Comparing Chinese Enrichment (Primary/Preschool)

[ChiefKiasu]

MUMMYOF3:

Hi,


Anyone sent their kids to Jiang Educare ? How is Jiang compare to Molin ?

Hi MUMMYOF3, I think you should read this thread from the beginning to get an idea of what is available for upper primary students. Both Jiang and Molin are the more \"serious\" and academic enrichment courses. My son has been in Molin for the past 2 months and is still getting used to it. He prefers Yuquan which has a lot more activities and is more fun, but of less academic value. So it depends on your child.

[workingmom]

Am also considering putting my daughter in Chinese Enrichment since she is starting P1 next year. I have hear Jiang mentioned a few times. Would like to know if the 3 hour "jing ying" classes are suitable for lower primary and whether it could be quite taxing on P1 kids. Or would something like Berries be a better fit.

[MUMMYOF3]

Hi working mum,


My cousin who in P2 now was with Jiang "Jing Yin" class since P1. So far she has been enjoying herself and has not complaint on the 3 hrs class. I saw their worksheets and it’s really very difficult for P2 standard. Their lang du topics inlcude "Yue Fei", "San Guo Yuan Yi" etc and they’ve weekly spelling.

Hi chiefkiasu,

Yes, i know both Molin and Jiang are very academic. I’m hesitating between these 2 centres. I’ve seen Jiang worksheets but not Molin. That’s why i would like to hear comments and compare these 2 centres before i decided to enrol my boy.

[workingmom]

Thanks MUMMYOF3 for the info. I will have to check them out. Any sense in trying out the "normal" enrichment instead of plunging straight into the "jing yin" class ? Don’t want my daughter to freak out…although I think she will cope at least initially …just that whether she can sustain a 3 hrs session each week will be a challenge.


Does anyone know what is the class size at Jiang ? I heard the rooms are small and can be quite cramped.

[usaik]

Glad that I stumble into this thread…very informative indeed…thank you to all those who posted information here.


I am contemplating signing up my kid for Tien Hsia. Wonder anyone here can help me with my queries below : -

Does Tien Hsia’s syllabus besides the normal written work help to improve child’s ability when it come to Oral and listening comprehension?

I read in this thread that Tien Hsia follow the school syllabus very closely. Sorry for my ignorance, does all schools in Singapore follow the same syllabus and uses the same text book?

[JustADad]

I have been sending my son to Tien Hsia at Katong Mall. (I heard Katong Mall has been sold - so any impact?)


Now, Berries is opening near my place but it is more expensive.

We are now in two minds… cheaper Tien Hsia (39 lessons a year) further away or more expensive Berries (48 lessons a year) walking distance from my home?

[corneyAmber]

I have tried both and my judgement is both does the job decently with some differences in approach.


Berries cost a bit more becos of the duration and the materials.
The duration is 1 hr 45 mins and the materials has an additional reading book that uses the words learnt in the lesson. At the start of the next lesson, this book is being read individually to the teacher. This is good becos the early birds can begin first while waiting for the late comers to arrive before the lesson proper commence. There are 2 teachers in each class so they can complete this reading rounds fairly quickly.

During the class, they typically act out the scenario…example if it is about "going to the market" they will draw the stalls on the whiteboard and get the children to determine what they want to buy…etc…

They have a story telling session in each lesson where computer visuals are projected in a different room.

Finally, they introduce chinese proverbs where relevant in the passages, creating awareness of the usage of these proverbs.

[caroline3sg]

usaik

If you are banging on TienHsia enrichment programme to improve oral & listening comprehension, I can tell you it is not enough. Only towards sch exams, TienHsia would have 1 practise each. Sch may have more than 1 practise per exam.

For oral, besides knowing how to use the correct vocab at the right context (ie exposure), one must also speak the language frequently so that the words/phrases come naturally and not stumble or pause.

Listening comprehension is relatively easier.

With regards to textbooks for Chinese in S’pore schs, they are all same except that some sch have higher chinese from P1. You can see in Popular there are only 2 types of chinese textbboks, one for higher chinese and one for primary chinese.

[HappyAvon]

Dear All KS parents, in case if u are not aware, Berries is opening a new location in Mountbatten Community Club this month. I am planning to send my girl for the N2 course-First Bite in Jan next year.


Course structure for 1st bite will be as follows :

-Berries Read & Recognition Programme : lays foundation for interest in reading through short sentences created using words they have learnt.
-Conversational practise help to fabricate confidence in comms
-Thematic nursery rhymes: initiate interest, refine language skills and develop an inquisitive mind.
_Craftwork
-Story telling and game sessions

Am deciding between Molin and Berris but have not looked at Molin’s course structure yet. Of course Berries@mountbatten will be more advantage to us since it is within walking distance.

[ChiefKiasu]

HappyAvon:

Dear All KS parents, in case if u are not aware, Berries is opening a new location in Mountbatten Community Club this month. I am planning to send my girl for the N2 course-First Bite in Jan next year....Am deciding between Molin and Berris but have not looked at Molin's course structure yet. Of course Berries@mountbatten will be more advantage to us since it is within walking distance.

Hmmm... sounds like you are staying very close to me My wife told me about it last month, but I was quite reluctant to move my daughter since she is enjoying herself so much in Everlasting Education in Katong Mall.