Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[titank]

csb:

Hi, is this in Sin Ming area? Thanks.

Yes this is located at Sin Ming Plaza.

[titank]

adafew:

I have read comments about Tien Hsia teaching kids to learn only 2 new words each week compared with others where they learn 6 or sentences, so is it not really that good?

I have heard since Tien Hsia merge with Morries Allen which seem no good. Anyway maybe you can give it a trial at Tien Hsia then decide later.

[adafew]

[quote]I have heard since Tien Hsia merge with Morries Allen which seem no good. Anyway maybe you can give it a trial at Tien Hsia then decide later.[/quote]
Actually I already signed up my DS1 to TienHsia for one term. Can't really tell if good or not 'cos my DS1 is always 'ok' with enrichment. I mean when asked for his feedback, always say 'good'. I did not have chance to compare with other Chinese enrichement so don't really know if this is good or not.

[Jlimes]

titank:

chibi,


Care to share which Berries you had enrolled for the N2?

Hi All Parents,

I would like to give my comments that not all Berries are good. Only certain branch. The one at Mountbatten CC really sucks. They give me the impression that they only want you to sign up for the course but when comes to makeup classes (eventhought you have valid reason and inform them in advance), they will give thousand and one excuse makeup class is subject to teacher availability. And most of the times I notice that not many teachers in that branch wants to work on weekends. Because certain course can be held on weekend as there are no teachers available. Gosh! this is the first time I heard, Berries such a big enrichement centre can have shortage of teachers. This is just my observation. Other parents feel free to give feedback.

[jedamum]

i’m not sure if it is for all branches, but for bukit batok branch, starting next year, there will be no make up classes for lessons that fall on public holidays. but cos about 5 of next yr’s public holidays falls on friday, that branch have make up lesson arrange - maybe a few days, i am not sure. FYI.

[maisy]

i guess that's the \"problem\" with such enrichment centres getting a little \"too commercialised\" & \"too successful\" - they start to forget that they have us parents to thank for their success- cos we \"pumped\" money in. Not surprised if sooner or later they start to disallow makeup classes altogether if enrolment gets higher & it gets increasingly harder to accomodate additional student for makeup.... at least they can \"appease\" parents by saying this is our policy & you were aware of it before signing....etc etc...


When things get overly commercialised, the \"personal touch\" will somehow be compromised ...

Jlimes: will you be able to switch centre? i remembered earlier this year i enquired at Berries Kembangan, the person told me they will give you \"credit voucher\" to offset next term's fee if you can produce MC (something like that) and if makeup is not possible.. but of course Kembangan is Franchise outlet - i know of some parents who don't feel good abt franchisee ( i have no issues as i feel it is all about the teachers...not the owners)

Actually i m surprised to hear abt Mountbatten ... cos i heard it is run by the main company (not franchise) so shouldn't they be more accomodating? And I thought i was the only one who has \"some grouse\" about them...

just to share ... a while ago, i was helping my sis \"source\" for chinese enrichment for her kids, so i help sign her kids up for trial ... when my sis didn't receive calls, she called them up to enquire...they told her they've got the names but will need to wait til next week as this week is full ... next week came & no news, my sis called again...this time she was told to wait til next week again.
(which didn't happen). When the call finally came the following week (ie week 4), my sis couldn't make it and the girl has the audacity to tell my sis ( in quite a high-headed tone ) that as their centre is very popular, she cannot \"keep rejecting the trials\" .. my sis was shocked and told the girl off that this was only her first time rejecting it....the first 3 times it was her who called to enquire but the centre couldn't accomodate the trial ...it was NOT a case of her \"rejecting all trials\" ...to which the girl replied \"oh yah sorry almost forgot abt this ... so can u come this week?\" ???

Needless to say, my sis didn't send her kids in for trial - she has since signed her kids up at Molin...starting in December

[tcdl]

Hi,


My experience with Berries .... for your info only .....

Berries at Tampines Central seems OK to me. I sent my boy for a trial class about a month ago. I walked in last minutes and asked if a trial class was possible. They arranged my boy for the next time slot and my boy enjoyed it a lot. After the class, the teacher came with feedbacks about my boy's standard level and social behaviours. However, I didn't signed him up at that time as I wanted to try out TienHsia.

Last week, I went back to enquire on the time table for their classes next year. The lady at the reception remembered my boy's name and even know which class he had the trial in. She didn't pressurise us to sign up at all. She even went through with me the course curriculum again and also provide me which are the confirmed classes. I was kind of impressed by her.

Anyway, I still have yet to decide which centre I am sending my boy to as my boy has not gone for the trial class at TienHsia. Will let him decide which centre he prefers since he is the one who will be attending the lessons.


Jlime, Maisy, if Tampines Central is not too far from your place. You may want to try it out.

About the make-up lesson, I was told that we are required to produce supporting travelling documents if we are traveling or MC if the child is sick. As new lesson each week always starts on a Monday, if make up lesson is not possible, then a refund in terms of voucher will be issued. This voucher can then be used for the fees of the following term. Not sure how well managed it is, probably someone can enlighten me .....


