Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[i3mum]

Hi


Anyone care to share about Chinese Enrichment at Yuquan Language school for K1 & K2?

Has anyone send their kids to Holland outlet? Any feedback?

http://www.yuquan.com.sg/courses.php

[acforfamily]

i3mum:

Hi acforfamily,

Thanks for your reply. My in laws speak Mandarin to them at home, but most of the time they will reply them in English. I m worried I do not know the curriculum / \"standard\" of the current chinese language which is taught in school. Is Eduplus good? How about yuquan? Any feedback?

I have never tried other language schools besides Eduplus. My kid has been with them since nursery to lower Primary. What I like about them:
- warm and friendly to the kids, so they like coming to classes
- Kindergarten classes conducted using recordings so it was fun
- even in lower primary, I did not send him to their enrichment class, only their story island classes, so it was fun for him

So, as you can see, I can't really comment on their enrichment lessons other than the above. Perhaps other parents can help.

[hquek]

i3mum:

Hi ,


I am wondering if it is a must to let my kids attend Chinese enrichment apart from their daily school classes? My kids are going to be in K1 & Nursery next year.

Will teaching at home is sufficient? I m worried they do not have a good foundation by the time they go to Primary school.

Can anyone advise?

Hi i3mum, I feel that the little time they devote to chinese in school is simply not enough; and compounded by that we speak mainly english to him, he becomes fairly resistant to chinese. where he is most happy to pick up english books, he doesn't do so for chinese (and we do have a lot of chinese books at home also.

I find that Chinese enrichment is a must in my case - in fact, DS1 goes for chinese and chinese S&D. After a year, he's able to speak it better (dun sound like angmoh) and he's able to recognise quite many words.

But if you can cultivate a chinese speaking/reading environment - like speaking to him in chinese, and doing daily reading, I think it'll be much better than sending him only for enrichment classes. Ultimately he spends more time at home than in class.

[i3mum]

Hi hquek,


Thanks, I agree with you. I also tried to teach my daughter (going to K1 next year) at home, and I really dont know how to teach them in a fun way. Although she knows the words, but I can see that she tried to learn it bcos \"mummy says so\". I was hoping to find an enrichment centre which helps & I can do revision with her.

Which centre do you send your child?

hquek:

Hi i3mum, I feel that the little time they devote to chinese in school is simply not enough; and compounded by that we speak mainly english to him, he becomes fairly resistant to chinese. where he is most happy to pick up english books, he doesn't do so for chinese (and we do have a lot of chinese books at home also.

I find that Chinese enrichment is a must in my case - in fact, DS1 goes for chinese and chinese S&D. After a year, he's able to speak it better (dun sound like angmoh) and he's able to recognise quite many words.

But if you can cultivate a chinese speaking/reading environment - like speaking to him in chinese, and doing daily reading, I think it'll be much better than sending him only for enrichment classes. Ultimately he spends more time at home than in class.

[hquek]

hi i3mum,


Actually my kids attend the Chinese S&D at SHHK ACT (Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts & Cultural Troupe), and on top of that, the older one goes for 乐乐华语班. I like his teacher (she’s the one who writes materials for the classes) for the 2nd class and find her materials good - it’s a bit like berries concept (a bit of writing, reading, with little booklet each week). DS2 not attending this only cos of timing issue.

DS1 is also attending Yuquan ‘chinese idioms’ holiday class - 19 lessons at one go. Find it’s quite interesting, BUT they do NOT explain the meaning of the idioms in class (it’s available in the book they provide). They learn to read like 10-12 idioms each day, write out some words, do a bit of 造句 (actually copying from another page) and there’s a supplementary reader.

[i3mum]

Hi hquek,


Thanks for your information. I will find out more. There is Yuquan near my place, which I just realised. Not sure if it is good anot. Another option will be Berries, but Berries is too costly for my 3 kids to attend at 1 go. Hope more parents will give me more feedback.

hquek:

hi i3mum,

Actually my kids attend the Chinese S&D at SHHK ACT (Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Arts & Cultural Troupe), and on top of that, the older one goes for 乐乐华语班. I like his teacher (she's the one who writes materials for the classes) for the 2nd class and find her materials good - it's a bit like berries concept (a bit of writing, reading, with little booklet each week). DS2 not attending this only cos of timing issue.

