled in Primary 3 physical classes and Primary 2 online reading classes simultaneously
  • Goal: Strengthen recognition of high-frequency characters from lower primary levels
  • Emphasis on filling gaps in Primary 1–3 Chinese literacy to support long-term academic success

Learning Breakthroughs:

  • Rapid improvement in character recognition using MandarinStars’ unique recognition methods
  • Able to apply memory techniques independently—even outside of class
  • Reading skills strengthened significantly; writing skills showed steady progress

Academic Achievements:

  • Passed his Primary 3 year-end exam in 2024, a major milestone for a student with dyslexia
  • In Primary 4, scored 24 out of 35 on his Weighted Assessment

✅ An especially notable result given the increasing exam complexity!

Justin: Primary 4 student (2023) with mild autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia & language processing disorder

Initial Challenges:

  • Very weak foundation in reading and writing Chinese (2-year Chinese literacy gap)
  • Could not recognise or read basic characters from lower primary
  • Required intensive support and was not able to express himself in Chinese

MandarinStars Intervention:

  • Started with online reading classes focusing on textbook vocabulary (P2–P5)
  • Later added Primary 4 physical classes for comprehensive instruction
  • Parents intentionally chose Standard Chinese lessons at MandarinStars (vs Foundation) to build resilience and long-term skills
  • Attended both online and in-person lessons weekly

Progress in 2023:

  • Scored 3/15 (Paper 1) and 14/45 (Paper 2) in P4 end-of-year exam

Progress in 2024:

  • Scored 10/15 in P5 Weighted Assessment 2 (first time passing Chinese)
  • Developed visual memory techniques for character recognition
  • Began reading and completing Chinese exercises independently

Progress in 2025:

  • Scored 13/15 in P6 Weighted Assessment 1
  • Gained fluency in speaking Chinese
  • Improved composition and oral skills
  • Demonstrated confidence and interest in Chinese language learning

Faith: Primary 3 student with dyslexia and high intellectual ability

Initial Challenges:

  • Struggled to remember Chinese words and had difficulty reading many high-frequency Chinese words
  • Failing Chinese tests, especially reading and comprehension
  • Low confidence due to ongoing struggles

MandarinStars Intervention:

  • Focused on building a strong reading and spelling foundation
  • Applied unique methods tailored to her learning needs
  • Close parental support and strong personal motivation from Faith

Results by End of Primary 4:

Passed her end-of-year Chinese exams with results:

  • Paper 2: 34.5/45
  • Listening Comprehension: 6/10
  • Composition: 6/15

Awarded Edusave Merit Award for being in the top 25% of her school level

Ongoing Progress in
Primary 5:

  • Continued improvement in reading, writing, and language skills
  • MandarinStars program helped bridge learning gaps to meet higher academic demands

Jaden: Primary 4 student who attended multiple private tuition centres and home tutoring sessions without improvement

Initial Challenges:

  • Could not read many words at Primary 3 level
  • Significant foundational gaps in reading and spelling
  • Scored less than 10 marks (AL8) in Chinese prior to joining MandarinStars

MandarinStars Intervention:

  • Focused on rebuilding foundational reading and spelling skills
  • Used MandarinStars’ unique teaching methods to help him “learn how to learn”
  • Emphasised long-term literacy and comprehension strategies over rote memorisation

Results in Primary 5:

  • Improved to 28 marks (AL7) in Chinese within 8 months
  • Progressed one Achievement Level band, a significant milestone at upper primary level
  • Demonstrated commitment and effort as demands of curriculum increased

Erica: Primary 2 student (Term 3, 2024) with dyslexia

Initial Challenges:

  • Strong spoken Mandarin, but severe difficulty in reading and character recognition
  • Scored 16/40 (40%) in school Chinese test before joining
  • Literacy challenges caused low confidence and performance in written Chinese

MandarinStars Intervention:

  • Enrolled in MandarinStars’ dyslexia-friendly programme
  • Used specialised character encoding techniques for memory retention
  • Created a fun, encouraging learning environment to boost confidence

Progress in Two Terms:

  • Gained reading fluency and comprehension
  • Started enjoying Chinese lessons and looked forward to class

Results in Primary 3:

  • Consistently scores full marks in school Chinese spelling tests
  • Achieved 29/30 (96%) in Weighted Assessment 2
  • Shows increased confidence, motivation, and perseverance

With the right structure, support, and encouragement, any child can thrive.

Your child could be next — WHATSAPP US NOW

Book Our Free Trial Class Today

Every new student at MandarinStars starts with a trial lesson — and for good reason.

This isn’t just a free class. It’s a chance for us to understand your child’s reading, writing, and learning pace — so we can place them in the right class for their needs.

During the trial, our teachers will observe:

  • Your child’s Chinese language proficiency
  • Their ability to learn in a group setting
  • How they respond to different teaching methods

After the class, we’ll speak with you directly to share our assessment, explain how our programmes work, and let you know if your child can continue in the same time slot.

This way, every student — no matter how weak or strong — gets to learn in a class where they feel encouraged, supported, and empowered to improve.

Book Your Free Trial Class Today and Let Us Match Your Child to the Perfect Learning Group.

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Improve Your Child's Chinese Language Proficiency Today!

Thousands of primary school students across Singapore are struggling with Chinese — but your child doesn’t have to be one of them!

MandarinStars is the specialist Chinese tuition centre parents who’ve tried everything else and not seeing the desired results.

When you enrol your child with us, here’s what you can expect:

✅ A proven programme designed for struggling and special needs learners

✅ Structured lessons taught by an expert team of MOE-trained Chinese teachers

✅ Teaching methods tailored to ADHD, Dyslexia & literacy challenges

✅ Small class sizes (max 5 students) for personalised attention

✅ Customised learning pace based on your child’s ability, not just age

✅ Focused PSLE preparation to go from AL5-AL7 to AL4/AL5

✅ Supportive, no-pressure environment that rebuilds confidence

MandarinStars is not just here to teach Chinese.

We teach in the way your child learns.

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WhatsApp Us Now To Enrol –
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Unlock Your Child's Potential Today!

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