In my opinion, mastering Chinese isn’t just about sending your child to expensive tuition classes or relying solely on school teachers to do the job. Language learning isn’t like math or science—it’s not something you can fully grasp just by memorizing. Yes, some memorization is necessary, but the key to truly learning a language is to cultivate an interest in it—or at the very least, not develop a dislike for it.
The most effective approach is to create an enjoyable environment where they can engage with the language naturally. If you understand Chinese, I highly recommend speaking to your child in Mandarin at home. Kids today have plenty of opportunities to use English, but their exposure to Chinese is often lacking. If you don’t know Chinese yourself, why not take this as a chance to learn alongside your child?
My daughter's proficiency in Chinese is largely due to our use of Mandarin at home. We naturally incorporate the language into our daily lives by consuming Chinese entertainment, such as nursery rhymes, Mediacorp Channel 8 dramas, and Mandopop music. She has also participated in Chinese enrichment programs like singing and acting, which she enjoys. When immersed in a Chinese-speaking environment, learning happens effortlessly—often without even realizing it.
When my daughter started learning a third language in secondary school, she often struggled with questions I couldn’t help her with. I had to tell her, "Sorry, I don’t understand this." I could see the frustration and loneliness she felt. Seeing her discouraged, I decided to learn the language with her using Duolingo. That small step made a big difference—she was thrilled that I understood the challenges she faced. And when I had questions, I asked her to teach me, which boosted her confidence. I even started using simple phrases to remind her to drink water or ask if she needed the bathroom—she found it amusing! Creating a happy and supportive learning environment makes language learning far less stressful and much more enjoyable.
And I digressed too much. Sorry for the long-windedness! 😁
Here’s a list of videos that I personally enjoy. They play an important role in my family by helping to create a Chinese-language environment as we enjoy the entertainment together. They’re fun, engaging, and a great way to pick up some Chinese effortlessly. Without even realizing it, you’ll be learning while having a good time! It’s a stress-free way to immerse yourself in the language. So, sit back, and watch them with your child—hopefully, this will help them appreciate the beauty of being bilingual!
As you may have noticed from the list below, I highly recommend Mediacorp content. I know that fewer people support Mediacorp these days, but I can’t recommend it enough. Their content is much safer compared to the unregulated videos on YouTube and TikTok. I feel at ease when my daughter watches Mediacorp series, especially those made for kids. #supportlocal !
Please note that I do not encourage children to use Youtube / TikTok independently. Please do so together with your child. Enjoy!
Chinese Variety Shows By Mediacorp
Chinese Edutainment/Infotainment By Mediacorp
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Word Whiz 华文“浆”好玩 S1-S4 (Playlist)
MeWatch |
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Word Whiz Extension S1-S2 (Playlist)
MeWatch (Short videos around 5 mins) |
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Word Whiz - Chinese New Year Special 华文"浆"好玩 - 新年特备 (Playlist)
MeWatch (Short videos less than 5 mins) |
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Lingo Bingo 华研巧语 (Playlist)
MeWatch |
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In Good Schools 创益学堂 (Special CCAs in different schools) (Playlist)
MeWatch |
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Train Your Brain 脑力大考验 (Playlist)
MeWatch |
Chinese Kids Drama by Mediacorp
Chinese News for Kids by Mediacorp / SPH
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News In Class (Playlist) MeWatch |
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8world News Digital Exclusives (Playlist) MeWatch |
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ZBSchools 早报校园 |
Chinese Game Show/Short Videos by Mediacorp - Youtube
Chinese? I Cannot! 我不可以讲华语 (Playlist)Are the streamer's chinese good enough??
Guess the chinese names of these MRT stations!
Guess The Chinese Names of MRT Stations! ft. LOVE972 DJs!
Have we been pronouncing these chinese words wrongly THE WHOLE TIME?!
Which character caught you off guard?
Are Singapore Students Bad At Chinese?! DJs vs Top SG Chinese Students | Gen Z Crash Course
Chinese Game Show/Shorts by Content Creators - Youtube
* Please watch first to determine suitability for your child before letting your child watch.[Mothership] Can you read this PSLE-level Chinese oral passage? | Mothership Hits The Streets
[Uncover65] Can Singaporeans Write Common Chinese Words? | Uncover65 Asks EP 14
[The Smart Local] Singaporeans Try: Speaking Chinese For 72 Hours
[The Smart Local] Singaporeans Try: Guessing Chinese Idioms
[The Smart Local] Can u still pass your CHINESE ORAL?!
[The Smart Local] LifeAtTSL: Can We Pass Primary School Chinese 听写 (Spelling)?
[The Smart Local] TSL Plays: Can You Chinese? Challenge
[Afterhours] Wah! The Fun EP19 - Idiots vs Idioms: Chinese Edition
[Afterhours] How much do you know - Mandarin
[Afterhours] How Much Do You Know - Mandarin Level 2
[SGAG] Talking Back To Your Chinese Oral Examiner
[SPEISHI] taking CHINESE ORAL EXAM!!!! w/ Noah, Tosh & Zadon
[SPEISHI] taking CHINESE test w/ Tosh Rock & Noah Yap
[Tropic Monsters] Do Singaporeans know European Countries in CHINESE?
[Tropic Monsters] Do Singaporeans know Everyday items in Chinese ?
[Tropic Monsters] Chinese-English Translator Test ( How Bilingual are you? )
[Tropic Monsters] Can you translate a conversation English to Chinese? (Part 2)
[Tropic Monsters] Do SGeans know Animal Names in Chinese?
[Tropic Monsters] We tested Singaporeans on COMMON CHINESE WORDS! (CNY SPECIAL)
[Tropic Monsters] Chinese Writing Test (In Singapore!)
[Tropic Monsters] Translate English To Chinese : Gaming/Computer Parts
[Tropic Monsters] How well do SGeans know Chinese? (Food Items)
[Tropic Monsters] Do Singaporeans know INSECT NAMES in Chinese?
[Tropic Monsters] $100 if you know these Country Names in Chinese! (SEA)
[Tropic Monsters] Do Singaporeans know how to write CNY Greetings? (And Meaning)
[Tropic Monsters] Battle of Mother Tongues (Playlist)
Chinese Short Animation - Youtube
* Please watch first to determine suitability for your child before letting your child watch.呆话西游
This is a funny animation that I like a lot, it is inspired by 西游记 唐僧. However, please vet through before showing your kids.
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