Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[happy88mum]

Hi,


I am looking for k2 preowned berries storybooks and workbooks and readers. If anyone willing to let go, pls pm me.

Thanks so much!

[ms_chai]

Over time I get lots of questions from parents asking me how to spur children's interest in learning Chinese. What is the best method?


Chinese is a very complicated language. As compared to ABC, every stroke just shut many of the kids nowadays totally off.

“Mummy, why is it so difficult to write my surname?”

Coming from a Chinese education background, I honestly never have that thought before. My surname is complicated enough, but I can still remember rather clearly the joy and the fulfilment I had when I first learnt how to write that one word. I feel proud of myself, because I am being taught that as a Chinese our surname indicates our roots, and we shall never forget about our own root.

Every time I hear complaints from my student on how their Chinese language teacher ‘forced’ them in memorising the 4-word idioms so that they can use in composition to get better marks, I feel the pinch in my heart. That used to be one of my favourite sessions in primary school. We don’t memorise them though, we listen to the story, we understand the meaning from the story, and there they set right into our brains.

So why are students nowadays having such a high barrier in their heart to accept this amazing language?

I always believe that learning shall be something fun. And how to make learning Chinese fun? Put yourself into the kid’s shoe. If you find it boring, if you find it dry, how can you expect them to find it fun? And of course, spur their interest when they are still young, the best time for them to accept new things, and the best time to make everything fun to learn.

I used to have this student who loves football. And you know what? He actually improved his Chinese over time by reading all the newspaper cuttings I gave him on Football news!

If you ask me whether tuition is the best way to spur interest, I will tell you yes if the language is not being used much at home. Having the right person to trigger the interest in children’s heart will help tremendously.

If you ask me whether group tuition will be better, or a one-on-one, the answer I will tell you is – depends on your kid. They are all different. They are all special. (If parents would like to discuss on Chinese tuition to suit your kids, feel free to PM me. I’d be glad to help  )
Instead of making Chinese a subject for your kids to score A, why not make Chinese a language that will be useful for life?

Feel free to share your thoughts.

[tankee]

IMHO


It is wrong to expect 1-2 hr enrichment classes to do wonders.

Interests should and can only be cultivated at home by those that spent the most time with the child. And it is easier to start young. The younger the easier.

[kash313]

Hello every1,

Very happy new year to u all.
Any idea about experienced Chinese teacher for home tutoring I need for my son who is in P1 in local school?
Please pm me the contact details if you know any
Cheers,
Khadija

[BabyLiaw]

Hi,


Do you have more information about their differences? I am in two minds where to put my ds for her N1 Mandarin class.

nemofc:

Hi mummies

so which is good ? Thien Hsia or Berries?

heard Thien Hsia ratio is 1:8 but Berries 1:12

also, Thien Hsia is more result - oriented...

[nemofc]

BabyLiaw:

Hi,


Do you have more information about their differences? I am in two minds where to put my ds for her N1 Mandarin class.

nemofc:

Hi mummies

so which is good ? Thien Hsia or Berries?

heard Thien Hsia ratio is 1:8 but Berries 1:12

also, Thien Hsia is more result - oriented...

I didn't send my gal to TH so not sure... Thks

[Nicole]

Hi all, I am looking for experience and good home Chinese tutor for P4.

Pls PM me if you know any.
Staying at central area.
Thanks

[micollh]

anyone has feedback to share for tampines berries and hougang berries? thanks

[kash313]

My son is in p1 now n is been going to tampines berries since last year according to his teachers he doing very well inspite of the fact that we are non Chinese.

[bakebean]

hi,


here’s my sharing …

Background
Berries Tampines - K1 : term 1 ~ 3 (class size : 1:12)
Tien Hsia Parkway - K1 : term 4 till now P1 (class size 1:10 but can’t rem their max)

Berries’s experiences
They have more "art & craft" hands-on and story based learning. But it didn’t motivate my boy. After 1 term, my boy expressed unwillingness in attending the lessons. He shared that the lessons were boring and teacher not fun. On term 3, there was a change in teacher, hence i got him to stay for 1 more term. Well, there was no improvement and when I spoke to the teacher, she said my boy had short attention span and not very responsive - 他集中力较差，也不发问。问他，只看着我。

there was not much parents-teacher communication, be it after each class or end of each term. Plus the discouraging communication which somehow disappoint me.


*** Tien Hsia’s experience***
They have more writing and speech activities. My boy expressed no concern in attending the lesson and participate well in the lesson. He don’t like the term review performance but after the performance, he was ok to continue here.

Teacher gave a quick update/reminder to parents after each lesson. There was also term performance conducted to showcase to parents. At times when my boy turned wild in class, the teacher will put it in appropriate way – 今天他精力非常旺盛，我就给他一个小角落养精蓄锐。

— Summary —
in my opinion, the centre which my boy can blend well in doesn’t mean it works for all kids. There are many factors contrib to the "enjoyment" of learning. I also dun believe in attending trial lesson can determine the centre/teacher standard, we have to observe and communicate with our kids constantly so that to fine tune / improve the learning experiences.