Testimonials感言

Spreading the love for Chinese

We decided to start Mikel off in Berries to help him build his confidence, interest and foundation in Chinese. The classes triggered his interest in the language, and as his confidence grew, he started reading more Chinese books and conversing in Chinese. 

In fact, his primary school teacher shared with me that he likes to converse with his English-speaking classmates in Chinese. Although Mikel’s classmates seldom speak Chinese, they would naturally use Chinese when they converse with Mikel. As a result, his classmates’ parents were so impressed by him. I am really happy to see that he enjoys the language and that his love for Chinese influenced his peers too!

Mikel’s love for Chinese also motivated him to take up Higher Chinese. He really enjoyed his time in the Elite Chinese class due to the additional exposure to the language that he could get from the programme.

Berries’ programmes are designed to help students build interest, confidence and foundation in the language. Mikel’s journey is a testament to the programme’s effectiveness and how it helped him develop a love for Chinese, which eventually translates into stellar results at the PSLE!

Berries’ teaching methods are engaging and interactive, making learning Chinese fun and enjoyable. I especially like how the teachers use story-telling and word cards to introduce new vocabulary, giving a positive and engaging start to a new lesson.

As I progressed to primary levels, my interest in Chinese extended beyond just learning the language. I was keen to know and understand more about Chinese culture and history. One of the lessons that captivated me the most was when we were introduced to the classic “Romance of the Three Kingdoms”, and I was thrilled to share my knowledge with my classmates, which was a rewarding experience.

Berries has been instrumental in my success in Chinese composition writing. Through their teaching, I learnt a collection of model words and phrases that have become my secret weapons. Armed with this ammunition, I do my best to apply them appropriately and am grateful that it has helped me achieve good results in my composition writing. Thanks to Berries’ excellent learning and revision materials, combined with my interest in Chinese, I achieved AL1 for my PSLE Chinese and Distinction for Higher Chinese!

Learning Chinese has been a joyful experience for me, and as I like communicating in Chinese, I am grateful to my classmates for conversing with me in Chinese despite finding it difficult. 

I believe Chinese is not hard to learn as long as we have an interest, work hard and persevere. I hope that by sharing my positive experience, I can inspire others to explore the joys of learning Chinese.

Berries boasts a team of exceptional and dedicated teachers who consistently go above and beyond their role. They not only provide high quality Chinese lessons, but also offer emotional support and  encouragement to students during stressful period such as the examinations and to those who are discouraged by their results, they will offer reassurance and guidance. It is rare to see such care and dedication displayed by the teachers in a language enrichment centre. Such nurturing and supportive environment truly helps students learn and grow.

I believe that learning Chinese requires the teacher and the students to work hand-in-hand, and I am glad there was rapport and mutual trust between Megan and her teachers. Her teachers would timely point out her areas of improvement, and Megan would quickly grasp them and clarify with the teacher whenever she was in doubt. 

Berries' learning materials are so well-curated that Megan still treasures them and hopes to be able to use them even after entering secondary school. I am very satisfied with the quality level of education Megan received at Berries right from the onset. Overall, it has been a very positive experience that puts parents at ease.

I liked being in the Elite Chinese Class 特选班. Although it was more stressful, the programme helped me greatly and my result took a huge leap. 

I really want to say a big thank you to my teachers. Because they made the lessons so engaging and interactive, I was never bored in class!

Berries, the easy choice!

When our family relocated to Singapore, we saw it as an opportunity for our children to pick up Chinese. So when my neighbour recommended Berries, we decided to try Berries out!

I was truly amazed by how energetic the teachers were in class! Seeing how fun the classes were, I have a very good impression of Berries. As the kids grew older, the curriculum understandably got more rigorous, with longer lesson hours and greater academic focus. However, as the children have already grown to love the language, it made the later years so much easier.

Berries' curriculum helped Sara greatly in her schoolwork, especially in her composition writing. I remember that Sara was always revising the model phrases and applying them to her compositions. She did so well that her compositions were selected by the school as model essays on several occasions!

I also have to give credit to Sara and Omar – as I cannot guide them in Chinese, their learning largely depends on their initiative and effort. In fact, after their lessons, they were the ones who taught me instead!

Little things, Big impact

Sara always feels at ease chatting with her Berries teachers who create a welcoming and comfortable learning environment that makes her look forward to every lesson. Additionally, the helpful admin team is also always ready to provide assistance which enhances the overall positive experience at Berries. These touch points, from the teachers to the School Affairs team, are what make Berries a great place to learn. Thanks, Berries! 

I believe that learning Chinese should be an enjoyable experience, and I try not to stress too much about it. At Berries, the teachers are not only approachable but also make learning fun. I can easily strike up a conversation with them in Mandarin, and this has helped me to improve my speaking skills, which has been a real asset in my Oral exams.

In addition to the engaging lessons, I have made many friends at Berries over the years, and I always look forward to catching up with them during our weekly classes.

Now that I am in secondary school, I have taken up the challenge of Higher Chinese, which is definitely more demanding. However, thanks to the strong foundation that Berries provided me with, I feel confident in my abilities and can manage the coursework effectively.

