Apple Plus School - Discussion

[VbusyMum]

Just to share…I signed up for 10 days holiday abacus workshop with BTSC after positive feedback from Titank (and please do not misunderstand me, I am not upset with titank).


I had the same experience that my dd has to wait outside the centre and the air on of BT shopping centre is not on yet so really stuffy as her lesson is at 9.30am. I feel the teacher or admin staff shd be there at least 15mins before the centre opened. Also, teacher didn’t turn up for 2 lessons (although they offered us to at attend the 11am lesson instead). My dd is only 4 plus so it wld be too tiring to wait for another 1.5hrs…fortunately for us, my hubby waited with my dd when the teacher of another class said my dd teacher is on the way and asked him to leave my dd there…my hubby waited for half an hour till 10am …teacher still not here. When he pressed for an answer, the other teacher made a call and then told him that my dd teacher can’t make it for class. There was another poor kid (same class as my dd) being left in the class all alone all the time…she is also v young around 3 plus. My hubby was very upset and we did not finish all the 10 lessons. Frankly, if it was my dd being left in the class alone for 30mins, I would have lodged an official complain to the relevant authorities or MOE. I felt so sorry for that kid…

The branch manager called me to apologize but we decided not to continue.

[kudomo3]

titank:

Maybe can share which outlet that you had such a bad experiences. My DD had started off with Apple Plus somewhere in Feb 12. Right now the teacher said have to learn timetable of 2 & 3 if not would be difficult to proceed. Glad that I am having the same teacher all the time. We also had went to take part the competition that was held a few months ago.


For Abacus, I would stop once they reach around P3 where it involve in Maths problems sum. After all it help in doing the addition, subtraction, multiplication & divison.
I also noticed that not many older kids like age 10 & above still doing abacus.

Hi titank,

Glad that you did not encounter any of the problems that i had gone through. i dont think they are all bad, but I have more or less come to the conclusion that in the minimum the HQ has poor quality control if i give them the benefit of the doubt, otherwise they are probably full of lies and just out to get money and totally not interested in teaching. I am still waiting for their last reply to make my final conclusion. Will update again probably next week.

For timetable, I was told by that lady that there is no need to memorise, as their method will help you to derive the answers, and after u incorporate with mental, the answer just come naturally, without the use of the abacus. I can't verify that though, as my kids have not gone to that yet!

So which centre did u go to? Looks like u have not encountered a time when the teacher is not available? The one i went to is near to shunfu. I was told that the relief teachers were sent by HQ from other centres, coming over just to teach whenever the centre teacher is not available. So far, I did not find these teachers good.

As for this lady whom I used to talk to (but had not call back since despite telling me she will always be a friend that i can always talk to if i have any problems in future), i was told that she is principal from the BT centre. Not very sure though, as I always thought she was from HQ. Anyway, she referred me to try out at the nearest centre (to the one that my kids were going). The teacher appeared to be a lot better than the teachers i have seen, at least the way she talked, she sounded like she knew the method very well. She should be since she is the trainer for all other teachers...but then...some issues that i need to sort out first before I comment further on this teacher.

As for the competition, did u get back the results other than the trophies? From what i gather, every kid who attended that competition gets a trophy, but no one actually know exactly how they fare in the exams. There was also no official certificate after that to indicate what standard the kids had achieved. I was just told to prepare my kids to be able to answer more than 20 sums within 4 min (or 5? cant recall) and pay $40 for each exam the teacher had assigned my kids to take part.

Anyway, I was glad that I attended this competition and got to talk to other parents. I just don't understand how a kid who only finished 14 or 15 out of the 20 questions and can still come in FIRST. So imagine what kind of standard the rest of the kids who did not get first. And yes, I was also puzzled why I didn't see any older kids when they said the method will benefit them not just the young ones. It was this competition that sets the alarm and leads me to find out the real truth about these people.

You need to monitor the progress of your kids closely. According to this trainer teacher, the teachers are supposed to start teaching mental when your kid finished K102, and start multiplication when at K201. I was not informed of such thing before. I tried to ask for this kind of information to decide whether to continue but none of them is willing to tell me now.

[kudomo3]

VbusyMum:

Just to share....I signed up for 10 days holiday abacus workshop with BTSC after positive feedback from Titank (and please do not misunderstand me, I am not upset with titank).


