All About Abacus Training

[adafew]

These maybe the new prices for 2010?

[machiavelli]

I took abacus and mental sums training when i was in K1 untill P1 with a training centre in orchard road.


We took exams with grades from 10 being the lowest to 1 being the highest. When i stopped in P2, i had a grade 1 in abacus (something like 8 digits8digits in 1 minute to pass) and a mental sums duan wei (the grade after grade 1, 6 digits6digits in 1 minute to pass) I found division and subtraction the easiest for obvious reasons, while multiplication was the hardest.

Im now 17 and rusty, but I dare say i can still mentally compute 3 digit*4digits in 1 minute. I would say that it did whet my appetite for math, and make me more interested in math.

[pokemon]

purple05:

how come the CMA Tiong Bahru & Marine Parade is charging $280/per term (once a week) & $200/per term (twice a week) + $50 reg. fee + $70 for materials + T-shirt?


I was told only Yishun, their HQ charges $250.00.

will need to check out the other outlets... to see if there r such price difference.

im paying $250 per term at bishan branch. Abt a yr ago, it used to be $220,then they increase to $250 4 existing students, heard all the newly joined students are paying $280.

[nonKiasu]

adafew:

[quote]txs pokemon n adafew. how much will it be? coz i checked out in of the cc in tampines area is $105.

The CMA at tampines charges is
S$250/10lessons based on once a wk session.
S$180/10lessons based on twice a wk session.

Deposit - S$50/=. Registration fee : S$70 (include starter kit like one CMA t-shirt and bag, one abacus and one paper 'memory' abacus.

Duration is 90mins/lesson.
[/quote]May I know why there is a great diff in price for once and twice a week lesson? Is the same content covered in 5 weeks for the latter case? Does that mean if our kid is slower, better don't put him in the twice a week prog?
Ya, tampines central cc only charge $100 to $110. Again, a great diff in price. And does that mean the cc one is not as good?

[Agilemaths]

CC is equally good, more sessions - cost effective but the main question is can our child benefit from big class. The break between each level before they get enough students to open next level is not certain. The trainer may be engaged by 3rd party so possibility of turnover is there.


CMA on the other hand, uses a lot of multimedia to teach, I do not feel the personal attention there. 14-17 modules (I can’t remember) to complete is too long, time consuming and taxing for both parents and child. Paying 70 bucks for that T-Shirt and materials are too expensive.

So, pros and cons.

[jogan]

my dd is attending abacus at neighbourhood RC, im paying S$50 per mth. Sounds cheap however keep paying for materials, almost every mth is paying S$20 - 30 for materials. im poundering if it is worth it. din see much progress and no schoolwork, best part keep buying ‘thin’ revision books.


lately had an encounter, they kept changing the abacus 3 times. current 3rd time is charging me ‘1/2’ price for trade-in S$9 and also S$20 materials (less than 15 pages book - 2 books). wow liew… really cant stand it! just wondering why they are so uncertain and keep changing abacus and also trade-in? :!: Is this a common practise for abacus lessons?

Anyone can recommend any cost effective abacus at east area for my DD who is 5 yo… thanks

[Agilemaths]

[Editor's note: Topic selected for http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/content/abacus-mental-arithmetic-good.]


I teach abacus/mental arithmetic and I'm always asked, is it good?

Yes, I would answer \"It is good because you'll learn to handle big problems fast with good guesses, within a certain percentage of error or so\".

You'll learn to do arithmetic fast, in that way you can spend your time thinking about what the numbers mean. Use that rapid arithmetic skill in the examination battlefield and you know you have the right weapon.

But, I must warn you. Learning abacus is boring. It involves plenty of calculation. It requires persistency and consistency as well as patience to practice daily. Once you stop training your brain, your brain function will begin to decline slowly again.

So to learn or not to learn? That is the question.

Well.... abacus is not the only aid in town. There are other methods on brain training, flash memory. Again, once you stop, memory fades away.

But because abacus/mental arithmetic requires you to calculate sums quickly, it activates the largest region of the brain. Your Prefrontal cortex is actively working.

Preforontal cortex = frontal lobe (also known as motor function - foundation of creativity, memory, communication, and self-control).

Putting aside this medical term and scientific research, my humble thoughts is that once kids achieve good mental calculation skill, they will attain confidence in exam and self-esteem in their life skill.

[Agilemaths]

I teach abacus/mental arithmetic at home in Sengkang. If it is near your area you can pm me. But then… you’ll need to buy new abacus as I use 9 beads abacus.

[girlmum]

jogan:

my dd is attending abacus at neighbourhood RC, im paying S$50 per mth. Sounds cheap however keep paying for materials, almost every mth is paying S$20 - 30 for materials. im poundering if it is worth it. din see much progress and no schoolwork, best part keep buying 'thin' revision books.


lately had an encounter, they kept changing the abacus 3 times. current 3rd time is charging me '1/2' price for trade-in S$9 and also S$20 materials (less than 15 pages book - 2 books). wow liew... really cant stand it! just wondering why they are so uncertain and keep changing abacus and also trade-in? :!: Is this a common practise for abacus lessons?

Anyone can recommend any cost effective abacus at east area for my DD who is 5 yo... thanks

Hi Jogan,

My DD2(P3) has been attending abacus lessons since K2 at a nearby CC at pasir ris. Currently in the advance stage 2. She has NEVER change her abacus before, been using it since she started. Paying abt S$ 130 for 12 lessons (1.5 hrs per wk) Only need to change books when she is abt to finish it or upgrade to a higher level. Books are only $5 each.

She also need to take exams every 2 - 3 mths (optional) Exam fees abt $20 - 35 depending the the level.

It's good to start yr child at the age of 5. If u r staying around this area, let me know if u need the details.

[jogan]

Hi Jogan,


My DD2(P3) has been attending abacus lessons since K2 at a nearby CC at pasir ris. Currently in the advance stage 2. She has NEVER change her abacus before, been using it since she started. Paying abt S$ 130 for 12 lessons (1.5 hrs per wk) Only need to change books when she is abt to finish it or upgrade to a higher level. Books are only $5 each.

She also need to take exams every 2 - 3 mths (optional) Exam fees abt $20 - 35 depending the the level.

It's good to start yr child at the age of 5. If u r staying around this area, let me know if u need the details.[/quote]


Hi girlmum

Thanks so much for the information. I will PM you.

Cheers
esther chua