The Best Secondary School Malay Tuition in Singapore
At Tutor City, we understand that not all students have the time to prepare for their Malay language exam, given that they have a heavy workload from their other subjects. That being said, the Malay language subject cannot be neglected as the Mother Tongue component is extremely important for secondary students to advance to Junior Colleges.
With the guidance of a Tutor City Malay tutor, students will feel much more ready to step into the exam hall and undertake the Malay oral exams.
Why do you need Secondary Malay Tuition?
Students should view Malay as a valuable language that will not only allow them to fulfill their academic requirements in school, but to communicate with people from other countries such as Malaysia and Brunei. By getting Malay tuition, students will be able to pick up basic skills of the language and become more familiar with writing, speaking, and reading Malay, especially if there is a limited opportunity to practice the language in the student’s daily life.
It is important for students who aim to go to university that they achieve a pass in the Malay language if it is their Mother Tongue. Furthermore, if a student passes Malay during O Levels, they will be exempted from having to do Malay again in JC. As such, it is imperative that the student achieves at least a pass for their Malay language class.
The Cost of Secondary Malay Tuition
The average hourly fees for Secondary School Malay tuition ranges from $35 per hour to $100 per hour, depending on the tutor's qualifications, experience, and the level to teach.
Tuition Rates
Per Hour
|
Part-Time
tutors 1
|
Full-Time
tutors
|
Ex/Current
Teachers
|
Secondary 1
|
$35 - $50
|
$55 - $65
|
$70 - $100
|
Secondary 2
|
$35 - $50
|
$55 - $65
|
$70 - $100
|
Secondary 3
|
$35 - $50
|
$60 - $70
|
$75 - $100
|
Secondary 4/5
|
$35 - $50
|
$60 - $70
|
$75 - $100
|
1. Includes students in polytechnics, universities and graduates tutoring part-time.
2. If your child has special needs, go to our SPED page to understand the certifications and fees that SPED teachers are quoting.
1. Includes students in polytechnics, universities and graduates tutoring part-time.
2. Either 45 min or 1 hour lessons. See our music page for details.
3. Language proficiency range from basic to advanced so rates will be quoted upon knowing each learner's needs.
4. For Special Needs education, rates are higher due to specific training and certifications which tutors need to have.
Outline of Secondary Malay Tuition
Functional writing and essays
Use of language
Comprehension
Oral communications
Listening Comprehension
Hurdles Faced by Secondary Malay Students
Inability to master writing well in the language
There are many aspects to the Malay language that students need to master before they can write well, such as learning about the different types of words and linguistic turns of phrases (e.g., tatabahasa, kata-kata ganda, peribahasa). Next, students need to plan their arguments in the essays so that they answer the essay question and do not ramble. Many students have difficulties writing in the Malay language as they are not used to writing in another language.
Lack of vocabulary or grammar skills
The basic building blocks of any language are knowing the correct sentence structure, vocabulary, and grammar. Students need to know these basic skills and practice them well before they begin forming complete sentences in Malay. Many students have little to no practice with these basic skills and as a result, they cannot form adequate sentences in the Malay language.
High level of workload for other subjects
Secondary school inevitably involves students taking on more subjects than primary school. Students often feel overwhelmed with the heavy workload of the other subjects and their commitments such as CCA. As such, students may neglect practicing the Malay language as they may think that it is not important to devote time and energy to. However, the Malay language is the student’s Mother Tongue and it is essential to achieve at least a pass for it.
Unfamiliarity with speaking Malay
A major component of the Malay language assessment is the oral component. Students may not have the opportunity to practice speaking Malay in a formal setting at home, and may not pick up the necessary vernacular needed to score well in their Malay oral exams. Furthermore, students need the requisite vocabulary to form coherent thoughts to tackle the oral topic they are given.
The Importance of Engaging a Secondary Malay Tutor
Students can know how to address their weaknesses
Engaging a secondary school Malay tutor can help students address their weaknesses. A Malay tutor is supposed to identify where the student lacks in their exam preparation. Some students are better at writing but lack the requisite oral skills. Some students will be better at speaking but have poor writing skills. Tutors need to focus on the student’s weaknesses so they can improve.