I had the same experience that my dd has to wait outside the centre and the air on of BT shopping centre is not on yet so really stuffy as her lesson is at 9.30am. I feel the teacher or admin staff shd be there at least 15mins before the centre opened. Also, teacher didn't turn up for 2 lessons (although they offered us to at attend the 11am lesson instead). My dd is only 4 plus so it wld be too tiring to wait for another 1.5hrs....fortunately for us, my hubby waited with my dd when the teacher of another class said my dd teacher is on the way and asked him to leave my dd there...my hubby waited for half an hour till 10am ...teacher still not here. When he pressed for an answer, the other teacher made a call and then told him that my dd teacher can't make it for class. There was another poor kid (same class as my dd) being left in the class all alone all the time....she is also v young around 3 plus. My hubby was very upset and we did not finish all the 10 lessons. Frankly, if it was my dd being left in the class alone for 30mins, I would have lodged an official complain to the relevant authorities or MOE. I felt so sorry for that kid....

The branch manager called me to apologize but we decided not to continue.

That is what we went through too, and it was hot sun outside the centre! we were so mad! I should have stopped during then, sigh!

[titank]

VbusyMum,


Wow the Bt Timah Shopping Centre is a very old shopping centre which very glamourous in the day’s of 80’s 7 90’s. Now seem more like a maid shopping centre. I guess that would be the reason of the poor ventilation or aircon system.

[Elvi_76]

Hi parents, I am just wondering whether there is a difference in the abacus training in comparison w CMA abacus. Anyone can enlighten?

[single mum]

Dear Parents


I have clarified with the centre manager and below are the difference between the Competition and Grading Exam.

Competition
Objectives
i) to build up student's confidence
ii) enhance their interest in abacus
iii) simulate their abilities to maximize their potential
(hence 20 questions instead of the usual 10)

The rules in the Competition are not so strict as the organizer wants this event to be fun and exciting for all the children (including the 3 years old). In order to make all the children happy, the organizer wants to ensure that every child gets to bring home a trophy .

Grading Exam
Objectives
i) to determine the student's individual standard in Abacus and Mental
(70% is the passing marks for this exam)
ii) Once passed, the student will get a Certificate issued by the Abacus Association in Taiwan. This certificate is recognised in more than 20 countries

As the Certificate is recognised in more than 20 countries, all Abacus Schools must follow strictly to the rules set by the Association. If not, the Abacus Associate in Taiwan will not issue it.

Please let me know if you need more information. I can check with the centre manager on your behalf.

[single mum]

Dear Evi_76


As a single mum, I did a lot of research before I enrol my dd to any enrichment centres and would like to share my findings with you.

CMA is using the 5 beads abacus which our little one needs to memorise formulas. Whereas the 9 beads abacus used in Apple Plus School is very "child friendly", that is, there is no formula involved. I noticed little ones as young as 3 to 4 years old are able to do their questions without any help from the teachers.

[Beanbeanmum]

which is better? My son taking up abacus at ApplePlus. thinking to change to Live cube at learning kidz. any advise?

[Icebaby22]

Hi I've just signed my boys up for their trial lessons at Tampiness branch during their road show. After going through the forum, realized that their qualities are not the same across all their branches.


Would appreciate if anyone can feedback on their Tampiness branch.
TIA

[princessgx]

Hi all, I’ve also just signed up from the 4x abacus trial for my son after the Motherhood expo recently. I’m quite disappointed to read about certain stuff here like the competition is not really a competition but just some encouragement thing whereby all get trophies, and also that the abacus they use is their own design to be in line with the MOE math methodology.


I signed up because my son is good at Math and I wanted to let him go further in his strength such that he can excel in it. I enquired about the older abacus which I learnt when I was young - the 5 beads type used by CMA, and they told me it’s been phased out. Now, I really don’t know what much use could this course be for him.

Anyway, one thing I found puzzling was that, I was told I could start the class "anytime". Don’t they start a new class at the same time? She said that their standard is about the same at the beginning and it wouldn’t matter. However if they are using the same books wouldn’t some have done certain pages while others haven’t? I really don’t know how they are going to conduct classes this way.

I was also told that there is a compulsory purchase of bag and uniform, which adds up to a ridiculous $50. Obviously, such items are ugly and I dislike being forced to buy them, and for a profiteering price of $50 imposed on parents is even more annoying.

Anyone could share if such things are compulsory and if yes, anyone who’s no longer there wants to sell their bag/uniform, pls pm me. Looking for the abacus too.

Anyone could share more about the usefulness and relevancy for a 5 year old? I wonder if I should just forgo my $50 deposit and forget about the whole thing.