Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[titank]

Any good feedback on Berries (Pandan Valley)? Notice that the class size is like max 12 with 2 Teachers.


They told me the Teachers are registered with MOE but can I ask whether they have Diploma or Degree from which University or College?

[Busymom]

tcdl:

Hi Busymom,

How's the new Paygroup class you sort of help to organise in Hua @ United Square for your 2.5yo ? I, too, have a 2.5yo boy whom I am currently looking around for a Chinese Enrichment class.

Do let me have your view of the class. Thanks.

Regards[/color]

Hi tcdl

Just saw your message. So far, it has been DH who attends the class with DS. I haven't been going myself as I have another class to attend with DD. :oops: Will be going first time this Sat and will give you first hand account after the class, ok?

So far, DH doesn't have anything bad to say about it (but then again, his Chinese is worse than my DD in K1 ). From other parents that I keep in touch with, the mothers do have some comments ranging from lesson not so interesting, pace is slow, to the floor mats being very old and dirty. Fathers... are generally the silent lot! One father did think that the class has started his child speaking more in mandarin at home, and to him, the class has served its purpose. For us, we share the same view. The words that they taught in the class are simple words which DS already knows. However, by having one of us going to the class with him, it had sort of made him more willing to reply to us in Mandarin whenever we speak to him in Mandarin, and even more so with DH as he attends the class with him.

Some of the first batch of students, for various reasons, did not continue into the 4th term, which started last week by the way. For one of them, the class was really too elementary. On the other hand, I have also heard that there were some who could not really speak too. So the standards among the children vary and I guess it isn't easy for the teacher as well.

In case you child is turning 3 this year, you could try out the other more established centres for the 3yo class. If your son is 2 this year, like DS, there really aren't many choices for this age group. The other one that is available is JG. I think they do accept 2.5 yo onwards into their Chinese Edudrama.

[bobianah]

maisy:

Dear Fellow Parents

My child is coming to 3 years old (born in 2006) so rightfully should be a Nursery-1 student. My problem is because he is a year -end child, when compared to his peers who may be born in Jan- July 2006, he is still a \"baby\" as he has yet to turn 3 and hence is not able to handle separation anxiety as well as tho who had already turned 3 since 6 months ago....etc etc...

He only recently managed to attend halfday playgroup on his own (after 2 months of crying) - i left him on his own from 2nd day onwards ... as i was told the earlier i let go , the quicker they adjust ..but yet , he went on to cry for 2 months even tho i only sat in on 1st day (even the 1st day i sat in 1 hr out of the 3 hours..hahaha)...

my question is : for such Chinese Enrichment classes, eg Hua Langauage / Tien Hsia ... do they allow parents to sit in for at least the 1st 3-4 lessons ? My child comes from a complete English-speaking environment , where both sets of grandparents are english-speaking as well ... as such, i am aware of the importance of starting him early on Chinese Enrichment so that when he reaches Pri 1, he won't find Chinese foreign or worse, finds it a chore.
That said, my concern is what if he ends up crying and the centre forbid me to sit in with him ? He has recently managed to settle in in PG after 2 months of crying ...and the last i want is to \"frighten\" him w more separation anxiety....but yet i m aware of the benefits of early introduction of the chinese language.... I recently wanted to sign up for trial at Tien Hsia but upon hearing the reception said i cannot enter the class at all, i changed my mind as i was worried my child will not be able to handle all that stress .....

I am in 2 minds because
(1) I am mindful of the separation anxiety / stress level he is going through....and i m mindful of not introducing more of it , if he is not ready to take on more stress...; AND

(2) As he is turning 3 this yearend ... he effectively will be 4 yrs old by January 2010 (if going by calendar year..and not by month of birth).. and i can say by then , he will still not be able to utter a single word of chinese even tho he will be N2; much less to understand the language... hence, there is a pressing need to start soon, if not now....

(3) Finally , do they really forbid parents to sit in? Even if the child is crying his lungs out & tearing the roof apart ?? Or has the receptionist at Tien Hsia misrepresented certain policy by mistake?

Can any kind parent please enlighten ?
What should i do? (To me, the most ideal is if the centres allow me to at least sit in for a few lessons....then i will hv no qualms but to sign my kid up right away )
Thank you v much!

Hi maisy
I too have a DD born year end 2006! I also have the same worries as you about DD being the youngest in class since at this age, a couple of mths can make a lot of difference in terms of development.

