Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[hquek]

hi voovoo,


sorry, what do you mean by encouraging interest in chinese? DS1 was with Kembangan Berries few years back. I’ve since switched him into SHHK (hokkien huay kuan) chinese enrichment. During that time, Berries didn’t have holidays - I felt very stressed planning my holidays cos it meant he has to miss class. Not sure if they changed already. SHHK’s calendar is provided at the onset - they follow pretty much the academic school calendar.

For K1, they have 樂樂華語班. 3 teachers in the group (quite big class - think about 15 or so). Singing, reading, and a bit of writing. DS2 in N2 - so he only have to write strokes. DS1 in K1 had to write words. But the writing is not the siong type (maybe 2 words and each about 6-8 times).

It is very similar to Berries (ie they have weekly readers) but I feel the materials a bit more cheem, teachers very fun (they bring bean soup, biscuits, rice etc to class from time to time depending on topic on hand).

For K2 (FYI), SHHK classes is more tough (cos preparing for P1 mah). There’s reading (like 1 composition worth), writing (6 words, each about 12 times) and dunno what else inside. This class is more quiet - machiam like exam; as compared with the other one above.

[VooVoo]

Thanks, hquek. I thot to try SHHK but found the location a bit far off for me.


Well, Molin's classroom is quite basic (run down)...no posters or pictures to liven up the class and I think the teacher just look so unmotivated and \"not fun\" (ha, sh has got a sour look that I don't even feel like talking to her!). I recently asked my son again whether he liked the class (hoping that time would help him \"like\" it) and of cos no. :? I used to think that that is just becoz he is not keen on Chinese. But, he enjoys his chinese S&D at another school. So, it can't be chinese. It is the teacher who makes or breaks the class.

Molin is not suitable if you want to instil a love for chinese for young kids. That's my personal conclusion.

[hquek]

oh dear…teachers are very very important to instil love in a subject - sad, but it’s true.


Agree, if you are east side, TPY is a bit daunting. But honestly, my son’s classmate hails from Punggol…the father keeps going to & fro on weekends for his kids’ classes.

Check out the teachers at the locations you desire. I think Berries program is not bad and my friends still have their kids there. Classroom I remember quite ok. But I had one grouse at the Kembangan branch cos I always see my son & friends sprawling on the floor writing/colouring…hello, there are little benches for writing - but I see they put bags there instead. I checked with the teacher and she insisted that most of the writing is done with the bench, but toward the end of class, then they will let the kids sprawl on the floor to write (sorry, I didn’t buy that).

[VooVoo]

I just feel irritated with myself for coming to this conclusion only after spending 1.5 years in Molin. But, it took another chinese S&D class which he started this Jan for me to realise that it is not chinese per se. So…am busy scrambling for another school…read through all 80+ pages here and it seems no one has feedback on Berries at Tampines Mart…

[hquek]

well, as the chinese saying go, it takes distance to see how strong horse is…don’t blame yourself too much. It’s good that you realise this BEFORE P1. Thanks for the feedback, I had considered Molin very strongly.


Anyways, Berries materials are centralised. So it’s only the teacher and centre that will make a difference. Go check out the facility and the teachers (who will take care of your son). I think it’s quite open concept (based on Kembangan) so you may be able to peep at the classes going on.

[VooVoo]

Thanks.


Having said that, I think Molin is still worth considering for the Primary levels...

[hquek]

VooVoo:

I used to think that that is just becoz he is not keen on Chinese. But, he enjoys his chinese S&D at another school. So, it can't be chinese. It is the teacher who makes or breaks the class.

BTW, my Dses goes for Chinese S&D, and chinese enrichment. Given a chance, DS1 would want to drop the chinese enrichment in favour of the S&D. Reason being in S&D, all they do is to listen to story, have some fun/play - NO writing. In chinese enrichment, they have to write - and he hates that.

Just an alternate view.

[VooVoo]

Hmmm...fair enough. Also good that my son tells me he doesn't like the teacher. Sigh, me too what more my son. :roll:

[jershejos]

Hi Eskimo,

My son (2.5yrs) attending Berries in Bishan and I can say he likes it as he don’t cry at all, hahaha.

Any mummies with primary kids and poor at Chinese? any recommendation of school which can cultivate their interest?

[eskimo]

jershejos:

Hi Eskimo,

My son (2.5yrs) attending Berries in Bishan and I can say he likes it as he don't cry at all, hahaha.

Hi, thanks for sharing. I'm pretty ok with the class and teachers. Just keeping my fingers crossed that next class will turn out well for dd.