Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[magg]

my N2 boy started out enrichment classes at Hua in Parkway Parade. I’m all thumbs up for the teachers and for the curriculum there. As my boy is clingy, I have to sit in the lessons with him every Sat. The teacher has good control of the class of 6. The curriculum is adequate by learning the strokes and trying to get them to be familiar with simple words. My son loves the singing most and every week they learn a new song with actions. So I would recommend this centre to those around the Parkway area.

[hugeclaw]

Just wondering does your kid’s enrichment school conduct parent-teacher meeting?

[tamarind]

My son has his first Chinese test at Berries ! He is in the K1 class.


Checkout the test paper here.

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/jeromes-chinese-test-at-berries.html

The standard is quite high for K1. My son is actually only 4 years 7 months old, so I am really happy with his results. When I was 5 years old, I only knew how to read very few chinese words. I think that Berries is certainly the best place to learn Chinese for pre-school children, it is certainly money well spent for me

I recently went to the Confucius Mandarin Institute at Jurong Point, and looked through their sample worksheets. Their standard is definitely lower than Berries. I have also checked out Tien Hsia before, their standard is also not as high as Berries.

I guess it is not only about high standards, the method of teaching is more important. Berries emphasizes on chinese word recognition since N1. Hanyu Pinyin is only taught in K2. This is the correct way of learning Chinese, since Chinese word recognition is most important. The child should learn to read hundreds of Chinese words before he/she start to learn hanyu pinyin. Otherwise the child may become too dependent on hanyu pinyin and refuse to read any Chinese books without it !

I also have a web page about some of the teaching materials in Berries.
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2008/05/learning-chinese.html

[luvmum]

tamarind:

My son has his first Chinese test at Berries ! He is in the K1 class.


Checkout the test paper here.

http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2009/05/jeromes-chinese-test-at-berries.html

The standard is quite high for K1. My son is actually only 4 years 7 months old, so I am really happy with his results. When I was 5 years old, I only knew how to read very few chinese words. I think that Berries is certainly the best place to learn Chinese for pre-school children, it is certainly money well spent for me

I recently went to the Confucius Mandarin Institute at Jurong Point, and looked through their sample worksheets. Their standard is definitely lower than Berries. I have also checked out Tien Hsia before, their standard is also not as high as Berries.

I guess it is not only about high standards, the method of teaching is more important. Berries emphasizes on chinese word recognition since N1. Hanyu Pinyin is only taught in K2. This is the correct way of learning Chinese, since Chinese word recognition is most important. The child should learn to read hundreds of Chinese words before he/she start to learn hanyu pinyin. Otherwise the child may become too dependent on hanyu pinyin and refuse to read any Chinese books without it !

I also have a web page about some of the teaching materials in Berries.
http://tamarindvillage.blogspot.com/2008/05/learning-chinese.html

My child who was in K1 Berries was also given the 'mock' test last week w/o informing parents. I can't see your attachment as we were denied access for my office PC but the test is inside her worksheet book. As I have the practice of looking thr the entire book to see what will be taught later part, I get to see this 'kou shi' + some other work. Not sure if you are talking the same test but I did test her before. I'm happy she comes back with full marks too. :celebrate:

I agree that Berries standard is higher and tat is why I've already sent my boy there at N1. Their lessons are really fun and not bored at all as I'm still sititng in with my boy though it's oredy his 4th lesson. He is still crying badly w/o me ard. So I tell my girl mummy attending 'le le ban' also.

But I really like it there and I'm glad I find it in time. Last week they started on temp taking, even myself need to be taken.

[magg]

Do Berries allow the parents to sit in class?

[luvmum]

magg:

Do Berries allow the parents to sit in class?

They try to discourage but can't be help cos my boy is still crying badly each time I leave the classroom so no choice the teacher has to let me stay on throughout the lesson. :stupid: Otherwise my boy also not learning and teacher also cannot conduct lesson. I guess for N1 prob they are more liberal as they are still v young. There's another parents sitting with me, the boy also keep crying when the mummy left.

[tamarind]

luvmum:

My child who was in K1 Berries was also given the 'mock' test last week w/o informing parents. I can't see your attachment as we were denied access for my office PC but the test is inside her worksheet book. As I have the practice of looking thr the entire book to see what will be taught later part, I get to see this 'kou shi' + some other work. Not sure if you are talking the same test but I did test her before. I'm happy she comes back with full marks too. :celebrate:

It is the same test because all centres should be using the same book.

Your girl has done well ! :celebrate: My boy did not get full marks lah, but I am already very happy with his results.

I know kids who join at K1, but unable to follow up with the high standards, and they need to join the N2 class instead. My advise to other parents is to put their kids in Berries starting from N2, otherwise they cannot follow up with the syllabus.

At Woodlands Berries I often see parents staying with kids in class, even at the K1 class. I haven't heard of any rules disallowing parents to sit in.

[luvmum]

tamarind:

I know kids who join at K1, but unable to follow up with the high standards, and they need to join the N2 class instead. My advise to other parents is to put their kids in Berries starting from N2, otherwise they cannot follow up with the syllabus.

At Woodlands Berries I often see parents staying with kids in class, even at the K1 class. I haven't heard of any rules disallowing parents to sit in.

U r right! In my boy's N1 class, there is a K2 girl who joins in cos she is alw speaking English at home so she hardly makes out any mandarin, tat is why got to start from the basic. But quite hard for her I feel cos till today she still talk to the teacher in Eng during class lesson. Somehow teachers at Berries are not so conversant in English so sometimes communication breakdown.

Huh really ah...I wouldn't want to sit with my boy till K1 leh...buay tahan ah...

[nonKiasu]

so much abt Berries…


Anyone has any comment on the KI chinese class conducted by RC? It cost only $40 per mth! Once a week.

Last week, I happened to saw the notice board of RC for the 1st time in my life! Oh my, they have tuition class for K1 to P6 for Chinese, English, Maths and Science. I didn’t know abt this! Each subject cost abt $40 to $60/mth. Really affordable.

[Ljas1370]

Hi All Parents,


Have anyone send their kids to Chaper One Chinese Langague School @ Parkway. I would like to hear some comments. Many thanks.