I also have photos of the Chinese test he did in May in his K1 class :
Jerome's Chinese Test at Berries
Here is what Chloe is able to do at the end of her K2 class in Berries. She can read a passage like this and answer the questions. I can only read like this when I was in P3 or P4 !
Berries start to teach Hanyu Pinyin in K2. Chloe learns Hanyu Pinyin very easily because she has a very strong foundation in phonics. She can easily read a passage entirely in hanyu pinyin :
Berries does not require the kids to write many Chinese characters. Here is something that Chloe did in her K2 class :
Chloe completed her K2 class in Berries and will not be attending classes there any more. I am glad that Berries has helped her to develop a very strong foundation in Chinese. I let her read as many Chinese books as possible. She is now able to read books like these :
Chinese Picture Books
I am also teaching her Chinese at home using excellent resources from China :
Teaching Chinese at home
11 comments:
Hi Tamarind
Very tempted to send my K1 son to Berries after reading your post.
However, you mentioned in kiasuparents that the 四五快读 books are more detailed than berries. In your view, will it be sufficient to just rely on the books to teach my son? I satisfied all the criteria you mentioned, ie, passionate about home teaching, good in chinese, willing to spend time:)
Berries use methods which are similar to the 四五快读 books. But these books teach many more words, and enable to kids to read long passages very quickly. If you are dedicated and persistent, you should try to teach at home first. Do read all the instructions in the first 30 pages of book 1 to teach effectively.
I am working full time, so I am not confident that I can always have time to teach both my kids after I return home from work. By the time I received these books, Chloe has already completed her K2 class. She is not attending Berries any more. I use the 四五快读 books to teach her some new words at home, and she also enjoys reading the stories in every lesson.
Jerome is still attending K2 class at Berries, since he started since N2, I feel that I should let him continue. At K2 Berries class he learns Hanyu Pinyin which I definitely have no time to teach him at home. The 四五快读 books do not teach Hanyu Pinyin.
Hi Tamarind
I was the one who post the earlier comment here:)
Thanks so much. Will get the Citibank CC in order to buy the books you recommended!
I am really so glad and thankful that I managed to see your post on kiasuparents, which leads me to your phonics and chinese blogs. I was about to sign up for reading class and chinese enrichment for my K1 son but frankly unwilling to spend the money and time waiting around the enrichment centres.
Hopefully dangdang will have just as good books for upper primary for my older kids. If only I have your blogs few years earlier, then my eldest won't be struggling with her Chinese now in P6. P1 son also not strong in hanyu pinying, let alone reading chinese characters. So sad....
hi Tamarind,
i went to check out the dangdang website but i can't seems to find the explaination for oversea online payment via credit card, only some paypal etc.
can u advise more on this? thanks.
Here is the page :
如何支付
1、网上支付
您可以使用由首信平台提供的国外信用卡支付。
国外信用卡支付支持的卡种有：Visa Card、Master Card、American Express
I heard that American Express is the easiest. DBS Amex card is accepted.
For Visa, they use the Secure Online Shopping by Visa, the only card that has this feature in Singapore is Citibank. This is not mentioned in dangdang website.
Secure Online Shopping by Visa
Hi Tamarind, i been wanting to buy books from dangdang but i have encounted so many problem and error. Is there other ways i could buy book from there or is there any steps that i have over looked which leak to unsuccessful payment. I am using citi bank visa, please advise thank you.
It is a lot easier to use the DBS Amex Card. I only found out much later when my friend told me.
Hi Tamarind,
I came across your blog when I was doing some research on Berries :) Hope you don't mind me asking some questions.
I'm thinking of enrolling my boy to Berries when he turns 3 next year. But as of now, he doesn't like to trace those letters with a pen, does Berries emphasise on writing very much? My concern is that my boy will feel very pressured to do what he does not like and in the end 'fan xiao guo', may dislike chinese because of that.
Would be very helpful if you can give your view? :) Thks in advance
Hi,
Berries does not emphasize on writing. For 3 and 4 year old kids, the emphasis is on word recognition. There is very little writing.
hi tamarind, wanted to say thank you for sharing. my family will be relocating to the US for 2 years and back jus in time for my boy's P1. i am so worried that he will find difficulties catching up. u have provided me with some ideas on how to help him while we are away. thanks again :)
Dear Kaeden's Mummy,
I am glad that you find my blog helpful :)
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