<![CDATA[Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams]]>

fy2000jp2\" post_id=\"2117595\" time=\"1693205117\" user_id=\"197677:

Agree. GS is very bad for English. Surprisingly TinTin was not that bad. Sadly, both undone the good work of RDahl.
You just missed Imp75's point.

I belong to the quantity trumps quality school of thought. After 500 books, it doesn't matter whether it is GS, HP or R Dahl.

Actually, after 500 books, they can write better English than typical British children of the same age.

But they might start reading GOT... :nailbite:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/104103/neil-humphreys-singapore-s-kiasu-gang-must-break-addiction-to-examsRSS for NodeSat, 16 May 2026 02:43:51 GMTMon, 28 Aug 2023 12:17:52 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:02:00 GMT]]>Anyway, who is Neil Humphreys? I have only heard of Sir Humphrey.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117628https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117628Mon, 28 Aug 2023 12:02:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:57:33 GMT]]>Oh, absolutely dear! Just like how we practice our recipes to cook better, learning also gets better when we keep trying things bit by bit. Those little tests now and then are like tasting the dish as it cooks, helping us understand and remember things much more. So, more small tests, less stress! 📝

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117623https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117623Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:57:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 28 Aug 2023 06:45:17 GMT]]>

Imp75\" post_id=\"2111879\" time=\"1688092965\" user_id=\"2358:

I used to “curate” the books my girls read when they were like before primary Sch. I only borrowed classic books like “little house on the prairie” series. I know, so boring right. After they went primary Sch, all hell broke loose, they started reading Geronimo Stilton and I found out their language standard dropped….but they enjoyed. They were also reading Harry Potter by upper pri I think….I didn’t exercise any more control by then. Let them do what they enjoyed.
Agree. GS is very bad for English. Surprisingly TinTin was not that bad. Sadly, both undone the good work of RDahl.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117595https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117595Mon, 28 Aug 2023 06:45:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 28 Aug 2023 06:23:27 GMT]]>

pirate\" post_id=\"2117591\" time=\"1693200853\" user_id=\"66252:

:offtopic:
Is someone from Hainan Province or Xiamen Island a mainland Chinese?

Actually I found the comments section more interesting. A whole bunch of Taiwanese and HKers pretending to be Singaporeans and PRCs. 😂
The topic is “…. Breaking addiction…: “. Do you mean wrong labelling of Chinese instead?


I shared this video to show Spore system offers much more flexibilities for progress. Need not be too stress and think every exam is do or die. In China it’s much more high stake and literally 一考定终身。

Hainan and Xiamen are still considered mainland chinese. Kowloon is joint to mainland but people
from there not call mainland Chinese. It’s not based literally on the land these people come from whether joint to main land; it’s based on administration

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117593https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117593Mon, 28 Aug 2023 06:23:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:34:13 GMT]]>

bbbay\" post_id=\"2117539\" time=\"1693062471\" user_id=\"175278:

a mainland Chinese living in spore, comparing China and Spore education system
:offtopic:
Is someone from Hainan Province or Xiamen Island a mainland Chinese?

Actually I found the comments section more interesting. A whole bunch of Taiwanese and HKers pretending to be Singaporeans and PRCs. 😂

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117591https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117591Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:34:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:07:51 GMT]]>a mainland Chinese living in spore, comparing China and Spore education system


https://youtu.be/YW9TnGnS8XU?si=yYHJBDC-HkE57VcN

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117539https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2117539Sat, 26 Aug 2023 15:07:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:07:06 GMT]]>Learning boils down to repeatedly doing the same thing over and over again. In our context here, it suggests having many small frequent tests is better for learning than a few big exams.



https://youtu.be/LNHBMFCzznE

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112979https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112979Mon, 10 Jul 2023 05:07:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:13:25 GMT]]>

bbbay\" post_id=\"2112326\" time=\"1688443724\" user_id=\"175278:

time has changed and we parent have to understand learning methods are different from our times too. “Bite size, focus and timely corrections”.

https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=5414#p2112297
Learning methods haven't changed - the human brain is still the same. Teaching methods have changed, in some ways for the better, in some ways not.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112348https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112348Tue, 04 Jul 2023 06:13:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:08:44 GMT]]>time has changed and we parent have to understand learning methods are different from our times too. “Bite size, focus and timely corrections”.



https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=5414#p2112297

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112326https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2112326Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:08:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:09:54 GMT]]>Anyway they don’t read that much story books now.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111946https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111946Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:09:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:08:50 GMT]]>Dd1 told me before (few yrs ago) that her classmate told her not to read certain books… coz that friend reads a lot so she came across some not so appropriate contents ba.


