Comparing Pre-school English Reading and Phonics Enrichment

[blueblue]

Hi


Can I have feedback for British Council Creative English for Kindergarten 1? Is this course good? Want to look for more feedback before signing my son for it as it is quite expensive. Need to know if it is worth the money.

[blueblue]

I just wrote to BC yesterday to enquire about the course. Was shocked to hear from them that they conduct the courses with a maximum of 18 students per class! :shock:


At about $66 per lesson, I personally think the 18 students to per class is too big.

[MMM]

blueblue:

Hi


Can I have feedback for British Council Creative English for Kindergarten 1? Is this course good? Want to look for more feedback before signing my son for it as it is quite expensive. Need to know if it is worth the money.

My older kids are with BC primary level. I didn't put my K1 there this year. She is doing phonics and Lorna Whiston creative english. I found BC K1 level abit elementary.

For K1 and if your child hasn't started any EL program, you might want to consider LCentral. I am letting my P2 and P3 try for a term. If good, I might consider switching my K1 there when she is K2 and completes her phonics.

Think cheaper and class size is max 9. Native speakers too. But need to try out if effective or not. I feel that there is no one size fit all program. Probably got to trial and error to find the one that suits best. We gave BC 2 years for my P2 and P3.... I sent my P3 to LCentral for assessment yesterday and the teacher told me that usually within 1-2 terms can see results.

[HyperKiasu]

blueblue:

I just wrote to BC yesterday to enquire about the course. Was shocked to hear from them that they conduct the courses with a maximum of 18 students per class! :shock:


At about $66 per lesson, I personally think the 18 students to per class is too big.

same sentiments here, but their justification for a bigger size class is more class activities can be conducted if there are more kids...

personally feel BC is a good place to cultivate love for language. but when it comes to academic results, there is a standard gap ...

[blueblue]

MMM:

blueblue:

Hi


Can I have feedback for British Council Creative English for Kindergarten 1? Is this course good? Want to look for more feedback before signing my son for it as it is quite expensive. Need to know if it is worth the money.

My older kids are with BC primary level. I didn't put my K1 there this year. She is doing phonics and Lorna Whiston creative english. I found BC K1 level abit elementary.

For K1 and if your child hasn't started any EL program, you might want to consider LCentral. I am letting my P2 and P3 try for a term. If good, I might consider switching my K1 there when she is K2 and completes her phonics.

Think cheaper and class size is max 9. Native speakers too. But need to try out if effective or not. I feel that there is no one size fit all program. Probably got to trial and error to find the one that suits best. We gave BC 2 years for my P2 and P3.... I sent my P3 to LCentral for assessment yesterday and the teacher told me that usually within 1-2 terms can see results.

Thks for advice MMM & HyperKiasu. The reason I am thinking of putting him is because BC also offers phonics at the same time. I do find BC K1 quite elementary too. A bit disappointing to learn that BC is not academically inclined when their fees are quite steep.

Just got a feedback from a mummy and she is pulling out her kids next year. Hers in primary level though. Guess I need to reconsider.

[LiteracyICare]

Hi everyone!


How to choose a good phonics programme? What should be some top priorities....quality teachers? fees? class size?

Any comments (pros/cons both) about the more popular ones like i can read, zoo-phonics, etc?

Do you feel that the phonics offered by kindergartens are enough, or should we look beyond that to enrichment?

Thanks for your advice ahead of time!

[gaagaa]

panting… it took me 2 hours to read 20 pages…


A lot commented about how good is Zoophonics & how bad is ICR. I personally had very bad experience with ICR too (posted in another thread) and my nephew stopped ICR recently when he goes to P1 cos’ my sister is doing his comprehension instead of him. He couldn’t answer any of those qns!

My DD (K2) is with LCentral now but got a new teacher which is not very good. Imagine my DD comes home and pronounce "forest" as "for" + "rest" and insisted the teacher said it’s correct. I duno if it’s acceptable?

Now looking for a phonics school for my 3 yr old son… dun wana try ICR or LCentral anymore… I understand GUG (Growing Up Gifted) is using Zoophonics as well. Can anyone recommend which is better in terms of cirricumlum & fees? Any feedback for GUG at the Suntec City branch and Zoophonics at the Jurong West branch? Jurong West branch feedback was too backdated in 2009, not sure if it’s still the same standard now…

Thanks in advanced!

[Catay]

Hi,


Can someone recommend which I can Read Centre is good? And anyone of you know about Jan & Elly? Which one is better? Can someone tell me? I would like to enrol for my 5 year old girl who can’t read well. I reside in the west.

Appreciate your recommendation.

Thanks.

[jasmineong]

Hi,


I heard a lot of good reviews abt I Can Read but have not been with them
myself…for Jan & Elly, my good friend’s dd went to their Serangoon Gardens branch and she found that she improved significantly, at Jan & Elly, of course, must sign up for longer course but her dd could read very well after abt 1 year. She joined when dd was 5 and now dd is 6 and I am also impressed with the improvement.

[smurfette3]

I recommend Jan & Elly too. I had good experience with them for my middle boy. He can speak and write well now.