The inner workings of English or language arts as they call it in certain IP schools are often shrouded in mystery to some parents. How does the syllabus work? What is the grading based upon? What are the recommended assessment books to purchase? Should our children be memorizing model essays and attempt to emulate them in exams? Should we attempt the O-level comprehension books? All these questions will be addressed in the FAQ below.
FAQ (MUST READ BEFORE CONTACTING TUTOR):
Q: With different IP schools sometimes having different syllabuses, how do you plan to address this issue?
A: We will take this question as an opportunity to clear the air. There will not be an official syllabus or fixed syllabus in IP English ever. As a parent, you must understand that the end goal for IP English is not the O-level English exam, it is the A-level general paper exam. As such, the IP English syllabus can be vastly different from the Express streams, with less of an emphasis on drilling and practice, but more of an emphasis on soft skills such as general knowledge, debate, and well as forming discussions around current affairs. The aim of the class is to instill within the student an inquisitiveness for current affairs, debate, as well as knowledge of the Singaporean and global society. This is done by having open discussions instead of the tutor simply lecturing, with specifically chosen readings to suit your child’s readiness and interest, curated homework assignments that are structured to both interest as well as to challenge them, and of course, by having an expert tutor with more than 20 years in the teaching service as a guide and mentor.
Be transparent on your child’s syllabus in school. Send his/her syllabus list to the tutor. Parents do not need to be involved when it comes to classroom management and topics covered in class. Frequent updates will be provided to you if need be.
Q: So what is your lesson plan if the syllabus is so open ended?
A: Our classes are designed with very small groups in mind to facilitate discussion and consultation. Furthermore, the tutor in charge will be bringing in case studies compiled on a monthly basis, on various current affairs and historical events. Mindmaps, summary notes in bullet points, and various other tools of presentation will be employed for your child’s learning. Students are highly encouraged to be participative in these discussions, and the tutor will also engage them on a regular basis. After which, there is a guided essay component based on the topic of discussion during the lesson.
Q: What happens when you have a diverse pool of students of different speeds?
A: The whole point of a discussion group is to allow students to leverage on the knowledge of their peers and gain new perspectives for the sake of forming new points for arguments in their essays, as essays always require having at least one contrasting point. A diverse group can be turned into a strength easily. For e.g, a weaker student will present a weak argument, the stronger student can then use that content to reinforce the argument in their essay, and the weaker student can benefit by learning from the stronger student how to construct a better argument.
Q: We live far from the centre and it would be too troublesome to come down. Is there an alternative?
A: I would suggest online classroom. We have students from RGS, DHS, Temasek and various schools which are located further from Bukit Batok Central, and they all do very well using online classroom. If you have doubts, for the first lesson, we will get you and your child to sit in physically, and address all your needs and concerns, show you how things are done in class, and go through the lesson plan, as well as establish a method of sharing information and communication. Students are required to submit their work to me via CamScanner and WhatApp for marking and grading of their working and answers. Subsequently, your child will be equipped to handle remote learning.
Q: We prefer online classes, can you walk us through what a typical online class will be like?
A: For online class, we use Zoom or Google Meet as a platform. A link to the online classroom will be sent to either you or your child’s Whatsapp account a few minutes before the start of the class. Materials used for the class will be sent to you in a PDF or word format by email at least a day before the class itself. Parents are welcome to come down physically and collect printed materials if they wish. Online class has the same class size limit as physical class, capped at 4-5pax. Once attendance is taken and the tutor is sure that all students are accounted for, the class begins just like any regular class. Lesson materials are projected onto the screen in the online classroom, and there is a whiteboard function which the tutors will use to write down their steps and to discuss more complex questions with diagrams. We use a stylus pad for online whiteboard so the handwriting will be neat and fast, just like in our physical lessons. For students who are more shy in nature, they may choose to private message the tutor to address their concerns during class. The experience will be the same as a physical class but in the comfort of your home.
Q: What is your policy on homework?
A: The tutor will issue assigned readings for your child to complete and give bullet points to summarize the readings, as well as any potential topics of discussion. Comprehension worksheets of a higher order of difficulty will also be issued periodically, it is important to alternate between their essays and comprehensions so they get a good spread of practice.
Q: We have had experiences where the tuition centre mixes IP students with other streams, are your classes PURE IP classes?
A: The O-level students are separate from the IP students. Makeup classes will also be PURE IP CLASSES. There will not be a situation of a bait and switch where it is a mixed class instead of a PURE IP class. The tutors advertised will be the tutors teaching the class, in the event the tutor is unavailable for class that day, makeup lessons will be arranged with the tutor instead of a substitute.
Q: Why charge a material fee for both online and physical classes?
A: The unique selling point of our classes is that the tutor has his own complete set of notes and work, which he updates very often to suit the current socioeconomic and well as political climate in the world and in Singapore. Such an intensive and constantly updated syllabus and notes puts tremendous strain on the tutor, and it would be fair for him to be paid for all the extra preparatory work that he is doing outside of class.
