Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[vinegar]

my kid speaks english at home. He prefers to write chinese compo n so resist in writing english compo.


He told me he prefers his chinese tutor than english one…the power of getting the tutor??

[Imami]

lovinglife:

When I requested my child to transfer from one branch to the other (due to distance), I was told all Berries branches are under same management. We can just call up and request for transfer if there is available slot in your desired branch. The management will do internal paperwork. It was quite hassle-free. So far my encounter with Berries were good.

I thought berries is privately owned and under one management too. Until I spoke to one parent whose relative bought the franchise rights for running a tampines berries branch. While researching on berries and tx, I also came across a page on berries about buying their franchise rights.

In any case, berries or other industries, there bound to be differences when different people run different branches. We can only keep our eyes open.

[Imami]

vinegar:

my kid speaks english at home. He prefers to write chinese compo n so resist in writing english compo.


He told me he prefers his chinese tutor than english one.....the power of getting the tutor??

Vinegar, if I had not been reading your posts, I would hv thought u are a tutor yourself trying to sell your own services

Your kid is quite different, usually English speaking kids also don't like writing Chinese compo. Even those who speak Chinese may not like writing Chinese compo. I guess his Chinese is quite strong, despite speaking English at home?

U lucky, got a good tutor for Chinese. From the way I see it, seems like Chinese is harder to learn (let alone like). Good for your boy.

Chinese is a beautiful language. It's sad that these days many kids dont really appreciate it, are struggle with it and hating it.

[Imami]

Hi loving life,


On second thoughts, I thought u were still deciding between tx and berries? lazy to scroll back and read, pls remind me - how old is your kid?

In any case, it is your (or anyone’s) choice to choose which provider they prefer. Both tx and berries command the largest share in the preschool/ primary school chinese enrichment class industry. So either should be a good bet.

There are separate tx and berries threads (check under the language section) in which you could read through to find out more.

The one which suit your kid and you (you hv to like it too since u are the one who arrange for payment, make up classes etc) the most, is the best. Which is why, I hardly penalize trainee teachers. A qualification is needed so that one gets the necessary knowledge to deliver the job but it doesn’t say much about a teacher’s passion, style of handling and student management. For younger children, I think trainee teachers are welcome. Extra pair of hands are good in most instances since young children has shorter attention span.

[Imami]

Thetrees123:

要让孩子学好毋语，就得让她爱上母语，毫无条件、无怨无悔地爱上它，而非考完试后，就狠下心地抛弃它。功利主义地学母语只能治标，治不了本。
由于没有成绩压力，在上小学前父母往往不知孩子的进度，以为孩子会朗诵唐诗两三首便老神在在，相信孩子肯定没问题，却没想到孩子只是靠死背唐诗，根本不明其意。
到了小学，如果父母不紧跟课程，不把孩子的基本功打好，即使会朗读唐诗301首也无济于事，随之而来的考试成绩就会像武吉知马山的斜坡一样，让你目瞪口呆。
只有寓教于乐，才能达到事半功倍的效果。
我接触过太多这类学生，也碰过从小就把母语视为敌人的学生。
两种学生都令我担心，因为他们都是国家的主人翁。他们对母语的掌握能力与心态，对国家未来方向至关重大。

 哦您是老师？  你好。一般上，我对老师都有比对一般人来得更尊重。
以您的看法，五六岁的孩童应该有怎样的程度才算是拥有好的起步？

我没有上小学的孩子，所以对小学华文教育不是很了解。父母一定要跟进课程吗？广读多读不够吗？

对于现代父母让孩子背诵唐诗，三字经等，我有另一种看法。在右脑训练方面，有种说发是让幼童背诵诗经来开阔他们的右脑以便日后大脑能在短时间内迅速的记得大量资讯。只背诵就期待孩子能理解诗经的原意有点牵强。但不背诵就很难记进心里。我觉得能背诵之后，一定要讲解诗经背后的故事才能有更深入的了解。

[lovinglife]

Imami:

Hi loving life,


On second thoughts, I thought u were still deciding between tx and berries? lazy to scroll back and read, pls remind me - how old is your kid?

In any case, it is your (or anyone's) choice to choose which provider they prefer. Both tx and berries command the largest share in the preschool/ primary school chinese enrichment class industry. So either should be a good bet.

There are separate tx and berries threads (check under the language section) in which you could read through to find out more.

The one which suit your kid and you (you hv to like it too since u are the one who arrange for payment, make up classes etc) the most, is the best. Which is why, I hardly penalize trainee teachers. A qualification is needed so that one gets the necessary knowledge to deliver the job but it doesn't say much about a teacher's passion, style of handling and student management. For younger children, I think trainee teachers are welcome. Extra pair of hands are good in most instances since young children has shorter attention span.

Not me lah My both child are with Berries. Elder one is K2 and has been with Berries since K1. The younger one is just N1. I was sold by it's 'magic' performed on my N1. She was so anti-chinese language before entering Berries, despite I have created a chinese speaking environment for them. After attending Berries, she has started picking up the language and has shown interest/love and I am proud to say she is ready for it. As for my K2, his interest in languages has been no issue. Joining Berries is mainly to cultivate the deeper love on the language. It is truely a supplement lessons for his case. At least for now.