I was referring to those lovey dovey books…

There was a period I noticed dd2 busy chasing books…when I asked it was books abt cats something like that.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111945https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111945Fri, 30 Jun 2023 08:08:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:02:40 GMT]]>

slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2111929\" time=\"1688108253\" user_id=\"28674:

There are books for adults or young adults that are perfectly fine for younger readers. So I preferred to vet the books rather than impose a blanket ban. Conversely, there are books that are rated \"teen\" by bookstores that I wouldn't let my teens read!
I think MKS is referring to the genre called Adult fiction, rather than just books for adults :siam:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111930https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111930Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:02:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 06:57:33 GMT]]>

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2111901\" time=\"1688098473\" user_id=\"43981:

I don't remember reading any of the books that my kids read. But I do constantly tell them don't read adults books.
There are books for adults or young adults that are perfectly fine for younger readers. So I preferred to vet the books rather than impose a blanket ban. Conversely, there are books that are rated \"teen\" by bookstores that I wouldn't let my teens read!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111929https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111929Fri, 30 Jun 2023 06:57:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 04:14:33 GMT]]>I don’t remember reading any of the books that my kids read. But I do constantly tell them don’t read adults books.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111901https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111901Fri, 30 Jun 2023 04:14:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:42:45 GMT]]>I used to “curate” the books my girls read when they were like before primary Sch. I only borrowed classic books like “little house on the prairie” series. I know, so boring right. After they went primary Sch, all hell broke loose, they started reading Geronimo Stilton and I found out their language standard dropped….but they enjoyed. They were also reading Harry Potter by upper pri I think….I didn’t exercise any more control by then. Let them do what they enjoyed.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111879https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111879Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:42:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:35:26 GMT]]>I pre-read my child’s reading materials too. Not as closely now, but he does initiate ongoing discussions on the storylines and new vocab, so I am kept aware.


Somewhat contradictorarily, I allowed him to read his (non-kiddy) bible from front cover (as he requested last year). Which contains uncensored details of sin from Genesis. Thought 12 was the right age to welcome discussions on any such that he came across & had questions on.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111878https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111878Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:35:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Fri, 30 Jun 2023 01:36:51 GMT]]>

zac's mum\" post_id=\"2111865\" time=\"1688078825\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=2111865 time=1688078825 user_id=53606]
Reminds me of when I cringed to find out that some parents were boasting that their 7 year old kid had already finished reading the entire Harry Potter series.

Yes, even the last few in the series where the dark forces got seriously dark & also the BGR angst in school with behind-the-bushes kissy-kissy action. Definitely suitable for an innocent child just graduated from preschool.[/quote]
Agree! I didn't allow Harry Potter till my kids were about 10/11, but only 1 a year until the 4th book. Then they read the rest. I did have to explain why several times to parents who felt that I was depriving kids of good English books (not that they aren't good, I just didn't feel they were appropriate for 7-yr-olds even though their English was up to it).

Similarly, I read every book (or at least one of every series) that my kids wanted to read until they were about 15. We were in a country where the only source of English books was me, and the school library which was even more straight-laced, so it was possible to do that. And I also read everything they borrowed from NLB when we were in Singapore till they were about 15, and would discuss what I felt was inappropriate with them. I did it to maintain their innocence just those few years longer, which I think is a good thing - I know many parents don't think it matters. It hasn't affected their academic performance as far as I can see. And I hope they appreciate the effort.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111872https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111872Fri, 30 Jun 2023 01:36:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Neil Humphreys : Singapore’s kiasu gang must break addiction to exams on Thu, 29 Jun 2023 22:47:05 GMT]]>Reminds me of when I cringed to find out that some parents were boasting that their 7 year old kid had already finished reading the entire Harry Potter series.


Yes, even the last few in the series where the dark forces got seriously dark & also the BGR angst in school with behind-the-bushes kissy-kissy action. Definitely suitable for an innocent child just graduated from preschool.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111865https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2111865Thu, 29 Jun 2023 22:47:05 GMT