Chinese Enrichment

Lil Shauna started her Chinese enrichment with Felicia when she was 5 YO at this enrichment center located near to Centris. Subsequently, the teacher asked if we would like her to give private lessons instead and we had been doing so for about a year. I have never thought highly of this Chinese teacher. Lil Shauna told me that they get to watch Chinese cartoon on youtube at times (or rather frequently?). Well, the youtubes are in mandarin, but doing so during the classes? Hmmmm…I could do that myself. Anyway, truth be told, Chinese had never been my focus (for the kids), choosing for them to do more for English and Maths instead. 

Since my brother’s family shifted to Clementi, it gets a little more challenging and I also think that it is time for Lil Shauna to embark on proper and structure Chinese enrichment program given that she is going to start primary one next year. So, I started my frantic search for Chinese enrichment, heading directly to the well-known Tien Hsia (TH) and Berries (B).

I managed to put Lil Isaac on TH, starting next year. For Lil Shauna, she is basically on the waiting list and I suspect that they have a super long waiting list. It will probably be almost impossible for her to start class with TH next year. I went to check with B and was told almost the same thing. They do have vacancies for a weekday afternoon class but Lil Shauna would be in school then. It is so sucky that WGPS still have 2 sessions next year. There are also obviously many more kiasu parents in Singapore.

Anyway, what strikes me was that B (I think TH as well) has many more time slots (like 10) for higher Chinese than normal Chinese (3 slots) classes. The administrator asked if I was looking for higher or normal Chinese when I 1st stepped into the center. All these left me very puzzled bcos Lil Shauna has yet to start P1 so I wouldn't know if she would take on higher Chinese, which I think would be quite impossible too given her Chinese standard now. Haha. That was when the administrator told me that SAP schools will (only?) offer higher Chinese and for sure WGPS is not a SAP school. She added that most of their kids also started with them years back and will naturally perform well enough to progressed into their higher Chinese classes when they moved on to primary school. Win already. I suddenly felt that I put my little girl in such disadvantage. I should have started her on TH or B years back. Anyway, time cant be turned back and I heeded the administrator’s advice to put Lil Shauna on some Chinese enrichment 1st and switched eventually if vacancies come up and not just sit and wait. I will be checking out this Han Language Center this Sat. Sweat ah!

By the way, I am so glad that I am putting Lil Isaac on TH. I cannot have the same regret 2 years down the road. Haha. Auntie S sent me this picture and I think that it is so true.

Mummy Lim