Comparing English Enrichment Programmes
-
metz:
While I slightly agree, I would also like to add that it is good for parents to voice out which centres work for their kids so that those of us who are considering centres for our children would be able to make informed decisions. It will be easier for parents then to shortlist the few centres that parents recommend and come to a good decision for our children.
My sentiment exactly. Each centre is unique in its way of teaching and materials. What works for one child may not work for another. Hence, it's irrelevant to talk about how one particular centre has worked wonders for some children where other centres have 'failed' them in this thread. Every enrichement centre will have its fair share of students with excellent results. If anybody wants to share testimonials about a particular centre, it would be more appropriate to share their satisfaction under the centre thread.Shan:
I feel that as every child is different...what works for 1 child may not work for another. Getting a good and right teacher who can motivate & \"click\" with the child is also very important. It is not just TAS. I know of a girl who is doing well in XXX, she said that XXX helped her a lot but XXX did not work for her brother. It doesn't mean the centre is no good, just that different kids....
As this thread is for comparing programmes, it will be beneficial if posters can focus on the programmes and be more forthcoming on how they are being conducted. With a better understanding of the various programmes, parents can then make a more informed choice on centres suitable for their children.
No doubt different centres would have different teachers who make up their teaching staff...but those good and recommended centres by parents would definitely be one that would have good teachers as well...after all why would parents recommend centres with good curriculum but with horrid teachers?
My take on picking good centres for my child:
Well- Defined Curriculum + Good Dedicated Teachers = Perfect Choice :rahrah: -
bamadexi:
You have misunderstood my post. I would say the success of a programme depends on more than just the materials and teachers.
While I slightly agree, I would also like to add that it is good for parents to voice out which centres work for their kids so that those of us who are considering centres for our children would be able to make informed decisions. It will be easier for parents then to shortlist the few centres that parents recommend and come to a good decision for our children.
No doubt different centres would have different teachers who make up their teaching staff...but those good and recommended centres by parents would definitely be one that would have good teachers as well...after all why would parents recommend centres with good curriculum but with horrid teachers?
My take on picking good centres for my child:
Well- Defined Curriculum + Good Dedicated Teachers = Perfect Choice :rahrah:
In any case, my post is meant to encourage everyone to share their experiences and how a particular centre has or has not worked for their DC. Be it teachers who go beyond the call of duty, excellent materials, conducive classrooms, or group size etc, such info are definitely useful to many readers. Lovinglife gave a very good summary on the LP preschool program. The summary is something that I would share with my friends why LP should be even on their radars for their preschoolers.
At the same time, sharing of unfortunate instances where a particular centre has been unsuccessful for a child are strongly welcome too. But do give the readers some insight on why things did not work out for the child. For instance, Shan shared TAS didn't work for her DS2 and why it didn't. Indeed, the big class size is something for parents to ponder upon when considering TAS.
Peace. -
Am thinking there should be common variables for parents to compare, if this is what this thread is all about
For instance,
1) Teachers-Student Ratio
2) Profile/Credentials of teachers
3) Prog Details/Scope (focus on creative writing or grammar or what?)
4) Methodology (e.g. go by Theme > Parts of speech; or Basic Grammar grinding > Macro writing exercises; or Energizers > Storytelling or poetry or what??)
5) Duration vs Course fees (so per hour = $$? )
6) Kid also attending any other enrichment (double dosage to plug gaps)
7) Kid's own preschool or parents have taught basic phonics and literacy etc yet? (i.e. diff vantage points)
Frequency of classes
9) Location/environment (cramped? stuffy? above noisy bus interchange?)
10) Value-added (before-after ROI/success stories - big jump or no change?)
11) Homework (parental involvement? workload?)
12) Got Term break or not? (some have no break during June and Dec hols, so u must be prepared to pay and pay all year round)
Lastly,
13) Are all the major players in the market reviewed in this thread? Answer is no. Some of the leading enrichment centres have been blocked, so readers of this thread need to be mindful they are only reading abt a fraction of the established players. Not a complete picture...
Best is to assess own kid's ability first, then GO THERE personally to find out from the horses. Ask for permission to view the classrooms, to peek at ongoing classes and the teachers. -
TAS did not work for my DD1. However IM still impressed :salute: wif eir materials, eir young & energetic trs, :imcool: e lively & engaging lessons my DD attended & not forgetting e friendly & helpful admin staff. It did not work for my DD1 as she can't concentrate wif a big class size. Her results had been slipping :imdrowning: thus e red alert :?: to switch her to a ctr wif smaller class size.
Sadly by e X we decided to try LP, she did not clear eir entrance test
. By P3, LP's students would oredi be pretty gd. Luckily we still managed to find another ctr wif small class size & pretty gd materials too. 