Students will get regular practice speaking, reading, and writing
In an English-speaking community and academic curriculum, students will not have ample opportunities to practice speaking, reading, and writing the Malay language in their daily lives. Furthermore, the formal Malay language is rarely spoken in a colloquial context in casual settings such as between family members or friends. As such, students need to practice speaking, reading, and writing the Malay language with their Malay tutor.
Students will feel more prepared for their exams
By engaging a Malay tutor, students will feel more prepared for their exams. Confidence is an important mental aspect of taking exams, as a student is more likely to do better if they feel more confident about the subject. Moreover, oral exams require the student to be fairly confident as they need to speak in a firm and decisive manner instead of stuttering.
Students can learn their Mother Tongue
It is beneficial for a student to learn their Mother Tongue because they will have the opportunity to connect with people who speak their Mother Tongue. There are many other countries such as Malaysia and Brunei that speak the Malay language, and picking up another language is beneficial for students as they will be able to use these language skills in future employment.
Good Qualities of a Secondary School Malay Tutor
Ability to speak, read, and write the Malay language
It is highly important for the Malay tutor you engage to have the requisite ability to speak, read, and write the Malay language. Language is a skill that needs to be continuously honed, and a tutor needs to be able to have proficiency in the language so that he can impart these skills to his secondary school students to improve their Malay grades.
Familiarity with updated MOE syllabus
It is important for the Malay tutor to be familiar with the updated MOE syllabus. There have been changes to the syllabus which tutors need to be aware of so that they do not contradict what is being taught to students at school. It is important for students to know the formatting requirements and breakdown of marks for their exams to be prepared for each component.
Ability to teach students how to write well
Being able to write well in Malay is different from being able to teach students how to write in Malay. Tutors need to break down the fundamental skills students need to write essays in Malay well. Furthermore, if students are weak in certain elements of writing, such as grammar and vocabulary, tutors should provide exercises with which they can practice these skills.
Dedication and commitment
A key feature a tutor must have is to be dedicated and committed to teaching. A good tutor should show up for all the slots he has agreed to take on time. If the tutor cannot make it to the class, he should give advance notice and make up the slot so the parent can feel reassured that the student’s learning is not disrupted or compromised. It is also the tutor’s responsibility to make sure the student completes the work given before the tutoring session.
Testimonials from Secondary Malay Students and their Parents
“I was looking for a home tuition agency. I found this tuition agency via a Google search. Sent an Enquiry and Ben Son responded. He sent me a list of tutors with my requirements. Very good, fast response and excellent service within a short period of time. I am glad with the tutor I took for my son. Thank you so much.”
- Mumtaz Begum
“Bensen got back to me quite fast and got my son a tutor. My son is comfortable with the tutor and has a good one-to-one study session with her.”
- Nur Inaaya
Resources for Secondary Malay
Learn more about the Malay language here!
Engage a Tutor City Secondary School Malay Tutor today!
Malay is widely spoken in Singapore not only when it first gained its independence, but also today. As such, students should be familiar with their Mother Tongue as knowing how to speak, read, and write in another language is an extremely valuable skill set that will not only serve students well in school but in future daily life and even employment.
Engage Tutor City Secondary School Malay tutor today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Malay Language Elective Programme in secondary schools?
The Malay Language Elective Programme in secondary schools will give students the opportunity to learn basic and conversational Malay to broaden their horizons by studying another language. Furthermore, students will be able to learn more about the history of Singapore (whose national language is Malay) through studying the Malay language.
What do you learn in Malay language class?
Students will learn the basics of Malay language sentence structure, grammar, and vocabulary. There are different types of words such as kata ganda, kata gabungan, and kata imbuhan which students must master to write good sentences and essays in the Malay language.
What is the difficulty of learning Malay?
Malay may be difficult to learn if the student does not practice regularly. There are also different pronouns depending on the level of respect to show a person - there is a different pronoun to refer to the king in 3rd person, as well as a different pronoun for whether the speaker is including themselves when referring to a group of people. These differences may be hard to grasp.
How do I improve my Malay?
Learning the basic aspects of Malay such as grammar (tatabahasa) and vocabulary is essential to improving your command of the Malay language. Furthermore, learning how to write essays in a clear and concise manner will help a student greatly. Reading more and speaking the language more will help a student improve their command of the Malay language.