Comparing English Enrichment Programmes

[Belle]

isabella.zola:

Hi TAS,


I have not had the chance to join your lessons for my child except for holiday classes and one term of classes as the centres are a bit far for us. However, if you could have perhaps more classes on the weekends, I would be able to travel down.

Is there a possibility to have P1/2 classes on Sundays at either your east or
Ang Mo Kio branch? The existing P1/2 class on Sunday is nearly full as I understand so I was wondering if you could start more classes in the evening?

I know every parent would have different demands. But I just hope my child can attend your lessons for good soon.

Hi isabelle,

Would you be able to make it on Sat morning or sun afternoon?? Maybe if we could gather enough students (i.e > 4 students) they may consider opening extra classes.

[Belle]

singapore45:

Hi TAS,


Have you started your class on Sunday (6.30 pm - 8.30 pm) in the east? I would like to request if it could be a P1/2 class? My sister wants her youngest to join but so far there is no slot in the east that she can make it. The saturday 2-4 pm one she has ballet so she cannot go for that timing.

Hi Singapore45,

At the moment, we could only make it on Sat morning or Sun afternoon.
How about you? Can your sister's youngest attend Sat morning or Sun afternoon class?

[kodomo]

Hi


my P1 gal can make it for Sat morning in the East as well, say 9 to 11am or 830am to 1030am. or Sun say 11am to 1pm. That makes 3 of us? find another and can request for new class?

[Hellokitty2]

Hi,


Anyone has any information about TAS’s education trail at Nex Shopping centre?
I heard they are having an education trail something like a maths and science trail from another friend but she is also not sure about the information. Anyone knows about this?

[jeestan]

Hellokitty2:

Hi,


Anyone has any information about TAS's education trail at Nex Shopping centre?
I heard they are having an education trail something like a maths and science trail from another friend but she is also not sure about the information. Anyone knows about this?

Hi hellokitty2,

It is on Saturday from 5- 8 plus pm. They are going to have some science or math trial where the children will go to the supermarkets in nex to complete. It is like Amazing Race but an educational one. I am also bringing my kids down.

I think you need a consent form. But this event is part of their community service programme in case you do not know. The kids need to bring $4 for food.

You should call Yvonne(one of the TAS admin persons) at 67588744 to ask her about it. I think there is another number you can call to ask about community service programmes, 81184902. But I think the second number is strictly to ask about community svc programmes.

[LadyBug3]

Hi jeestan or any TAS parent,


I have not sent my kids to TAS although I wanted to after sending them to their holiday programme where I found them very good. I decided for convenience sake to stick to their current tuition centre. However, I find my kids not very motivated nowadays and they are also not doing well. How is the English and Science over at TAS for their regular classes. Any feedback? (in terms of are your kids motivated to go for classes, and when the kids dont improve, what do they do to try to help? the current centre keeps saying english takes time to improve and tt the paper is hard, but they have been saying that without really analysing what is wrong and they have been saying that for over 1 year, I am not asking for a miracle cure, but what I want is at least that the teachers or centre takes what you say and really try to give a solution)

I know of kids at brand-name tuition centres who also do not improve, I know a lot depends on the child and also the parents but I also do not want the tchers to keep giving some reason like paper is hard, eng hard to master certain sections etc. It is like they do not even try.

[hquek]

hi ladybug3,


I think you should sign your kids up for Tas trial - it’s free and it’s with the regular lessons (not a special session); and see if they like it.

So far my P1 kid is happy with his class. He does grumble when he has to memorise the dictation and all but he’ll not mention that after the lesson is over. He’s pretty motivated and I’m happy to hear his sound coming out from the class (to me, it shows he’s participating in the class).

I find the teacher usually able to answer my question and give good feedback on MY kid. There was once when I can’t wait for her and dash out after class, she’ll run after me to tell me if there are any problem areas I should note. Else if I ask her, she’ll be pretty detailed in telling me what they did in class etc.

I’ve sent him for quite a few other classes. So far, TAS is the only one that is consistently overtime - minimally 10 minutes. But it doesn’t affect the next class becos they give ‘grace time’ when planning the timings.

[HaleyCopterz]

Hi Ladybug3,


I have my kids at TAS since the beginning of this year. I decided to put them in after getting their creative writing book. I used their book to teach my class(I am a teacher) and I find the book very effective. I find it hard to teach my own kids at times as I will get impatient with them so I think its better to out-source.

