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I have been hesitating for the longest time whether I should send my boy for a Chinese enrichment programme. He is in K2 now and I help him with his Chinese. He is doing alright. My concern: He is very soft spoken and his willingness/ability to interact and express himself in Chinese is really limited.
It seems that Berries Chinese and Tien Hsia are often the two names that would come to mind when it comes to Chinese Enrichment programme. I will be sending my son to attend one trial lesson at each centre and let him give me his feedback. We will make a decision then.
Update – 13 August 2009
Went for a trial lesson at Berries today. The recept/admin lady who has been answering my queries is really doing her job well. She has even called me up twice to re-confirm and remind me of the lesson. The teacher seems the really patient sort. My son was comfortable with her, the other students and the class environment. There is a total of 5 students. The class size is small probably because it’s a weekday afternoon. The only surprise is they have a separate teacher for story telling. After the lesson, the teacher basically gave me a feedback of his performance. What he is able to do and what he needs to improve on. Son said it was fun and he enjoyed the lesson. There is some homework to reinforce their lessons today.
Let’s see how the trial lesson at Tien Hsia goes tomorrow!
Update – 15 August 2009
Trial Lesson at Tien Hsia yesterday was not a pleasant experience. The school and classroom setup is not very welcoming. The lady who attended to me is not proactive at all. I had to ask all the questions to get basic answers from her. There were 10 students including Son to one teacher. I can see the teacher is responsible and able to handle her students well. Perhaps its an issue of affinity, but Son simply does not like her. After the class, the teacher gave me a briefing on the course structure. It is very systematic and true to what I had heard, very academic.
Son’s feedback: I don’t like, very boring, not nice.
So our joint decision is Berries Chinese! I really would like Son to enjoy Chinese and have a more fun, creative environment to learn.
Not so long ago, I was still amazed at friends who had not only signed up as parent volunteers but had actually completed 40 hours of volunteer work. I was wondering whether all these efforts were necessary or were they just been too “kiasu”??? They had all completed their duty last year. I tried to volunteer at my preferred school X, beginning of this year but the admin person told me I was too late. For students registering this year for Year 2010, I should have volunteered last year 2008. Now I realise all along I have been in “La La Land” and failed to see how competitive things were.
I still went ahead to register for school X, willing to go through the ballot system to stand a chance. NO such luck! I was not even given an opportunity to ballot. The very next day, someone from School X called to tell me that even parents within 1 km have to ballot. I am at 1.4km, ABSOLUTELY no chance. Therefore I have to go and take a withdrawal letter and register with another school.
I called up 2 more reputable schools of my area to see if they have any more vacancies. I am within 1-2km of these 2 schools as well. Again, even those within 1 km have to ballot. I was so mentally exhausted after the picture got clearer and clearer to me. The Race has already begun even before my child has entered Primary School.
Many have tried ways and means to beat the system. I know of people who have moved house or rent a new place just to get a better address to their preferred school. I have heard donations work ……. I don’t know how true. Join grassroots, become a volunteer, letters from churches, clans, etc……..
I am questioning myself now : Am I a bad parent because I did not try hard enough to give my child a better head start? Somehow I could not stop blaming myself for not being informed enough, for not waking up to realities fast enough………
At this moment, I have registered my child at a really normal school with not such a wonderful reputation. I pray that he will stand strong and prove himself, to learn and to grow not just in the academic sense, but still uphold good morals and values (even in a school environment that has negative influence). Perhaps I worry too much, but that’s been a parent……..
There’s no turning back so my Dear Son, mommy will try to wise up a bit more, and we will be OK.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
