Yuquan Preschool

[ChiefKiasu]

pecalis:

My eldest went to the 1000 characters module 1, when she was 5. I didn't find it helpful at all since she was made to memorize phrases of 4 characters without understanding the meaning. Many of the words are beyond me and hubby too! We stopped after module 1.


Just sharing our experience

The idea is for them to remember the sounds. And they will also recognize the characters, even though they may not understand their meaning. The understanding comes later in their lives as and when they encounter the idioms, at which time they only need to know how to apply the idioms, since they already know how to read them. It is also a great way to train the kids to speak proper Chinese.

My daughter has been at Yuquan for a year. She is able to recognize well over a couple of hundred characters. Of course, she also goes for Berries, and her preschool practices Chinese-speaking only days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All in all, even though she still does not initiate conversations in Chinese, she can understand and speak Chinese very well.

[ZacK]

ChiefKiasu:

My daughter has been at Yuquan for a year. She is able to recognize well over a couple of hundred characters. Of course, she also goes for Berries, and her preschool practices Chinese-speaking only days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. All in all, even though she still does not initiate conversations in Chinese, she can understand and speak Chinese very well.

Shd I be worried now? DS1 cannot speak a proper sentence in mandarin and due for P1 next month... I tried asking him to tell me some phrases in mandarin and he could probably manage 2-3 phrases like 谢谢， 早安， 你好... That's abt all :oops:

[outsider]

Hi Chief,

I rem your child was attending school house by the bay… you made a switch ?

[ChiefKiasu]

outsider:

Hi Chief,

I rem your child was attending school house by the bay... you made a switch ?

She's still at Schoolhouse By The Bay . We don't dare to make the change ever since she demanded: \"Don't change MY SCHOOLHOUSE!\" when she overheard me and my wife discussing about sending her to NAFA when she was 3yo.

[ChiefKiasu]

insider:

... Don't mean to stress you hor but Chinese is just such a subject that if you don't set the foot correctly in the first place, subsequently can be very painful for your son and you and wify...


PS: Base on my experience, can start English language late for a child and is easier for the child to catch up but same is not so applicable for Chinese...

:goodpost: well said, insider. I fully agree with you. Also to add - most children will breeze through P1-P2 for Chinese without much problems even if they don't speak/read much Chinese at home. Usually, the cracks will start showing from P3 onwards. If your child do not naturally speak Chinese at home, you really need to think about additional enrichment for him/her when there is still time from P1 onwards. I learnt it the hard way .

[ZacK]

insider:

I suggest you test his Chinese reading. All those Chinese sight words ideally he should know by now (those 我、你、他、的、有、又、也、是、得、走、看、听、说 etc) and some common nouns/adjectives like 老师、同学、开心、高兴、生气、游玩、 etc). Test him in a playful manner casually and if he can't read, I would suggest you put him in a Chinese enrichment class wef Jan 2010 (P1 Chinese enrichment is still usually quite play based and so not so stressful). You still have time if his reading level is weak coz the beginning of P1 Chinese is HanYuPinYin (and here I am assuming that your son is OK with his Hanyupinyin).

Don't mean to stress you hor but Chinese is just such a subject that if you don't set the foot correctly in the first place, subsequently can be very painful for your son and you and wify...

PS: Base on my experience, can start English language late for a child and is easier for the child to catch up but same is not so applicable for Chinese...

Thanks for your posting insider ... I will have to do something more concrete to help him with his chinese, otherwise I would be doing him a great disservice.

ChiefKiasu:

Usually, the cracks will start showing from P3 onwards. If your child do not naturally speak Chinese at home, you really need to think about additional enrichment for him/her when there is still time from P1 onwards. I learnt it the hard way .

Not too smart am I :oops: ... Will start scouting for chinese classes for him then... Based on your experience, which enrichment schools have a program to learn chinese in a fun way? Dun think DS1 can take the rigid boring style...

[Dee]

I’ve just paid a visit to YuQuan Preschool in Guillemard, and the environment is spacious, clean, and classrooms are huge - however, it’s fully air-conditioned. currently they do not have many students yet, as they just opened. But some of the teachers are transfered from Middle Road, which is good as they will be more experienced. Total 3 chinese and 2 english teachers at the moment.


Their fees for preschool also INCREASED! the fee on the website is not valid anymore. Half day after subsidy with gst is about $750, excluding schoolbus service ($200). full day is abt 1300 (b4 subsidy and gst).

Like all the experienced mummies and daddies were saying, good chinese foundation is very important, which I totally agree, and would like to start off my son soon who turns two next month. But for a Playgroup for 2 year old, I’m just wondering is it necessary to pay that amount of money. Maybe starting him at yuquan when he turns 3 might make more sense?

The key at playgroup could be more socialising, basic reading/phonics, gross and fine motor skills?

[yunempire]

Dear Parents out there,


I am thinking of enrolling my son in the Yuquan preschool @ Middle Road or Guillemard Road. I was very impressive with the school after a talk with the principal of Yuquan, Ms. Song Yu Hong. The strong foundation of preschool is very crucial to children. However, the school fees are very premium $1080 & $1300 @ Middle Road & Guillemard per month before government subsidy S$300.00 for full time working mum.

Currently, my son is enrolled in the chinese enrichment class at Middle Road every Saturday. He enjoyed & loved his class tremendously. He looked forward to his class every Saturday.

Kindly give me any feedback on Yuquan preschool if any of the parents out there have enrolled their children at Yuquan before.

Thank you very much for any valuable feedback provided.

[atfc]

yunempire:

Dear Parents out there,


I am thinking of enrolling my son in the Yuquan preschool @ Middle Road or Guillemard Road. I was very impressive with the school after a talk with the principal of Yuquan, Ms. Song Yu Hong. The strong foundation of preschool is very crucial to children. However, the school fees are very premium $1080 & $1300 @ Middle Road & Guillemard per month before government subsidy S$300.00 for full time working mum.

Currently, my son is enrolled in the chinese enrichment class at Middle Road every Saturday. He enjoyed & loved his class tremendously. He looked forward to his class every Saturday.

Kindly give me any feedback on Yuquan preschool if any of the parents out there have enrolled their children at Yuquan before.

Thank you very much for any valuable feedback provided.

hi, you can try out this preschool called stamford little geniuses in bugis. (http://www.stamford.edu.sg/genius)

they are giving out free for the 1st month for new-comers.

my girl is studying there right now and its not bad. their teachers are very nice and caring. since its free, might as well try it out and see whether its suitable for your kid

[curioxete]

Hi aftc,


Just curious as to whether you went with Middle Road or Guillemard in the end. I visited both schools yesterday. Guillemard seems more like a preschool, in terms of the spacious environment and different play rooms, whereas Middle Road appeared more cramped and like a tuition centre.

However, the atmosphere at Guillemard felt very different from the vibrant atmosphere we experienced at Middle Rd… not sure why…maybe it’s cos Guillemard has less students… but the teachers at Guillemard didn’t seem as enthusiastic either (maybe bec the principal’s office is at Middle Rd and the teachers at Middle Rd are thus kept more ‘on their toes’??).

Appreciate any comments. Thanks!