Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)
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nonKiasu:
can sell to other parents to use anot??
?? why plus point ?? We have to go back to them to utlisised! Not ntuc voucher leh!chamonix:
As for refunds, it's in vouchers. (this is really a plus point)
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nonKiasu:
If the kid is still with the course the following term, then at least it can still be utitlised. Unlike my kids' violin lessons, missing lessons is as good as throwing money away . So, even if they are not feeling too well, die die must still attend.
?? why plus point ?? We have to go back to them to utlisised! Not ntuc voucher leh!
[quote]Yap, then why don't threaten them that you will stop Term 3 then. Of course, you must be prep to ready stop the term in case they still don't give way.[/quote]You bet I am all ready to call quits. Anyway, they will get back to me only next week.
Let me know how yours went this weekend. Should be pretty straightforward.jedamum:
Unfortunately, no. The vouchers are only transferrable to siblings.can sell to other parents to use anot??
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chamonix:
Yap, you are right, it's straightforward. But I asked if I can buy Term 3 book. And they say NO, (expected!!) can only buy books of those terms that are over and not future. I asked why not? Their reply, it's for student who didn't attend and have to catch up to current term. So I 'shun' them saying isn't this an edu centre that wants people to learn? Why can't I purchase book? I worry my children can't catch up with Term 4 when they return. Guess their reply? Ha, they said if I revise with my children using Term 1 and 2 books, they should have no problem catching up!
Let me know how yours went this weekend. Should be pretty straightforward.
I laugh my way home, I thot that is a stupid way to run biz. It jsut prove that I am I right! It's ok to skip 1 term to save some money. My sons first attend K1 without knowing almost any chinese character. After Term 1, it's leap and bounds. Then I notice the increamental knowledge they gained in Term 2 from Term 1 is marginal. So, my gut feel is that attemding Term 3 will gain another small steps and can do without it. I am right!!! -
Just take it that this is their policy la… can buy old materials, but not future’s. BTW, if you decide to take another break, you’ll have to fork out for registration fee again. This is also their policy.
So far BERRIES has been firm in carrying out the practices so that it is fair to all parents who made similar requests. They are running a business and let’s not make things difficult for them.
If you want to save money, long term, expose your kids to more Chinese at home. Read with your kids interesting Chinese books, buy or borrow Chinese books for him. Invest some time to revise Chinese textbooks with him. Speak more mandarin. I’ve weaned my kids off BERRIES for sometime now. So far, so good. You need to be disciplined and think long term to make things work. I just have too many friends who just send their kids for enrichment classes but other than that, there’s little involvement in understanding their kids’ learning needs. So, the huge investments may not guarantee success. -
I asked them abt the reg fee and they said there will be no reg fee within 2 years of break.
Sure, I speak Mandarin with my children at home. Just need want them to recognise words by attending classes bec the primary school abt 100m away from my house happened to be a SAP school.
It is tough teaching all 3 myself - not much time left after dinner everyday. -
nonKiasu:
Which means you can still purchase the Term 3 books, but only in Term 4? I suppose Berries doesn't want to encourage parents buying the books only. On hindsight, Berries can also look into expanding their business by providing educational materials. I sent my kids to Berries because there are no 'textbooks' for preschoolers. I would be a potential customer if such materials exist.
Yap, you are right, it's straightforward. But I asked if I can buy Term 3 book. And they say NO, (expected!!) can only buy books of those terms that are over and not future.
nonKiasu:
Glad that you share my sentiment too! If that's what your thoughts on Berries' K1, then K2 will even be more disappointing. A friend pointed out that the kids are not learning many new words in each lesson. I went through my son's K2 materials and found that them rahther repetitive. There might be a couple of new words here and there, but not many. The only explanation I can think of is Berries concentrates more on Han Yu Pin Yin from Term 2 onwards. You might want to take a good look at K2 materials before deciding to continue on next year. Another centre for enrichment to consider is Busy Bees. According to my friend, Busy Bees teaches far more vocab than Berries. Not sure how true that is.It jsut prove that I am I right! It's ok to skip 1 term to save some money. My sons first attend K1 without knowing almost any chinese character. After Term 1, it's leap and bounds. Then I notice the increamental knowledge they gained in Term 2 from Term 1 is marginal. So, my gut feel is that attemding Term 3 will gain another small steps and can do without it. I am right!!!
