Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[Daddy D]

hquek:

Daddy

Cool... The S&D K1 level requires parent to sit in during lesson?
So far, my gal's other classes need us to sit in... so tiring....

Only N1 needs to sit in. N2 onwards cannot sit in. DS2 who's N2 this year had difficulty adjusting...he was constantly bawling before class started. But the teachers were very good with picking him up, distracting him etc...end of lesson come out ok; next lesson again got problem. Happy to say that he's passed this phase.

You can opt to go downstairs to wait for her....some powerpoints available (portable dvd players - self provide/laptops), chairs and tables also there.

I'm not sure how popular Sat classes are. But at kindy level, there are 2/3 teachers - one for each aspect. They are constantly changing classrooms.

BTW, I wasn't too impressed with their K1 class cos didn't know what they were teaching. But after some time I feel my kid reads better in chinese, speaks better. At K2 level, they will incorporate hanyu pinyin. Classes very dynamic and DS1 enjoys it. Just let you know in case I unfairly raised your expectations....

Noted... prefer to have 1 parent sit in during 1st lesson so that we can gauge the standard of the lesson.... do they allow that? If not... have to try bluff our way in

[hquek]

Daddy

Noted... prefer to have 1 parent sit in during 1st lesson so that we can gauge the standard of the lesson.... do they allow that? If not... have to try bluff our way in

Nope, door is closed. DS1's classroom use to have a peephole for a couple of weeks (a piece of hardboard over the glass window on the door) but that was closed prior to CNY - the peepholes for all other classrooms also covered up.

I dun mind that way (locked) cos it would be fairly distracting to the kids - cos some buey zi dong parents will open the door to peep. if the door is in your favour (think it's classroom #03-02), the door may be left slightly ajar - but the other rooms (#03-06 and counting back) cannot. Sometimes teachers will lock the doors during class times.

if you are minded, can stand next to the door; usually can hear what's going on.

For S&D, they will have takeaway sheets that kids can read off. One sheet per week. But I see the value add as how they get the kids to move, to recite - it's S&D afterall.

[Busymom]

So far for Tien Hsia, having been with them for so many years, they seem to continue to have lessons even on public holidays, with the exception of CNY. Even CNY, they will break for one whole week and continue from where they stop the following week, so no one misses any lesson.

[acforfamily]

cafelatte:

acforfamily


Your P4 is in the enrichment class then. Not the WOL :
http://www.berriesworld.com/3programmes_primary_oralwriting.php

For enrichment class, typically they'll do oral near end of the term and also include 1 compo per term. It is the same in Tien Hsia's enrichment class.
Yes, Tien Hsia has compo and compre class (call it creative writing class) but no oral component for that class.

May I know the class size ? more than 10 children ?

Class size is close to 10
I called them up yesterday to ask about the WOL, they said that it is only for P5. They have not started for the other levels yet.
Is your child in p5?

[cafelatte]

I called also. They do have P4,P5,P6 WOL classes but in different branches depending on the enrollment. However, limited weekend WOL classes due to classrooms used for the popular enrichment class.

[titank]

hquek:

titank:

Hi All,


Any idea to get the public holidays of 2011 & 2012? Now Berries come out this type of pattern where lesson fall on public holiday there is no free makeup.

Still deciding whether to signup with Berries as I had took the trail on last weekend. :!:

Hi titank, I get the public holidays from MOM website, but the ones for 2011 and 2012 we won't know so fast. You will be able to get the ones with fixed dates...but those that are dependent on lunar/whatever calendar, a bit difficult leh, eg date for Deepavali can only be confirmed in the middle of the same year.

Hi hquek,

Guess I would enroll my DD for the 2010 with Berries.For 2011 & 2012 who knows I may not continue with them or maybe at that time try not to select clash with public holiday.

[acforfamily]

cafelatte:

I called also. They do have P4,P5,P6 WOL classes but in different branches depending on the enrollment. However, limited weekend WOL classes due to classrooms used for the popular enrichment class.

Hmm, I asked the same thing but the person claims that it is the same for all branches. But she did not sound very sure too...

[hquek]

titank:

Hi hquek,


Guess I would enroll my DD for the 2010 with Berries.For 2011 & 2012 who knows I may not continue with them or maybe at that time try not to select clash with public holiday.

Hi titank, actually policies will differ year to year. I recall when DS1 was in Berries, there was no holiday during most public holidays - it was lesson as usual. My beef then was that it became super difficult to arrange for short holidays for the family....thus my decision to look elsewhere.

I think can talk to the centre and discuss. I was suitably impressed when my friend told me her teacher gave makeup for her kids even though reason was that they were going on holiday.

[Daddy D]

hquek:

For S&D, they will have takeaway sheets that kids can read off. One sheet per week. But I see the value add as how they get the kids to move, to recite - it's S&D afterall.

Got the S&D notes yst afternoon... saw lotsa of parents sitting downstairs... I bet u must be 1 of them... haha!
I was expecting some air-con room to sit in... shucks...
Things parents do on a HOT Sunday afternoon....

[hquek]

Daddy

Got the S&D notes yst afternoon... saw lotsa of parents sitting downstairs... I bet u must be 1 of them... haha!

I was expecting some air-con room to sit in... shucks...
Things parents do on a HOT Sunday afternoon....

ha ha ha...I wasn't one of them. I am usually savouring the minced meat noodles at Blk 85? nearby (morning/early afternoons only); or wandering around TPY central. Thank heavens for popular bookshop at TPY...that's my place of last refuge when I'm truly bored.