I am grateful for the positive and enjoyable experience that Berries has provided me with in my Chinese language learning journey.

What sets Berries apart is its interactive learning process. Nnvan looked forward to his classes every week. He thoroughly enjoyed the thematic activities that Berries prepared in accordance with local festivals as they allowed him to immerse himself in the learning process in an interactive way. 

The stories Nnvan was exposed to in class, such as The Little Prince, appealed to him greatly and sparked his interest in learning and writing. The collection of model sentences for composition writing, dictation and writing exercises, as well as the composition exercises, all helped tremendously in honing his writing skills. With his schoolteacher’s encouragement, Nnvan took part in various writing competitions. His most memorable was the 2022 Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan Primary Schools Chinese Essay Writing competition, where he was awarded First Prize in the P6 category!

Berries' approach to learning is all-rounded, focusing on the holistic development of each child. The out-of-textbook content that children are exposed to at Berries not only triggers their interest and moulds their character, but also further develops their answering techniques and skills. Nnvan's transformation throughout his years at Berries is a testament to the excellent programme and teaching team. He had thoroughly enjoyed his time at Berries, and if Berries offers secondary school programmes, he will definitely enrol. Thank you, Berries！

Believing in the Berries philosophy

I believe that for children to master a language, they need to love it. That's why I looked for a school that doesn't just focus on academic results but also provides holistic development opportunities. Berries’ teaching philosophy aligns with my beliefs, making it the perfect choice for my children's education. Their curriculum also includes extra-curricular content that enriches academic learning and exposes the children to Chinese culture.

What sets Berries apart from other enrichment schools is its committment to providing a safe and conducive learning environment. Other schools often focus only on grades, which can create a rigid and fearful learning environment for children but Berries proritises the child's overall development, creating an environment where my children feel excited to attend classes and share what they've learnt with their siblings.

Connecting with parents

The team at Berries is also dedicated to creating the best experience for both students and parents. The admin team provides exceptional customer service, and the Centre Manager of the branch that Kayla attended knows and recognizes almost all of the students and parents. This level of care and attention makes Berries stand out as a school that truly values its community.

My decade-long experience with the school has been nothing but positive. Berries' creative teaching methods, safe learning environment, and caring team of teachers and administrators have contributed to my children's love for Chinese and their overall growth and development.

Overcoming The Odds

When we moved to Singapore, Phyu Shin was 10 years old and knew only a few basic Chinese words. After our friends recommended Berries, we decided to give it a try, which turned out to be an excellent decision.

Initially, Phyu Shin struggled with the language but was motivated to improve by her interest and Berries' teaching approach and support. Working hand-in-hand with Berries, we also increased her exposure to the language in her daily life. To our astonishment and joy, within a year, she showed remarkable improvement and scored more than 90 marks in her year-end exams, which led her primary school and Berries to offer her the opportunity to take Higher Chinese in Primary 5! 

Excellent learning environment, teachers, and curriculum 

Phyu Shin highly values the exceptional learning environment, skilled teachers and quality materials provided by Berries. Berries’ curriculum covers content beyond the school’s textbooks, introducing her to a broad range of vocabulary and model phrases that helped her to excel in composition writing and clinch the model award in school for three straight years! Berries also offers mock oral sessions that simulate the actual oral exam setting and resources for revision, which boosted her confidence in facing the exams. These features have been instrumental in Phyu Shin’s success and have further strengthened her appreciation for Berries. 

Thanks to the support from Berries, her school and her extra effort, Phyu Shin achieved stellar results in the PSLE. She was thrilled to enrol in a secondary school that offered Higher Chinese, allowing her to continue pursuing excellence in the Chinese language.

Exceeding Expectations

Initially, we only hoped to find a conducive environment for Phyu Shin to learn Chinese, but from being barely able to speak the language to acing the PSLE, Berries has exceeded our expectations! More importantly, Phyu Shin has discovered a love for the language. We highly recommend Berries to anyone looking for Chinese enrichment classes!

I was on the lookout for a Chinese enrichment school for Jia Jun when I chanced upon Berries while searching for the "top Chinese tuition centre for primary school" online. Berries appeared at the top of the list with many positive reviews.

Building confidence from young

At Berries, Jia Jun experienced a learning journey like no other. The engaging and interactive methods used by the teachers captured Jia Jun’s attention and made learning Chinese an enjoyable experience. The gamification of vocabulary learning, systematic method for teaching writing, and progressive increase in difficulty level in content allowed Jia Jun to build confidence in handling exams and set high learning goals for herself.

The reward system at Berries, where students collect stars to exchange for gifts, was a motivating factor for Jia Jun. It helped her stay on track and complete her assignments on time while fostering a positive and enjoyable learning experience.

What I appreciated the most about Berries was their commitment to going beyond academic results. Their extra-curricular content, including current affairs and guided book-reading discussions, instilled moral values and broadened Jia Jun's perspectives while inspiring her love for reading Chinese books. She even requested to buy and read more Chinese books of a similar series!

Put your trust in Berries!  

