Inspired Momx1

Monday, February 28, 2011

Tuition??

I have been busy preparing my boy for his first exam this year which starts tomorrow for 3 days.  I find myself checking the Hanyu Pinyin of Chinese phrases and characters on http://www.nciku.com/  so very frequent that I suddenly realise it's time for me to learn this language seriously or else the boy will be "victimised" by his mom's "setengah masak" knowledge.  He is only in Standard 2 and the words used in both Science and Chinese subjects are not easy at all.  One measure in my mind now is to get him to read more Chinese story books though he is more inclined towards reading English language books. 

When I share my concerns with my friends, it appears that 9 out of 10 of them send their kids for tuition.  Call me stubborn but I still insist on coaching him personally knowing him very well.  He is the playful and active type who will not sit still and pay full attention in class.  I don't think he will benefit from attending tuition classes or am I being prejudice in saying so when I haven't even tried?  Someone suggested hiring a private tutor i.e. one to one tutoring but I am not keen with the idea.  I have a friend whose son was my boy's classmate last year.  The mother too hires a private tutor to help her son in his Chinese subject but things does not work out the way she wants it, the exam results still come back poor and within marginal passes only.

So far, my boy had obtained good marks in the Chinese subject during his last 4 exams in Standard 1 last year, averaging 94%.  I shouldn't be worried but I get panaroid whenever I struggle to comprehend certain Chinese characters only to find them staring back at me.  With some effort, I can still solve the problems most of the time with the help of the online Chinese dictionary, though a tad slow and time consuming.  I think I will still stick to my title as "Teacher Mommy" for now until the day comes when I really have to let the professional takes over.  

I would like to hear from parents who send their kids for tuition.  Do your kids benefit from attending tuition classes?

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12 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

My daughter never went for tuition. We teach her ourselves, only during examination years - to familiarise herself with exam answering techniques.

Chinese...only in kindy, she refused to go to school until we promised that we would not send her to an SJK school - could not cope, teacher so garang, scold scold all the time...punished all the time - "Kui chai na pian!!!" She learnt that in kindy!

I wonder how she would be doing today if we had forced her...

February 28, 2011 at 6:33 AM  
Blogger yvonne said...

My daughter is in her last year of kindy. I'm too seeking for opinions on tuition and learning from other parents out there.

p/s: thanks for sharing the Chinese-English link. Very useful to me :)

February 28, 2011 at 9:19 AM  
Blogger Yannie said...

I sent my April to tuition. Her tuition is also a form teacher in primary 1, but not her form teacher. Have yet to know how is she performing. April's test starts next Monday till Wednesday.

February 28, 2011 at 11:13 AM  
Blogger Montessorimum said...

My kids never go for tuition either. Girl in Standard 3, so far so good..not the top result not at the bottom either.

February 28, 2011 at 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks For nice sharing ...

Romantic Dinner Bruges

February 28, 2011 at 1:28 PM  
Blogger Mommy to Chumsy said...

I plan to send mine because i cannot coach her. i don't have the patience and also i don't know Chinese :(

February 28, 2011 at 2:10 PM  
Blogger Mummy Gwen said...

I'm planning to enrol Gwen to a Chinese school for her primary education. I've already thought of hiring a private tutor to teach Gwen on Chinese subjects coz I don't know Chinese either.

I think your boy doesn't need tuition right now coz he is preforming really well moreover "Teacher Mummy" is good at her role. I wonder how you do it lor. So geng.

I'm gonna bookmark the link..hehe..em goi sai. :)

February 28, 2011 at 4:39 PM  
Blogger mNhL said...

I;ve been thinking on this issue too even my boy will only start his primary in year 2013. I do wish he can spend his time on extra activities like swimming, drawing, sports.....

February 28, 2011 at 5:40 PM  
Blogger Inspired Momx1 said...

stp: I know tuition works for some of the kids but not mine, at least for now.

Yvonne: You're welcome. Caring is sharing, right? :)

Yan: Do keep me updated, ok..

Montessori mom: That's good enough. I will not send my boy for tuition at least for now.

Barb: Yeah, sometimes I find it a struggle to learn and then coach him. I think I still have to send him for tuition when I can no longer cope.

Mommy Gwen: No la.. Just trying my best and I have to set a routine and make sure it is being followed.. kinda tiring sometimes. :(

mnhl: Agree with you totally.. I want him to be well rounded instead of just study.. study and still study.. :)

February 28, 2011 at 8:05 PM  
Blogger Reanaclaire said...

My kids took tuition ever since they were young.. easier for me.. i dont want to stress myself..lol..

February 28, 2011 at 11:03 PM  
Blogger Adrine said...

yeah, nciku is a fantastic site!

I've thought about the tuition issue as well. Last time, my first tuition was in Form 4 and only for limited subjects. Now I see my nieces and other kids going for multiple tuitions from Std 1 onwards. I think it's better if parents can manage themselves. But depending on situation la.... in my niece's case, when the parent teaches, alwiz end up the parent scolding and the kid crying. In that situation, better to go tuition!

March 1, 2011 at 1:13 AM  
Blogger Alice Law said...

With such a dedicated mum. your boy certainly doesn't require any tuition!(seriously)

March 1, 2011 at 2:07 AM  

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