As a teacher, I understand that English and for that matter even Maths and Science are subjects that may be easy to pass but not easy to master and do well. There are indeed components that are extremely hard to manage- the comprehension cloze for one, vocaabulary and even comprehension. The children must really read very widely to be able to do well in these sections. In schools, many of us also do not have specific strategies to teach these sections or even if we do, it may not be that effective.

So when I sent my kids to TAS, I was also not expecting a miracle. However, what I see is that they really do have specific techniques to teach even the difficult components.

For comprehension, my kids find it easier to understand the passage when they are taught to read the questions first and think deeper when they read (ask why). They also are taught to always take note if they are answering to the question. Now, again, it is not a ‘100% can work’ method as there are times my kids still struggle but I do see that unlike many other centres, there are concrete steps taken to tackle this component.

For vocabulary, they also have mnemonic notes to help the children remember what they are taught which I find very effective because many times, the kids will forget all the vocab we teach them after 1 week.

For compre cloze, they teach them to look for contextual clues which helps at times but I find this is the hardest section to master.

For synthesis, I gave the suggestion that they put their notes in a book so we parents can also revise with our kids at home and they said they were thinking of doing so but after my suggestion, they really took it up and came up with the book within a very short time, and in time for us to revise before the exams. So I give them top marks for effort put in and for really trying to understand the needs of the parents and children and to do something about it.

For science, I also put one of my kids in and my kid loves their science lessons and there are mnemonic notes to help them remember what they learnt better and also they teach them how to identify the key concepts needed to answer a question which I find useful.

So far, I have no regrets signing my kids up at TAS for English and Science and I have tried many other centres but none have as clear a pedagogy as TAS and none give me a such a genuine feeling that TAS gives.

[quirkymum]

Hi all,


I have been asking TAS about their new confirmed classes for Ang Mo Kio. I have some timings. Just to share with everyone if you are looking for new timings.

- Monday 5.15 pm - 6.45 pm (P4 science)
- Tuesday 5 - 7 pm (most prob P1/2 or K2/P1)
- Saturday 2.15 pm - 4.15 pm (level not decided yet).

I am looking at P2 for my cousin’s dd. anyone out there also P2 want to form a group to join either tues 5-7 pm or sat 2.15 pm - 4.15 pm?

[Monster Mummy]

HaleyCopterz:

Hi Ladybug3,


I have my kids at TAS since the beginning of this year. I decided to put them in after getting their creative writing book. I used their book to teach my class(I am a teacher) and I find the book very effective. I find it hard to teach my own kids at times as I will get impatient with them so I think its better to out-source.

As a teacher, I understand that English and for that matter even Maths and Science are subjects that may be easy to pass but not easy to master and do well. There are indeed components that are extremely hard to manage- the comprehension cloze for one, vocaabulary and even comprehension. The children must really read very widely to be able to do well in these sections. In schools, many of us also do not have specific strategies to teach these sections or even if we do, it may not be that effective.

So when I sent my kids to TAS, I was also not expecting a miracle. However, what I see is that they really do have specific techniques to teach even the difficult components.

For comprehension, my kids find it easier to understand the passage when they are taught to read the questions first and think deeper when they read (ask why). They also are taught to always take note if they are answering to the question. Now, again, it is not a '100% can work' method as there are times my kids still struggle but I do see that unlike many other centres, there are concrete steps taken to tackle this component.

For vocabulary, they also have mnemonic notes to help the children remember what they are taught which I find very effective because many times, the kids will forget all the vocab we teach them after 1 week.

For compre cloze, they teach them to look for contextual clues which helps at times but I find this is the hardest section to master.

For synthesis, I gave the suggestion that they put their notes in a book so we parents can also revise with our kids at home and they said they were thinking of doing so but after my suggestion, they really took it up and came up with the book within a very short time, and in time for us to revise before the exams. So I give them top marks for effort put in and for really trying to understand the needs of the parents and children and to do something about it.

For science, I also put one of my kids in and my kid loves their science lessons and there are mnemonic notes to help them remember what they learnt better and also they teach them how to identify the key concepts needed to answer a question which I find useful.

So far, I have no regrets signing my kids up at TAS for English and Science and I have tried many other centres but none have as clear a pedagogy as TAS and none give me a such a genuine feeling that TAS gives.

Dear All,

I truly agreed as my son currently attending the course in TAS, I realised that his vocabulary really improved. Even though he need to memorise the dictation every lesson but it is a pleasure for him as it seem that he can memorise everything.