Q: What is your makeup policy?
A: Under official Singapore Learner policy, there is no makeup classes issued to students who are absent from class. However, the tutor may arrange at his discretion as long as enough prior notice is given.
Examples of mind maps, essay planning and recommended texts/compiled case studies from the tutor (S.W.O.T analysis for language arts, his personalized R.A.S and Prince James method:
Background of the tutor:
The tutor is an experienced teacher, an ex-HOD teaching in MOE for many years. He has a B.A (hons) in History from the National University of Singapore. As a former RI/RJC boy, he understands the academic rigor of the Integrated Programme schools, as well as how to engage these students in class to maximize their participation and potential. He is known to be a jovial teacher with his students, inspiring them to make tremendous progress in the English language and the humanities in their own time. A pioneer of his own R.A.S method and Prince James analysis, he offers a structured learning system for English and language arts, teaching students how to analyze and break down complex texts into simple points. An avid reader of current affairs and global news, he always brings something new to the table each class, and fresh content to keep the students engaged, and prepared for the exams to come.
Fee Structure(new and amended in AY 2022):
Y1-Y6 SUBJECTS: $360 PER MONTH (4 LESSONS)
(NEW AND AMMENDED)Trial Class:
Costs of a one-off trial class is $120. Trial class timings will be arranged based on my discretion and assessment of your child’s needs. Subsequently, should you decide to sign up, the remainder of the monthly fee will be charged, i.e. you sign up for Y3 in Jan, trial is $120, if after the trial you continue, pay the balance of $360-$120=$240.
MISC CHARGES: $30 ONE TIME OFF REGISTRATION FEE AND YEARLY MATERIAL FEE OF $80
STUDENTS WHO JOIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MONTH, FIRST MONTLHY FEE WILL BE PRO RATED BASED ON NUMBER OF LESSONS LEFT IN THE MONTH, FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU JOIN IN JUNE WITH 2 LESSONS LEFT FOR Y4 CLASS, YOUR MONTHLY FEE WILL BE 360/4 X 2 = 180, MISC FEES STILL APPLY
NOTE: MATERIAL FEE IS CHARGED FOR ONLINE CLASSES, MATERIALS WILL BE EMAILED TO YOU BY SCANNED PDF, PARENTS CAN ARRANGE TO SELF COLLECT THE PHYSICAL MATERIALS IF NEEDED
NOTE: ONLINE CLASSES ARE SAME PRICING AS PHYSICAL CLASSES, WE PROVIDE THE SAME QUALITY EDUCATION IN SMALL SIZED CLASSROOMS BE IT ONLINE OR PHYSICAL
IP English SCHEDULE (2024):
Y1 IP English: This will be a special program that is designed to assist the student in transitioning from a narrative based writing style to a more discursive or argumentative type of essay. Even high scorers in PSLE English often struggle with this transition. Students are encouraged to take a clinical interview with the tutor to find out more about their needs before being allocated a class.
Y1 IP English: Monday | 4.30pm-6.00pm| Code: Y1EL1
Y1 IP English: Thursday | 4.30pm-6.00pm| Code: Y1EL2
Y1 IP English: Saturday | 9.00am-10.30am| Code: Y1EL3
Y1 IP English: Sunday | 9.00pm-10.30pm| Code: Y1EL4
Y2 IP English: Monday | 6.00pm-7.30pm| Code: Y2EL1
Y2 IP English: Thursday | 6.00pm-7.30pm| Code: Y2EL2
Y2 IP English: Saturday | 9.00am-10.30am| Code: Y2EL3
Y2 IP English: Sunday | 9.00pm-10.30pm| Code: Y2EL4
Y3 IP English: Monday | 7.45pm-9.15pm| Code: Y3EL1
Y3 IP English: Saturday | 10.30am-12.15pm| Code: Y3EL2
Y3 IP English: Sunday | 10.30am-12.15pm| Code: Y3EL3
Y4 IP English: Thursday | 7.45pm-9.15pm| Code: Y4EL1
Y4 IP English: Saturday | 12.45pm-2.15pm| Code: Y4EL2
Y4 IP English: Sunday| 3.00pm-4.30pm| Code: Y4EL3
Registration:
Payment method:
Online payment is preferred, you can make payment Paynow/PayLah! to the Singapore Learner account. Paynow/Paylah! to 9786 0411, do take a screenshot of the payment and forward it to the tutor in charge
Singapore Learner @ Bukit Batok
Blk 644, Bukit Batok Central, #01-68. S(650644).
For signups:
Tel: +(65) 6569 4897 (office), 8776 2711 (admin number)
If you wish to visit us, kindly message to secure an appointment first as the tutors might be teaching a class. As a policy, I do not entertain calls for more than 1minute during class time so that the students get my full attention. Our teaching schedule is 3pm-9pm on weekdays and 9am-6pm on weekends. Do drop a message if you wish to enquire about classes during our teaching time, and I will get back to you as soon as I have a break in between class.
