Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[googaga]

MMM:

googaga:

R ur kids in TNS or MBS?

Hi Googaga,

My kids are in MBS. Good luck with your search.

I also agree on starting them early in such programs but key thing is also try to use the language at home so that they are familiar with the language. During our recent briefing in their school, the teachers suggested that each parent speak different language to the child so they are exposed to both. Fortunately for us, they speak in mandarin to the grandparents and english to us and among themselves. So that helps in the language exposure.

hihi MMM, totally agree with u! Thanks n hopefully i can decide soon..

[jedamum]

googaga:

hi jedamum, do u babytalk with ur younger one? We used berries to expose him to not being with us all the time so that when time comes for him to attend presch it is easier. Initially he was very sticky n cried but the teachers@berries could manage so i just leave it to them. Very soon, he was ok cos he sees his bro also going independently for his class. His mentality is- whatever his gor gor does, he also wants. so if i send gor gor for this n tat, he also wanna have a go!

we talk normal to him although we do emphasis on the key words so that he knows what we want.
i think maybe i should try out berries for one term before my boy stars his sch in Jul.
thanks!

[J2mum]

Hi,

beside sending my ger to Molin. I also sent my son (N1) to Berries for trial class. He was crying thru-out the class, looking very sad during the class. I never expect the outcome with be so bad. He is attending Childcare (full day) now. I thot he will be independent enough to attend class on his own but he end up calling his sister most of the time.

Unfortunately, Molin doesnt has N1 class else my son will be very gladly attending the lesson knowing that his sister is just next door.

Jedamum,
my son is not talking clearly. I am very worry, we have since stop babytalk but his progress is really slow. Stime he just blah blah thru it. Some pple tell me cos he is a boy so his speech is slower, but that is not 100% true but he fall into the true category. However, he is very talkative just that we cant make up what he wanna tell us. Surprisingly when we ask my ger to interpret she is able to know what my son wants.

Kind of failure parents right! haizzz

[jedamum]

J2mum:

Jedamum,
my son is not talking clearly.

However, he is very talkative just that we cant make up what he wanna tell us. Surprisingly when we ask my ger to interpret she is able to know what my son wants.

Kind of failure parents right! haizzz

i had just called up for a berries trial...hope my boy won't cry. :xedfingers: the other time when i went with him for a playgroup trial, he was the only one not paying attention and walking around.

My boy is talkative too. My husband can't make out what he is talking although when my boy repeats his blabbering on the same stuff, his tonation and 'wordings' are the same, so it's not just random blabbering.

Not failure parent la! The kids understand each other cos they play together more often.

[Diveera]

Hi googaga

I was thinking whether or not to send my gal for Chinese enrichment. She is in N1. Now that you share that K1 maybe too late. I think I should sign her up for trial and see how it goes. Thanks for sharing.

Jedamum, which Berries will your son be having the trial?

Anyone got feedback for Berries in Hougang and Mountbatten?

I call up to check on Yuquan they have N1 enrichment but no makeup classes.

[jedamum]

Diveera:

Jedamum, which Berries will your son be having the trial?

Bukit Batok - $16.50 (+GST). Just now told my ds2 that i bring him to school on Saturday and tell him cannot cry...then he make the fake crying noise :roll: Keeping my fingers :xedfingers: .

[buds]

[quote]Bukit Batok - $16.50 (+GST). .[/quote]
How long is the trial session?
Where exactly is the location of this Berries outlet in Bt Batok?
My daughter's previous Mandarin teacher did extra work as sideline
at Berries in her evenings. She has many many nice songs and all
accompanied with cool dance moves too. She enjoys learning the
language a lot cos the teacher was very actively teaching the children
for every lesson and the repetition really helps. And the crafts she
incorporates in her lesson keeps the children excited before every
Mandarin lesson.
[quote]Just now told my ds2 that i bring him to school on Saturday and tell him cannot cry...then he make the fake crying noise :roll: Keeping my fingers :xedfingers: .[/quote]Aaaaah... ds2 must be the one who said \"cry a bit can what,
cos i like to cry mah?\"

