Comparing English Enrichment Programmes

[hquek]

Ha, what MLJ said brings to mind something. DS1 told me very conspiratorily that his TAS teacher tells him a trick to doing compre - looking at the questions first before reading the passage. this is something I practiced on my own but I had to learn this by myself.


After classes, if parent desires, teachers are generally happy to spend time telling the parent what went on. Last week, the teacher ‘caught’ me as I was leaving to let me know some items of concern that I should look out with my kid. Felt their personal touch is really there.

[Kayelinht]

hquek:

Spelling words consist of stuff that are used but not easy - eg auditorium, theatre, collapse. conscious. I think it's ok becos kids may feel they need to use these but won't know how to spell it unless they have learnt. They are taught how to break up the words so it's easier to spell. Sometimes if that fails, I fall back on my rhyming method - but not often lah.

Hi hquek,

I am interested to join TAS but so far have only joined their holiday progs.

You mentioned about this spelling technique that they have. Can you explain more about the breaking up part. My children seem to have constant difficulty in their spelling. Thanks!

[csb]

Hi MLJ and hquek, can you share which centres your kids are with? I'm wondering if it's the TAS culture? Or are both of you lucky to have the good teachers ? Thanks.

[hquek]

Kayelinht:

Hi hquek,

I am interested to join TAS but so far have only joined their holiday progs.

You mentioned about this spelling technique that they have. Can you explain more about the breaking up part. My children seem to have constant difficulty in their spelling. Thanks!

Hi Kayelinht,

For eg, theatre - th/eat/re => they circled the eat part and asked children to write popcorn becos in a theatre, sometimes you eat popcorn mah.

conscious - con/sci/ous. DS will mutter to himself con = c,o,n, sci = s,c,i; ous = o,u,s.

Since he joined, DS is more conscious about breaking up words when he spell. it makes life a bit easier but is not foolproof becos there are some words that he find it hard to learn.

You can try the rapping method with your kids. eg c-o-N // s-c-I // o-u-S sounding like a rapper style. my kid finds that easier to commit to memory.

[MLJ]

csb:

Hi MLJ and hquek, can you share which centres your kids are with? I'm wondering if it's the TAS culture? Or are both of you lucky to have the good teachers ? Thanks.

Hi csb,

I am at AMK branch but for one month, we sent our boy to the Bukit Timah branch as he had extra music classes that clashed with his classes at Ang Mo Kio. And I found that the teacher at Bukit Timah was also the same way so it seems to be a culture there. I know in their trainings (from what the teacher told me), they also emphasize on the kind of attitude they should have in teaching and how it is important to work with parents etc.

One of my friend also has her son under another teacher at AMK and so far feedback from here is also that the teacher will also explain the son's weak and strong points and when the son was quite weak in the beginning, they even got him to come earlier so the teacher could teach him more.

[hquek]

csb:

Hi MLJ and hquek, can you share which centres your kids are with? I'm wondering if it's the TAS culture? Or are both of you lucky to have the good teachers ? Thanks.

My kid is in AMK. He attended a preview class and we found the teacher very nice so decided to go with her timing/location (originally we wanted another location/time). No regrets.

My fren's kids are in Bt Timah under another teacher. So far so good.

Think it's the general culture - hope they will maintain this way.

[csb]

Thanks MLJ and hquek. I am considering signing my son up at the Singpost center next year, and so when I saw both your testimonials, I just had to ask 2 is a very small sample size but at least it's 100% positive. I'll definitely keep TAS in mind nearer the time. Thanks again!

[hquek]

csb:

Thanks MLJ and hquek. I am considering signing my son up at the Singpost center next year, and so when I saw both your testimonials, I just had to ask 2 is a very small sample size but at least it's 100% positive. I'll definitely keep TAS in mind nearer the time. Thanks again!

Yup, 2 is not a big number. Anyway, when the time comes, don't take our word for it, sign your child up for the trial class - it's free and gives a good flavour of what goes on inside.

[awfullyKS]

Hi hquek and MLJ,


Thanks for giving the detailed and informative feedback. I can see why TAS is known for their English and writing programmes now. I will probably make an appointment to attend a trial class. :lol:

[hquek]

and to ‘dong dong qiang’ a bit, if you are signing up, consider to ask around for referrals. Currently, one existing child can refer a new joiner per term. Both parties get some money off the first term - person referring is $15, person who is referred - I am not sure.