Regards,

[baong]

Jlimes:

Hi All Parents,

I would like to give my comments that not all Berries are good. Only certain branch. The one at Mountbatten CC really sucks. They give me the impression that they only want you to sign up for the course but when comes to makeup classes (eventhought you have valid reason and inform them in advance), they will give thousand and one excuse makeup class is subject to teacher availability. And most of the times I notice that not many teachers in that branch wants to work on weekends. Because certain course can be held on weekend as there are no teachers available. Gosh! this is the first time I heard, Berries such a big enrichement centre can have shortage of teachers. This is just my observation. Other parents feel free to give feedback.

Haha Jlimes,

I have the same experience with Eduplus Tampines about 2 years back. Once my son is done with all the lessons, I pulled him out. See, before registration, I was told that the teachers will provide makeup if we can provide valid reasons. My son had chicken pox, and missed 2 lessons, in fact that term he missed 3 lessons in total coz he had flu once and i could provide MCs. When I called up to request for one makeup lesson (note its only ONE makeup lesson), the person in charge flatly rejected it. Anyway, I don't feel my son having any improvement while he is with them. These centers, like what maisy said, are really too commercialised. Sometimes they forgot who actually are 'feeding' them. Go another branch or source another center, for me, I will stop paying a single cent to these kind of sloppy businesses. There are so many enrichment centres around. Go shop around :lol:

[Jlimes]

baong:

Haha Jlimes,


I have the same experience with Eduplus Tampines about 2 years back. Once my son is done with all the lessons, I pulled him out. See, before registration, I was told that the teachers will provide makeup if we can provide valid reasons. My son had chicken pox, and missed 2 lessons, in fact that term he missed 3 lessons in total coz he had flu once and i could provide MCs. When I called up to request for one makeup lesson (note its only ONE makeup lesson), the person in charge flatly rejected it. Anyway, I don't feel my son having any improvement while he is with them. These centers, like what maisy said, are really too commercialised. Sometimes they forgot who actually are 'feeding' them. Go another branch or source another center, for me, I will stop paying a single cent to these kind of sloppy businesses. There are so many enrichment centres around. Go shop around :lol:

Thanks so much for all the feedback. Infact I didn't know there is this credit voucher. I will call them up to check. A friend of mine also quite pissed off with the centre. She has a son in K2. The centre is offering Han Yu Pin Yin 5 lessons but they have it on weekdays which my friend can't sign up for her son as she has to work nobody to send her son to the centre. So she asked whether does the centre have weekend class for the Han Yu Pin Ying. The person in charge said no teacher on weekend which she was quite shock to hear that. The last time she enquire the teacher asked her to put on wait list. It has been 2 months already since the last time she check which was in Sept. The centre has yet to come back to her. Last week she brought it up again, the teacher in charge said she will call her until still no call from her. She is quite pissed off because her son is quite weak in HYPY. Another 1 1/2 month to year end. Now, she looking at other enrichement centres who can offer Han Yu Pin Ying.

[Jlimes]

maisy:

i guess that's the \"problem\" with such enrichment centres getting a little \"too commercialised\" & \"too successful\" - they start to forget that they have us parents to thank for their success- cos we \"pumped\" money in. Not surprised if sooner or later they start to disallow makeup classes altogether if enrolment gets higher & it gets increasingly harder to accomodate additional student for makeup.... at least they can \"appease\" parents by saying this is our policy & you were aware of it before signing....etc etc...


When things get overly commercialised, the \"personal touch\" will somehow be compromised ...

Jlimes: will you be able to switch centre? i remembered earlier this year i enquired at Berries Kembangan, the person told me they will give you \"credit voucher\" to offset next term's fee if you can produce MC (something like that) and if makeup is not possible.. but of course Kembangan is Franchise outlet - i know of some parents who don't feel good abt franchisee ( i have no issues as i feel it is all about the teachers...not the owners)

Actually i m surprised to hear abt Mountbatten ... cos i heard it is run by the main company (not franchise) so shouldn't they be more accomodating? And I thought i was the only one who has \"some grouse\" about them...

just to share ... a while ago, i was helping my sis \"source\" for chinese enrichment for her kids, so i help sign her kids up for trial ... when my sis didn't receive calls, she called them up to enquire...they told her they've got the names but will need to wait til next week as this week is full ... next week came & no news, my sis called again...this time she was told to wait til next week again.
(which didn't happen). When the call finally came the following week (ie week 4), my sis couldn't make it and the girl has the audacity to tell my sis ( in quite a high-headed tone ) that as their centre is very popular, she cannot \"keep rejecting the trials\" .. my sis was shocked and told the girl off that this was only her first time rejecting it....the first 3 times it was her who called to enquire but the centre couldn't accomodate the trial ...it was NOT a case of her \"rejecting all trials\" ...to which the girl replied \"oh yah sorry almost forgot abt this ... so can u come this week?\" ???

Needless to say, my sis didn't send her kids in for trial - she has since signed her kids up at Molin...starting in December

Hi Maisy,

In fact I notice Berries class is every 12 weeks 1 term unlike others like Tien Hsia which is 10 weeks 1 term. Some enrichment centre follows the school holidays and during the school holidays, they offer short enrichment courses which is optional for parents to sign up for their kids. I feel this is better rather than stretch to 12 weeks for 1 term. Since exams over kids need to rest. Some parents might be planning overseas trip during school holiday. By stretching the no. of lessons so long, it will affect the travelling plans. May parents might want to feedback on this. Thank you.