[Thetrees123]

Imami:

Thetrees123:

要让孩子学好毋语，就得让她爱上母语，毫无条件、无怨无悔地爱上它，而非考完试后，就狠下心地抛弃它。功利主义地学母语只能治标，治不了本。
由于没有成绩压力，在上小学前父母往往不知孩子的进度，以为孩子会朗诵唐诗两三首便老神在在，相信孩子肯定没问题，却没想到孩子只是靠死背唐诗，根本不明其意。
到了小学，如果父母不紧跟课程，不把孩子的基本功打好，即使会朗读唐诗301首也无济于事，随之而来的考试成绩就会像武吉知马山的斜坡一样，让你目瞪口呆。
只有寓教于乐，才能达到事半功倍的效果。
我接触过太多这类学生，也碰过从小就把母语视为敌人的学生。
两种学生都令我担心，因为他们都是国家的主人翁。他们对母语的掌握能力与心态，对国家未来方向至关重大。

 哦您是老师？  你好。一般上，我对老师都有比对一般人来得更尊重。
以您的看法，五六岁的孩童应该有怎样的程度才算是拥有好的起步？

我没有上小学的孩子，所以对小学华文教育不是很了解。父母一定要跟进课程吗？广读多读不够吗？

对于现代父母让孩子背诵唐诗，三字经等，我有另一种看法。在右脑训练方面，有种说发是让幼童背诵诗经来开阔他们的右脑以便日后大脑能在短时间内迅速的记得大量资讯。只背诵就期待孩子能理解诗经的原意有点牵强。但不背诵就很难记进心里。我觉得能背诵之后，一定要讲解诗经背后的故事才能有更深入的了解。

对我而言，五六岁的小孩至少得认得大部份1年级的字宝宝单字；有能力用简单华语和家人沟通。否则上了小一，紧凑的汉语拼音课程，加上汉字学习，有些学校甚至要求阅读理解，幼小心灵得默默承受。若不在小一前站好马步，肯定会在入学后跌个四脚朝天。心中对母语的怨恨就在此刻渐渐产生。

[lovinglife]

Imami:

Thetrees123:

要让孩子学好毋语，就得让她爱上母语，毫无条件、无怨无悔地爱上它，而非考完试后，就狠下心地抛弃它。功利主义地学母语只能治标，治不了本。
由于没有成绩压力，在上小学前父母往往不知孩子的进度，以为孩子会朗诵唐诗两三首便老神在在，相信孩子肯定没问题，却没想到孩子只是靠死背唐诗，根本不明其意。
到了小学，如果父母不紧跟课程，不把孩子的基本功打好，即使会朗读唐诗301首也无济于事，随之而来的考试成绩就会像武吉知马山的斜坡一样，让你目瞪口呆。
只有寓教于乐，才能达到事半功倍的效果。
我接触过太多这类学生，也碰过从小就把母语视为敌人的学生。
两种学生都令我担心，因为他们都是国家的主人翁。他们对母语的掌握能力与心态，对国家未来方向至关重大。

 哦您是老师？  你好。一般上，我对老师都有比对一般人来得更尊重。
以您的看法，五六岁的孩童应该有怎样的程度才算是拥有好的起步？

我没有上小学的孩子，所以对小学华文教育不是很了解。父母一定要跟进课程吗？广读多读不够吗？

对于现代父母让孩子背诵唐诗，三字经等，我有另一种看法。在右脑训练方面，有种说发是让幼童背诵诗经来开阔他们的右脑以便日后大脑能在短时间内迅速的记得大量资讯。只背诵就期待孩子能理解诗经的原意有点牵强。但不背诵就很难记进心里。我觉得能背诵之后，一定要讲解诗经背后的故事才能有更深入的了解。

When I told my colleagues my children will be going to a SAP school and taking higher chinese right from P1, their advices were the extra 2 points not worth the 6 years effort. I have hard time to brain wash their thoughts. Afterall it was just myself to defend all of them. Chinese is a beautiful lifetime language. We don't study just because aiming for the extra 2 points.

[Imami]

lovinglife:

Not me lah My both child are with Berries. Elder one is K2 and has been with Berries since K1. The younger one is just N1. I was sold by it's 'magic' performed on my N1. She was so anti-chinese language before entering Berries, despite I have created a chinese speaking environment for them. After attending Berries, she has started picking up the language and has shown interest/love and I am proud to say she is ready for it. As for my K2, his interest in languages has been no issue. Joining Berries is mainly to cultivate the deeper love on the language. It is truely a supplement lessons for his case. At least for now.

Ah, well said - the magic berries did :hi5:

Mine wasn't anti Chinese, just that his English is much better. I was also amazed by what berries did to my then n1 kid. In six lessons, he could recognize more than 12 characters. Wow. Money well spent. While I am proficient in Chinese, I didn't know how to teach Chinese to my kid. Hence the decision to sign up berries. No regrets although I am thinking of withdrawing him from berries.

[Imami]

Thetrees123:

对我而言，五六岁的小孩至少得认得大部份1年级的字宝宝单字；有能力用简单华语和家人沟通。否则上了小一，紧凑的汉语拼音课程，加上汉字学习，有些学校甚至要求阅读理解，幼小心灵得默默承受。若不在小一前站好马步，肯定会在入学后跌个四脚朝天。心中对母语的怨恨就在此刻渐渐产生。

啊，是••• 谢谢。我去看看自宝宝 单子卡 。