I sent my DD to Berries a few mths ago as my whole family speaks English (so yes, ability to speak mandarin is a potential genetic defect! Haha!). My girl was very clingy the first few sessions and Berries did allow me to sit in with her a few weeks. I notice that they allow other parents of young children to do the same. So, in this area, I felt that Berries was very accommodating and understanding.

I also realised that the timing of the class played a part.
- is it close to their nap time?
- is it just after their nap time? They can also be cranky when they are just fresh out of a nap.

The solution for me was to pick the class time that they are most awake. For my DD, it was morning. After a few weeks, she did settle into class and nowadays, she's very eager to attend Berries and would actually ask to go to class early or any day of the week! :lol:

Every child is different and I hope you will find a solution for your case. Good luck!

[Busymom]

maisy:

my question is : for such Chinese Enrichment classes, eg Hua Langauage / Tien Hsia ... do they allow parents to sit in for at least the 1st 3-4 lessons ?

For Berries and Tien Hsia, parents are not allowed to sit in during the class. Some may allow you to do that for the first lesson. Given your son's nature, you could try out Julia Gabriel instead, as they have both type of classes - either parents accompanied or independent. I recall that the parents accompanied ones are 1 hour in duration while the independent ones are longer at 90 min. However, these are not the academic ones like Berries or Tien Hsia.

[titank]

Seem like Berries only can have free trial 1st lesson!Anyone go various centre have free trial & have any feedback to share?

[bobianah]

titank:

Seem like Berries only can have free trial 1st lesson!Anyone go various centre have free trial & have any feedback to share?

titank,
any specific centres u looking at?
i went to both bt batok & woodlands. Both are good.
Both allowed one parent to sit in with my DH while she got used to the class. I think we sat in like 3-4 lessons!

[tamarind]

maisy:

my question is : for such Chinese Enrichment classes, eg Hua Langauage / Tien Hsia ... do they allow parents to sit in for at least the 1st 3-4 lessons ? My child comes from a complete English-speaking environment , where both sets of grandparents are english-speaking as well ... as such, i am aware of the importance of starting him early on Chinese Enrichment so that when he reaches Pri 1, he won't find Chinese foreign or worse, finds it a chore.

My kids have attended Berries at Woodlands and Bukit Batok. At both branches I have seen parents who sit with their crying kids for as many lesson as they like. I have also stayed with my girl when she did not feel like letting me go. You can check with the nearest Berries branch, I think they are quite flexible. You will not go wrong with Berries ! Their standard is higher than Tien Hsia. I have seen non Chinese kids learning at Berries too.

[maisy]

Thanks Titank, Busymom, Bobianah & Tamarind for your valuable opinion....


I've since called up Berries Mountbatten to enquire & have since put my child on waitlist .... they are full at the moment.

BTW anyone knows if there is any difference between Berries Mountbatten & Berries Kembangan ? I stay in the East so naturally these 2 locations are more convenient to me But both are full at the moment.

In addition, a friend of mine recommended me this place called The Children's Art Threatre (located at basement of kembangan plaza) -does anyone know anything about this place? Is it any good ?

All views welcomed. Cheers.

[titank]

bobianah:

titank:

Seem like Berries only can have free trial 1st lesson!Anyone go various centre have free trial & have any feedback to share?

titank,
any specific centres u looking at?
i went to both bt batok & woodlands. Both are good.
Both allowed one parent to sit in with my DH while she got used to the class. I think we sat in like 3-4 lessons!

Oh considering go Berries (Pandan Valley) or Berries (West Coast). Some one told me Woodlands is good but think of travelling from Redhill to Woodlands is like :!: Like that might as well can go Malaysia take Bahasa Melayu Berries

Seem like Berries is the only centre do allow 1st trial. Other lang centre like Yuquan, Han Lang, Hua etc there is no free trial, have to commit 1 full term.

[catddy2002]

titank:

Oh considering go Berries (Pandan Valley) or Berries (West Coast). Some one told me Woodlands is good but think of travelling from Redhill to Woodlands is like :!: Like that might as well can go Malaysia take Bahasa Melayu Berries


Seem like Berries is the only centre do allow 1st trial. Other lang centre like Yuquan, Han Lang, Hua etc there is no free trial, have to commit 1 full term.

Hi,

My son is currently in Han Lang.
They do not have free trial, but they allow my son to try for 4 lessons.
My son just joined and the reason I sign him up is because they quite emphasis on composition, not like other chinese enrichment class, teach compo once a while.