DS1 is also attending Yuquan 'chinese idioms' holiday class - 19 lessons at one go. Find it's quite interesting, BUT they do NOT explain the meaning of the idioms in class (it's available in the book they provide). They learn to read like 10-12 idioms each day, write out some words, do a bit of 造句 (actually copying from another page) and there's a supplementary reader.

[hquek]

hi i3mum,


I see they have a lot of outshoots. My kid is now with the one at Guillemard road. We both like his teacher, just not the location (stupid carpark got to exit within 5 min and the place got spa....in geylang district . Initially we were quite hesitant cos the lady was very pushy, but glad it turned out well.

Perhaps you can let lao da go, and then see it filter down. DS1 was in Berries when he was in N2, I am using those booklets to teach DS2. Must reuse mah...

[i3mum]

hi hquek,


The yuquan outlet is just opp my house, which i find the location is convenient. But not sure how the lessons turn out to be.. how long has your child attend at yuquan?

I wanted to sign my 3 kids together, but yuquan only has from K1 onwards. Went to their website, saw that they also give enrichment classes for Nanyang Primary school.. wonder how is it...

In fact my eldest gal was at Queenstown CC, with one of the SHHK teacher, Mdm Lim, do you know her? Her husband is also from SHHk too. Both of them came to teach at the CC on friday nights, but I stopped my gal recently. And the class is v.big, from N1- K2, a max of 22 students.

hquek:

hi i3mum,

I see they have a lot of outshoots. My kid is now with the one at Guillemard road. We both like his teacher, just not the location (stupid carpark got to exit within 5 min and the place got spa....in geylang district . Initially we were quite hesitant cos the lady was very pushy, but glad it turned out well.

Perhaps you can let lao da go, and then see it filter down. DS1 was in Berries when he was in N2, I am using those booklets to teach DS2. Must reuse mah...

[hquek]

ha ha...I was a bit worried you may not know what is SHHK. Not sure who is Mdm Lim - this year, many of DS1's teachers have surname Wu. I was surprised actually to see that they have an actual school, but was very impressed with the school despite it's laopok facilities (think 1980's school) cos the local staff speak impeccable chinese and are all very warm and helpful.


Anyway, so far quite happy with what I see in yuquan, but I'll stick with SHHK for the usual classes cos I think it's cheaper and transport wise much easier for me. Although class size can be a bit big - the lele class I think has easily 16 kids (but there are 3 teachers inside).

Currently for holiday class, and I think yuquan Guillermard is new, there are only 4 kids in his class (previously only 2). Lessons are 2 hours each. My expectations not that high, as long as he can read the textbooks to me, I'm happy mummy. BTW, I'm also learning new chinese idioms....so many I never knew existed.

Go Yuquan and view their materials, timings, charges and even teachers. It's definitely a big plus if it's so near to your place - think of all the transport woes you are avoiding.

I heard good things about their zijing class (from ex-students) but then the lady at the school kept selling me this chinese idiom class - so decided to try out for the holidays.

[i3mum]

Hhaha, I know about SHHK, and asked my hubby to bring my gal for their \"Emperor new clothes\" performance this year in May. The teacher in the CC teaches well, but it's more of a Speech & Drama class.


Yup will go there for a look, hope it turns out well.

Thanks!

hquek:

ha ha...I was a bit worried you may not know what is SHHK. Not sure who is Mdm Lim - this year, many of DS1's teachers have surname Wu. I was surprised actually to see that they have an actual school, but was very impressed with the school despite it's laopok facilities (think 1980's school) cos the local staff speak impeccable chinese and are all very warm and helpful.

Anyway, so far quite happy with what I see in yuquan, but I'll stick with SHHK for the usual classes cos I think it's cheaper and transport wise much easier for me. Although class size can be a bit big - the lele class I think has easily 16 kids (but there are 3 teachers inside).

Currently for holiday class, and I think yuquan Guillermard is new, there are only 4 kids in his class (previously only 2). Lessons are 2 hours each. My expectations not that high, as long as he can read the textbooks to me, I'm happy mummy. BTW, I'm also learning new chinese idioms....so many I never knew existed.

Go Yuquan and view their materials, timings, charges and even teachers. It's definitely a big plus if it's so near to your place - think of all the transport woes you are avoiding.

I heard good things about their zijing class (from ex-students) but then the lady at the school kept selling me this chinese idiom class - so decided to try out for the holidays.