She had since improved. I do not tink it's becos tis ctr's materials is more superior but rather the small class size.
Wif tis experience, I realised tat the sch may be gd but it may not be suitable for our kids. It's not easy to find e rite fit so we shld not be too hard on sch which appears 'choosy' abt eir students. Even if LP accepted my DD1 then, she may not benefit if she's not able to follow e lessons. I rather noe her weakness at P3 and slowly helped her build e foundation. Hope tis sharing helps. -
Yes, class size & the teacher are 2 crucial factors.
Weekday class normally lesser kids, compared to weekend classes.
Weekend classes can be filled to the maximum capacity.
Better to go for weekday lessons, for Tas. -
Any comments on The Write Connection and Eagle Wings? Looking for P4 good enrichment classes next year for my DD. She is currently doing pretty well in her P3 english but would like to enhance her creative writing. Thks.
-
cantbearit2:
I have a family friend who put her DS in LP P1 Headstart. Boy was doing very well and was constantly top high achiever. At the end of the year the boy father had another posting in another area of Singapore n mum decided to work as boy was going to P1. Due to convenience the parents put the boy in TAS as the helper had to walk him over to TAS n back.TAS did not work for my DD1. However IM still impressed :salute: wif eir materials, eir young & energetic trs, :imcool: e lively & engaging lessons my DD attended & not forgetting e friendly & helpful admin staff. It did not work for my DD1 as she can't concentrate wif a big class size. Her results had been slipping :imdrowning: thus e red alert :?: to switch her to a ctr wif smaller class size.
Sadly by e X we decided to try LP, she did not clear eir entrance test . By P3, LP's students would oredi be pretty gd. Luckily we still managed to find another ctr wif small class size & pretty gd materials too. She had since improved. I do not tink it's becos tis ctr's materials is more superior but rather the small class size.
Wif tis experience, I realised tat the sch may be gd but it may not be suitable for our kids. It's not easy to find e rite fit so we shld not be too hard on sch which appears 'choosy' abt eir students. Even if LP accepted my DD1 then, she may not benefit if she's not ableo follow e lessons. I rather noe her weakness at P3 and slowly helped her build e foundation. Hope tis sharing
helps.
According to mum TAS didn't help the boy at all (didn't really us why) vs LP. Mum felt LP was better.
Miraculously the boy's father had another posting when boy was in P2. This posting made him closer to an LP branch as now TAS was further away.
Boy had to take a placement test to see if he could be again enrolled to LP.
Unfortunately, he didn't make it to LP as the test was too difficult according to the boy. He said had to do grammar, vocab questions, compre, a 4picture composition without helping words all during the time limit given.
Naturally he didn't clear the placement test and was not offered a place. Mum said that the test was actually what the existing students of LP were covering so had he remained in LP he would have been able to do the test easily. Unfortunately, cos he went TAS n then came back.LP, his standard actually dropped:(
LP standard is much higher than TAS standard!
An existing TAS student cannot pass an LP placement test while the existing LP students do very well for the same test!! -
There are some points in your post that I don't quite understand.
baladevi079a:
Doing very well and constantly top achiever in preschool as well as LP?
I have a family friend who put her DS in LP P1 Headstart. Boy was doing very well and was constantly top high achiever.
[quote] At the end of the year the boy father had another posting in another area of Singapore n mum decided to work as boy was going to P1. Due to convenience the parents put the boy in TAS as the helper had to walk him over to TAS n back. [/quote]Do you mean the boy attended LP in k2 but switched over to TAS when he started P1? At P1, he's constantly the top high achiever in school even after he joined TAS?
[quote]According to mum TAS didn't help the boy at all (didn't really us why) vs LP. Mum felt LP was better.
Miraculously the boy's father had another posting when boy was in P2. This posting made him closer to an LP branch as now TAS was further away.
Boy had to take a placement test to see if he could be again enrolled to LP.
Unfortunately, he didn't make it to LP as the test was too difficult according to the boy. He said had to do grammar, vocab questions, compre, a 4picture composition without helping words all during the time limit given.
Naturally he didn't clear the placement test and was not offered a place. Mum said that the test was actually what the existing students of LP were covering so had he remained in LP he would have been able to do the test easily. Unfortunately, cos he went TAS n then came back.LP, his standard actually dropped:(
[/quote]However, this boy is no longer the top achiever in English in his school after more than a year with TAS at P2? (Since the mother said TAS didn't help him) -
phtthp:
I was told TAS max is 12 per class correct?Yes, class size & the teacher are 2 crucial factors.
Weekday class normally lesser kids, compared to weekend classes.
Weekend classes can be filled to the maximum capacity.
Better to go for weekday lessons, for Tas.
What is LP class size? -
Greatly appreciate it if anyone can share about Growan as i am not able to find the thread.
thank you.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better š
Register Login