Berries - Discussion

[Lynn2]

I heard berries is going to increase three hours session for next year pri five and six.Can someone share with me about your thoughts, and for those who has or had sent children there for the higher primary.thanks



Lynn2

[galgal]

yap, just received a call from them that they are increasing the price next year. I might change to a 2 hr session, afraid ds will be too tired.

[drumstick]

Hi, my son is turning 3 next year and I’m keen to enroll him into the N1 class. But his Chinese is really 0 and I’m not sure if he could take it. Likely not to understand what the teachers are talking about! But if dun enrol, then he never learn. Or should i wait till he’s older? Sigh, can anyone advise?

[Lynn2]

Hi Galgal

,
May I know what level is your child?thanks

Lynn2

galgal:

yap, just received a call from them that they are increasing the price next year. I might change to a 2 hr session, afraid ds will be too tired.

[galgal]

hi,


DS is in P4.

[jedamum]

drumstick:

Hi, my son is turning 3 next year and I'm keen to enroll him into the N1 class. But his Chinese is really 0 and I'm not sure if he could take it. Likely not to understand what the teachers are talking about! But if dun enrol, then he never learn. Or should i wait till he's older? Sigh, can anyone advise?

drumstick,
go for a trial first to gauge his reaction and knowledge retention. i do revision of the words taught in class (at least for the preceding lessons cos teachers will revise the following lesson) every alternate days to reinforce his memory.
my ds2 started after his 3yo birthday (technically he is 4yo this yr, but he is nov 06 kid, and started berries early this year)
is your boy currently attending any preschool? if so, there is at least some exposure.

[autumnbronze]

Hi drumstick,


My take - enrol him now.

Do not worry about his (lack of) level of understanding.

As one of our experienced forummers, Tamarind always reiterates, best to start them young.

On your part, as jedamum mentioned, you can go through the flashcards with him after his lessons. To make it more hands on, you can even play treasure hunt by giving him the cards and telling him to search for the items around the house and once he finds it, place it where the item is. Whatever method, you have to revise the cards with him.

I started my DS at Berries at 2 and a half. Its been six months. He is still a little shy in speaking (I have to prod him), but his level of understanding is not too bad and he recognizes the words learnt very well. In fact, when I read to him and if he recognizes the word, he will point and read it out to me way before I come to it.

Hope this helps

[tamarind]

autumnbronze:

As one of our experienced forummers, Tamarind always reiterates, best to start them young.

That's right. I started both my kids at 4 years old in Berries. When they first started, I had to inform the teacher that we spoke only English and Cantonese at home, so they may not understand Mandarin. My kids refused to speak mandarin at first, but within a very short time, they could understand what the teachers were speaking in Mandarin. Both of them had teachers who spoke only in mandarin, and do not use English to explain at all. I am very happy with that. I have seen a little Filipino girl attending the class, the teachers did use a little English to communicate with her, but she too learned very quickly.

Kids below the age of 6 have an amazing ability to learn languages. 2 to 3 years old is the best time to start, and we should not start the kids later than 4 years old.

I have seen a little boy who just joined the K1 class, he spoke only in English, and refused to listen to any instructions in Mandarin. He even ran out of the class and rolled on the floor in the reception area. It took 2 teachers to carry him back into the class since his mommy was not around.

For kids from English speaking families, it is even more important to start at around 2 - 3 years old. They must learn both English and Chinese at the same time. Otherwise if they know English very well before learning any Chinese, they will hate Chinese when they start to learn the language.

[tamarind]

jen18j:

Is it too late to send my 3yr old gal to 1 to 1 Chinese tuition or better to do in a group at Berries?


Any views, pls.

When my girl was 3 years old, I actually employed a private tutor to teach her Chinese. That tutor had no idea how to teach, she asked me to buy assessment books for my girl ! I stopped the tuition after 1 month. Later I put her in Berries, and she learned so well. Berries has very good materials and an interesting curriculum.

Many Chinese private tutors do not know how to teach very young kids, most of them only know how to follow the primary school syllabus. A tutor cannot teach well without good resources.

If parents do need to employ a private tutor, I suggest that you read my blog and get excellent resources for the tutor :

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-raise-bilingual-child.html

[drumstick]

Hi all


Thanks for all the advice. Now have more confidence Liao. My boy in playgroup now and teachers commented that his interest in Chinese is v weak. But she said now slightly better and she has to use a mixed of English and Chinese . Shall bring him for a trial then. Thanks all mummies