Finally decided to pull out from Berries after this term. They are pretty rigid about the payment, so I suppose this is it. My son is a little upset cos he really likes the teacher there. But it's good news for me - the savings for 2 kids is a rather hefty amount. :lol:Picolo:
That's exactly my intention!If you want to save money, long term, expose your kids to more Chinese at home. Read with your kids interesting Chinese books, buy or borrow Chinese books for him. Invest some time to revise Chinese textbooks with him. Speak more mandarin. I've weaned my kids off BERRIES for sometime now. So far, so good. You need to be disciplined and think long term to make things work. I just have too many friends who just send their kids for enrichment classes but other than that, there's little involvement in understanding their kids' learning needs. So, the huge investments may not guarantee success.
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chamonix:
Yes. I think so too.
Which means you can still purchase the Term 3 books, but only in Term 4? I suppose Berries doesn't want to encourage parents buying the books only.chamonix:
I don't think the earning from class lesson is much much higher than selling books. I too find the book great and will be their potential customer.On hindsight, Berries can also look into expanding their business by providing educational materials. I sent my kids to Berries because there are no 'textbooks' for preschoolers. I would be a potential customer if such materials exist.
chamonix:
Thanks, just checked it out. It is at Bt Timah!! Too far from my house at Tampines. I am too sourcing for alternatives. I saw Yu Quan conducting at RC. Anyone knows what is the diff between this and the Yu Quan main branch? The course fee at RC is so much cheaper. $58 per 4 lessons!..Another centre for enrichment to consider is Busy Bees. According to my friend, Busy Bees teaches far more vocab than Berries.
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My son attended Yuquan class for 2 months at the fee of $58 per mth. Honestly, I find that he did not benefit at all from the course because it’s just simply going to the centre at Beach Road and do the worksheet in class. When my son doesn’t know how to answer some questions, he asked the teacher in the class, the teacher answered him that he has to do it himself. Worksheet will be marked at the end of the class and returned to the student. My conculsion is that I’m paying $58 for the 4 worksheet (4 sessions per month). I can buy assessment book from Popular and ask my son to do. Why do I still have to send him to YuQuan. Am I rite. In the end I decided to pull him up.
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Ljas1370:
My son attended Yuquan class for 2 months at the fee of $58 per mth. Honestly, I find that he did not benefit at all from the course because it's just simply going to the centre at Beach Road and do the worksheet in class. When my son doesn't know how to answer some questions, he asked the teacher in the class, the teacher answered him that he has to do it himself. Worksheet will be marked at the end of the class and returned to the student. My conculsion is that I'm paying $58 for the 4 worksheet (4 sessions per month). I can buy assessment book from Popular and ask my son to do. Why do I still have to send him to YuQuan. Am I rite. In the end I decided to pull him up.
Yuquan is good for its idiom enrichment programmes. These are useful for preparing pre-schoolers and up to P2 students to be familiar with the sounds of the idioms in such a way that it becomes much easier for them to learn the actual meanings and usage of the idioms from P3 onwards. If you are looking for more academic and tuition-like enrichment programmes, go for Tsien Hsia or Molin. -
Hi. I managed to find a mandarin enrichment centre in katong mall which is willing to start a mandarin mom & tot class on weekday mornings if I can get a class of 3 together. This is for the 2-3 yr olds. I cannot really vouch for the quality of the class, but since I am still waiting on the JG playclub waiting list, I thought there’d be no harm starting over here if I can get 2 other tots to form the class. Any mums in the east interested? Pl mail me at lwwho1 at yahoo dot co dot uk. Thannks!
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