[jedamum]

buds:

How long is the trial session?
Where exactly is the location of this Berries outlet in Bt Batok?

should be same as the lesson...the lesson is 1.5hr. the trial used to be $28+. but recently seems to reduce. they have very good business. their saturday classes for older kids (ie K2 and lower pri) have long waiting list.
It's located at the community centre near Westmall. You staying West?
[quote]
Aaaaah... ds2 must be the one who said \"cry a bit can what,
cos i like to cry mah?\" [/quote]mistaken identity la! my boy can talk 2-3 words in a sentence niah. his favourite is 'MUMMY!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!'

[buds]

jedamum:

buds:

How long is the trial session?
Where exactly is the location of this Berries outlet in Bt Batok?

should be same as the lesson...the lesson is 1.5hr. the trial used to be $28+. but recently seems to reduce. they have very good business. their saturday classes for older kids (ie K2 and lower pri) have long waiting list. It's located at the community centre near Westmall. You staying West?

Yup, am a Westie!

buds:

Aaaaah... ds2 must be the one who said \"cry a bit can what, cos i like to cry mah?\"

jedamum:

mistaken identity la! my boy can talk 2-3 words in a sentence niah. his favourite is 'MUMMY!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!'

Ops! Paiseh...
Sorry hor..

I've back tracked liao.
This was the post of the like to cry fella...
Hehehehee!!! :lol: :lol:

mom2boys:

my words to my son:-

'today u K1, big boy already..have fun..dun cry ok?\"

'mummy, cry a little bit also can what....i like to cry...' :x

[jedamum]

J2mum:

Hi,

beside sending my ger to Molin. I also sent my son (N1) to Berries for trial class. He was crying thru-out the class, looking very sad during the class. I never expect the outcome with be so bad. He is attending Childcare (full day) now. I thot he will be independent enough to attend class on his own but he end up calling his sister most of the time.

J2mum,
I just came back from Berries. It's a funny experience.
Prior to the lessons, they had toys for the kids. My boy was happily playing and didn't know that I left the room. When it's time to keep the toys, he refused and gripped onto the toy cars tightly. When the teacher pry it out of his hands, he started to cry for me. As this is my second boy, the expectations and anxiety is not as severe as the first. I would have break out in sweat hearing my firstborn cry, but with his ds2, I :siam: ran from behind the door to hide at the admin counter. After a while, the teachers carried him out to look for me.
He refused to sit with the rest. Don't want to pay attention. When it's activities time, he doesn't Q up, likes to jump around and even 'helped' the teacher take/keep the materials. He climbs onto the small table, took the marker...if i had not stop him, he would have scribbled on the wall.
Then it's song and actions time. Every one was sitting down singing and doing actions. My boy was standing in front of them swaying away and singing and doing all the actions correctly, but standing up.
Then it's story telling time in another room. There is a small railing. I had to stop him from climbing.
Then it's back to the class to do some work. He took a handful of pencils and refuse to circle the correct words. Teacher tried to bribe him with crayons. He said OK, took the crayons then ran away. The teacher gave up and then brought him to me and ask me to help him to complete the work. I sat him on my lap, took his hand, spoke to him and he dutifully let me guide his hands to circle the correct words. Thereafter i told him to bring it to the teacher and he did.

I like the curriculum structure. But I won't be signing him up cos,
1) the teacher admit that my boy is not ready (i can sense their exasperation) for a classroom stint. my boy had never attended any childcare or classes and that they said is part of the reasons why he had no inclinations on what is expected of him and wants to do things his way only.
2) my boy doesn't know mandarin well. he already doesn't follow instructions from others, let alone instructions in a language he is not familiar with.
3) once a week to get him to familiarise with a school setting is insufficient. I'll wait for him to start his preN in end Jun and let the teacher train him 5x a week (i had prewarned the teachers about his active behaviour).

Despite his young age (few of the youngest in class), he is the tallest. I had to emphasis and hope that the teachers understand that he is not as matured as he looks.

I had fun though.