Media Review
I grew up in a Mandarin-speaking family. My parents spoke and understood only Mandarin and a few other dialects, but English was never spoken at home. Because of that, I struggled with the English language during my Primary school days. I know it sounds incredible that I have a rather good grasp of the language and enjoy writing in it now, but it took me a long while (and a great deal of effort and hard work) to become who I am today. That is probably also the reason why I empathize with my kids now when it comes to mastering a language – it is not easy and may not come naturally to all.
Joey has always loved reading and writing as a kid, so I never had to worry about her English standard. But this was not so for Jayne – she doesn’t particularly enjoy reading. In fact, I spent a lot of time coaxing her to pick up storybooks to read, only to have her putting them down almost immediately because the interest was just not there.
As a typical Singaporean mom, of course, I was worried. I know how crucial it is to have a good grasp of the English language because that is the foundation and basis of the education system we have here. And I know I am not alone – I have other parent friends who tell me that their kids don’t enjoy reading, and so they struggle with doing well in school.
As a matter of fact, it is easy to get intimidated by the English language especially when it comes to the correct usage of grammar and creative vocabulary in writing. True enough, when Jayne started Primary Three this year and was tasked to write her first essay on the first day of school, she struggled. I could see that her interest in the English language was waning and I was desperate to find a way to help her.
I was so glad that I was introduced to My English School (MES) at a time like this. It worked out perfectly for us because there was a MES centre just five minutes away from our house.
Jayne was reluctant to go for the class when I first told her about it, but after the first lesson, she was hooked! She skipped out of the centre and told me excitedly that two of her school classmates were in the same class as hers! One of them has been with My English School since she was a pre-schooler, and because it has helped her in the subject all these years, she stayed on.
The thing is, some parents think that they only need to send their kids for enrichment classes during the initial years and pull them out after the right foundations are built. But, the truth is, the kids need guidance and help throughout their schooling years because at every stage and progression, there are different needs and struggles.
Seeing that Jayne’s classmate stayed on for so many years, I believe that there must be a lot of in My English School’s curriculum and programmes. After attending MES for three months, I am convinced of the quality of MES’ offerings by now – here’s why:
1. Vibrant School Culture and Learning Atmosphere
It was a pleasant surprise when we stepped into My English School Woodlands Civic Centre for the first time. The kids who were waiting in line for their classes to start were chit-chatting with each other. It was rowdy but anyone could tell that the kids were happy. As a mom, I felt assured when I saw this because it showed that the kids were looking forward to something fun. I wouldn’t want to send my kids to an enrichment centre that is dull, stern and rigid – not after a whole day of studying in school! When the various teachers arrived to bring the students into different classes, everyone got even more excited. The kids greeted their teachers by name and the teachers looked genuinely happy to see them as well. I loved how vibrant and happy the whole atmosphere was.
2. Powerful and Relevant Curriculum
Jayne learnt Haiku during her first lesson at MES and came home to try to craft her own haiku. It was my first time hearing about Haiku and I was amazed at how much fun she had doing just that, while strengthening her use of the English language. Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry, now written in many languages including English.
As I flipped through her workbooks, I liked what I saw as well. There were exercises on grammar and vocabulary that she completed in class, which deepened her understanding of the concepts and would help her in her essay writing. By completing the multiple-choice questions and cloze passages, Jayne was able to practice her grammar and learn from her mistakes. When all these basic foundations are in place, I expect that she will have a much easier time when it comes to essay-writing later on.
There was a mock letter too that she had written to a pen-pal in class, which she proudly showed me. I was intrigued because I don’t think I’ve ever seen her write something of this length before. I am convinced that the right methods can draw out the potential in our kids and help them to achieve more academically.
3. My English School Prepares Your Kids For Exams
I like the fact that while MES’ curriculum is fun and interesting, they do not neglect the fact that our kids need to be taught how to cope with stressful examinations eventually. Also, Jayne belongs to the batch of students who will encounter a change in the PSLE syllabus and format, and so I feel the urgency to prepare her for this.
MES creates a good balance by incorporating spelling and homework into their curriculum, so that the kids are encouraged to revise on a regular basis outside of class. Consistent and regular revision is always the key to retaining knowledge and I strongly believe in that.
I will not want to send my kids to enrichment classes that are only fun, but do not prepare my kids for the harsh realities of the Singapore education system. Having a curriculum that is too focused on academics is not good as well, as the kids’ interest cannot be sustained in the long run. I am glad My English School handles this balance pretty well.
Their curriculum is based on the MOE syllabus (developed by past MOE teachers) and geared towards helping the kids prepare for exams as well. There are review papers given to the students to assess their progress in all levels, as well as practice papers (from Primary 2 onwards) to prepare students for mid-year and final year examinations by focusing on the skills tested during the examinations. For students who are taking their PSLE, the revisions will be geared towards PSLE preparation as well. I love how focused they are in this area – I think I can speak for every parent when I say we appreciate that very much!
Jayne also did oral assessments in one of the classes and got feedback about speaking clearer and with more expressions. I think that is extremely useful for her oral exams in school!
I think the right methodology helps our kids to learn the English language more effectively, and even helps evoke interest in it. Jayne enjoyed her lessons at My English School and I am glad to see that she has gained more confidence over time.
Now, I catch her writing small notes and letters on her own accord – something I had not seen previously – and that says a lot about her increased receptivity to learning and using the English language. I am happy, of course! If your kids are struggling with English as well, or you are just hoping to help them excel in the language, consider checking out MES at their website: http://www.myenglish.com.sg/
You can sign up your kids for an assessment or pop by any of their centres to have a feel for yourself.
Disclosure: This is a paid advertorial in collaboration with My English School.
