Hi,


Looking for recommendation for dive schools that has a strong family and kids focus. Took my 10 y.o. to Phuket and she tried it in the hotel pool and now she is eager. But she is the kind that we need to find a good instructor otherwise her motivation just drops. Thinking of including the 8 y.o. as both sisters engaging in same activities will be more enjoyable.

Thanks in advance.

can I have the tutor contact as well? where is the location ? and the charges?

Thank you ChiefKiasu. Is there any program for Chinese that would be a close equivalent to "I Can Read" for the English? I find it so hard to teach my girl to read Chinese since very character is different, unlike English where reading can be taught with phonics.

Given that my child is only 6 years old, is that too young for Yuquan’s idioms class since she wouldn’t be using much in school?
Thank you for your comments.

I think you should let her do a trial class at both Eduplus and Berries, and see what one she like, and you can also assess the teachers. The quality of teachers varies from class to class, centre to centre.


My girl (6 yrs old) is now at Eduplus (Ghim Moh) and all the teachers are Chinese nationals. She seems to be enjoying her classes.

ChiefKiasu, I've seen from previous thread that your kids enjoyed Yuquan classes on Chinese idioms and Zijing. I'm thinking if I should let my girl try that? Her Chinese is very poor (can't read), as we have just returned from overseas. But I am wondering what's the point of being able to recite 548#8re89% when she doesn't know much of of the basics? I spoke to Ms Soh from Yuquan and she sounds very convincing that that Zijing is the equvialent of \"I can read\". Do you agree? Thanks for your comment.

[Moderator’s Note: Threads merged.]


Hi parents,
I know there are various posts seperately on "I can read" and "zoophonic". Both seems to be good at teaching phonics, with the ability to teach the child to read. Do any parents know what’s the difference btw the two? which is better? my girls are 6 and 3 yrs old, and both are behind their peers as they are overseas so have not been through the Singapore education system.
many thanks for your comments.

Hi Socks


this is what my friend said of CHIJ Bt Timah. Gabby is her girl who is in Pri 1. Hope it helps.

What touches me about them is that Gabby had an awful time fitting in initially. She used to cry so badly she couldn’t speak. They gave her a school counselor, the old principal (Sr Joan), and the form teacher called me daily, and were kind and loving. On top of regular work, they also have loads of mock-ups, drama, plays, school visits, community visits (charity work). Gabby’s class has 2 students that are mute, and 1 student that is hearing impaired (so bad, the teacher has to wear a headphone & battery while teaching so she can hear). But they do it, and they do it happily. Now that to me, is a good school. Personal touch.

Principal insists on compulsory CCA (formerly known as ECA) from P3 onwards. They’re very good at band, tap dance and choir.

The school streams from P2 onwards, but it’s not “official”. 1Hope (where Gabby is), 2Hope, and 3Hope are the best classes. Then the best class shifts to the Peace (4P, 5P, 6P) classes

Thank you very much ChiefKiasu. Really appreciate your frankness and advise. I’ve called up Yuquan and spoke to teacher Song. She was trying to convince me to put my girl for the full-day kindergarten, so that she has more exposure to Chinese. I was a little apprenhensive though when she said they don’t offer trial class - was worried that my girl won’t like the class. But in the end, we left it open and said we will discuss that further when we go down to the centre. At least now I have something on hand when we return. Thnk you very much for your tips.


By the way, have you heard about Sam’s Early Learning Centre in River Valley? A friend said its good, but the staff at the centre wanted to "test" my girl to determine her eligiblity into K2 class…

Hi chiefkiasu, mums, dads and everyone reading this:


I'm been in Australia since Jan 07. I'm coming back with my girl in Sep, so that she can adapt to the local environment and start Pri 1 next year.

What can I do to prepare her for Pri 1 in 3 mths ? We'll be staying in near Holland Village and I'm not sure if I should sent her to
(1) kindergarden + enrichment classes,
(2) childcare / early learning centre (one place for everything), or
(3) is there a \"crash-course\" for P1 preparation?
(4) or teach her myself? but I don't know what's the standard?
I was been reading some postings on this webiste and nearly fainted.... :shock:

She is currently in a normal primary school here - 7 hours of school everyday (8.30am-3.30pm). But no spelling, no diction, no homework. Welcome to Aussie education - they emphasize on character building, creative thinking, confidence building, interpersonal and communications, ability to resolve conflict with peers, etc.. hence she's a very outspoken, confidence girl who can interact well with all ages, all races, ie everybody.

This is what she can do:
English - can recognise abt 80 words eg is, the, they, what, etc. Knows basic phonics. Now learning to read simple one-sentence-one-page story books. Yes, can write a-z ( but sometimes still get confuse with b and d).
Mandarin - can recognise abt 80 words. Can only write very simple character, but wrong strokes most of the time. Attends Mandarin classes twice a week, and home tuition once-a-week from a Singaporean teacher. Learning Hanyu pinyin.
Maths - simple addtion and substraction.

I've a look at the P1 textbook and they look managable - at least in Term 1. Eg no multiplcation in first-half textbook, so why need to know before starting school? But most friends tells me what she knows now is way below the \"standard\".....

I don't know how to balance with the preparation works and yet at the same time, not to stress her out? as the last thing I want is that she can't cope with the system and wants to go back to Aussie. My hubby won't be back until June 09, so don't want her to use stress as an excuse to go to Daddy.

Anyone who with any suggestion of any good place near Holland Village that I can enrol her?

Many thanks for your time !!

Hi ChiefKiasu !! actually I will be staying at Holland Drive (now in Melbourne) when I return to Singapore in Sep. Yes, I am Catholic.


The schools around my area are either very good (Henry Park, Nanyang, Fairfield Methoist) or the other end (Ghim Moh Primary). So I don’t want to go through the hassle of balloting (very stressful watching from the other end of the world) so decide to put her into one of the CHIJ. Unforunately, none are really close by…

Thank you ChiefKiasu. No, that’s not what I want. I’m looking for a well rounded education. But she make it sound so relax that I started questioning about my decision. And given that I’m overseas, I relied what people tell me, I guess…