iQIYI series in Chinese that my kids enjoyed — along with a few quirky ones worth exploring.
Author Archives: lahlahbanana
Review: Nanjing Mandarin Immersion Camp 2025
An Adventure for the Whole Family We spent our June holidays doing something wildly different—and absolutely unforgettable. My three kids and I traded our usual routines for ten jam-packed days in Nanjing, China, attending a local school entirely in Mandarin. No English and no regrets. If you’re curious about what it’s like to throw yourContinue reading “Review: Nanjing Mandarin Immersion Camp 2025”
C Dramas for Tweens: What We’re Loving Right Now
After a long day, sometimes the best way for my kids (and me!) to unwind is to curl up on the couch and watch something fun, meaningful, or just downright silly. In our house, we try to keep things bilingual — an equal mix of Chinese and English shows. That balance has gotten trickier asContinue reading “C Dramas for Tweens: What We’re Loving Right Now”
Hello again, old friends
In 2024, I barely managed to type out two blog posts all year. This year? Not even one—until now. I was starting to worry I’d forgotten how to log into my WordPress account (spoiler: I totally had). I’m not much of a social media person, and the chaos in the upper echelons of Twitter andContinue reading “Hello again, old friends”
5 Years of Lah Lah Banana: A Journey of Growth, Struggles, and Success
A Very Personal Journey It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly five years since I started this blog. Time flies, doesn’t it? We’ve been having fun too (for the most part). The journey began when my eldest daughter started primary school. She had always loved Chinese – in fact, she thrived in a bilingualContinue reading “5 Years of Lah Lah Banana: A Journey of Growth, Struggles, and Success”
Helping a child with P1 primary school Chinese as a non-Chinese speaker
How to help my child with primary school Chinese Every year in January, the visits to my blog spike and the queries are search terms like “P1 Chinese” , “non Chinese parents with children studying Chinese”, “how to help children with Chinese homework”, and “help with Chinese as mother tongue at local school”. Every yearContinue reading “Helping a child with P1 primary school Chinese as a non-Chinese speaker”
Book Review: Silly Wolf Chinese Comic Series《笨狼的故事》
Silly Wolf series comes in two forms – firstly a cute story book ( 注音版 / bridging book, with Hanyu pinyin), and secondly a comic book series (漫画 / comic book, with no Hanyu pinyin). Both are by popular Chinese author, Tang Su Lan 汤素兰. This review is specifically about the Silly Wolf Comic series.Continue reading “Book Review: Silly Wolf Chinese Comic Series《笨狼的故事》”
Habbi Habbi Bilingual Flashcards & Puzzles: Parent Review
Review of the beautiful Habibi Habbi bilingual flashcards and puzzles, available in Chinese, Spanish, Korean and French,
Book Review: Sherlock Holmes 大侦探福尔摩斯
A wonderful detective book series for upper primary or lower secondary …. the Geronimo Stilton of Chinese detective stories.
Tips for PSLE Chinese Oral Exams
Acing the PSLE Chinese Oral exams isn’t just a matter of language fluency. This post lists out a few practical tips to prepare wholesomely for your child’s Chinese oral assessments, without trying to sell you a tuition class to solve the problem! How you ever noticed that if you google ‘Tips for PSLE Chinese oralContinue reading “Tips for PSLE Chinese Oral Exams”