Thanks to Berries' quality curriculum and the dedication of their teachers, Jia Jun was able to excel in her PSLE, and I am confident that Berries has built a solid foundation for her future learning journey. I highly recommend Berries to parents looking for a top-notch Chinese enrichment centre for their children. 

As a non-Chinese-speaking family, my husband and I were worried about how we could support Aarav when he started showing an interest in the Chinese language during his preschool years. Luckily, we heard about Berries from colleagues and friends and decided to enrol him there.

The curriculum at Berries is taught in advance of the primary school curriculum, which has helped Aarav immensely. He was able to understand and cope with the content better, and his weaker areas, like composition writing, were addressed by his patient teachers, who marked and even advised him on areas for improvement on his compositions.

Successful and engaging classes during COVID

When COVID hit, I was worried about how Berries would manage, but they quickly adapted and provided excellent online resources that kept Aarav engaged throughout the lessons. The various online resources, particularly the online portals, were skilfully done up and greatly benefited Aarav's learning. As a parent, I was assured of my child's education, and I want to give a big kudos to the team who curated these lessons and made learning fun for Aarav!

'Trust the Berries system'

I recommend that parents trust the Berries system and not use Berries as a short-term tactical solution for learning Chinese. Aarav started building his Chinese foundation in kindergarten, and it was a long process that required time and dedication. But it was all worth it in the end when he received AL1 for Chinese at the PSLE, exceeding our expectations!

Berries teachers have the best interests of their students at heart, and I'm so grateful for their dedication to my son's education. So, trust Berries and let them guide your child to success!

Comprehensive resources for a positive learning experience

Berries provides comprehensive resources that cover all aspects of the curriculum, allowing children to practice, consolidate and revise what they have learned independently. 

At the preschool level, the reading pen is available, which makes revising vocabulary and Hanyu Pinyin easy. For primary students, Berries has composition handbooks ("Ah Li" series) and the Berries Visualisation Memory Technique, which help children to grasp writing skills and remember model phrases for use in their compositions. In addition, Berries offers oral themes that include video-based conversation and listening comprehension practices, providing ample training in the oral component of language learning.

With Kang Rui's willingness and determination to learn and study hard, combined with the excellent resources provided by Berries, he achieved excellent results in the PSLE. Thank you, Berries, for providing such a comprehensive and effective learning experience for students.

Interesting online content

In today's blended learning environment, Berries also provides interesting online content for children's revision after class. The online platform includes stories and specially designed mini-games that make revision fun and interactive for children.

Learning Chinese is not easy, and I understand that some parents may face challenges teaching their children the language. However, I encourage all parents to learn with their children and not give up.

Berries' experiential learning approach, well-rounded resources, and engaging programmes have made it an excellent choice for my children's Chinese language education. Keep up the good work, Berries, and continue to create more engaging programmes for our children!

Berries has equipped my child well for Primary One. I didn’t have to teach her anything, unlike her other subjects. It was a breeze for me as Berries has done all the preparation and laid the foundation for her Primary One Chinese!

Going the extra mile

One aspect of Berries that sets it apart is the great partnership it fosters between teachers and parents. The teachers provide regular feedback on students' learning progress, enabling parents to understand their children's weaknesses and support them better at home. Knowing that Ziyi needs more help in the oral component, Teacher Tang specially shared with us pointers so we can provide targeted help to Ziyi before the PSLE, and as a result, she was able to perform exceptionally well in the PSLE, achieving AL1 in the Chinese paper!

Engaging Teaching Methods

Personally, I feel that a child's attitude is crucial when it comes to learning a language. Some children may be averse to learning a language because they have not been exposed to an effective teaching method or environment that sparks their interest. Berries has successfully created a teaching method that my daughters enjoy, making them happy to learn Chinese in this excellent environment. Berries is truly a spectacular school!

In Berries, children master the language through regular reinforcement, which allows them to deduce answers and acquire the meanings of different vocabulary naturally. I find the Berries Visualisation Memory Technique particularly useful in improving my children’s writing skills as I saw how Kenneth was able to tap on the technique to recall and apply the model phrases effectively to his composition writing. 

Berries goes beyond the traditional school curriculum and incorporates additional educational materials that enrich children's learning experiences. These supplementary materials not only contribute to academic growth but also instill important moral values that children can apply in their everyday lives. For instance, Kenneth learned about dementia and caring for the elderly during his class time with Berries. This knowledge helped him develop patience and compassion towards his grandparents, which positively impacted their relationship.

We were not expecting Kenneth to achieve Distinction for his PSLE Higher Chinese but he did! I am grateful to Berries for providing an excellent curriculum that goes beyond academics and helps my children to grow!

Developing a passion for Chinese

To foster an interest in the Chinese language for our children, we enrolled Jaden, followed by Joel and Joshua, in Berries. We were impressed with Berries' interactive and engaging methods of teaching Chinese, which we believed would be beneficial to our children's language foundation.

Since joining Berries, Jaden’s interest in Chinese has been piqued, and his exposure to Higher Chinese content at Berries has further deepened his passion for learning the language. He often shared the idioms he learnt in class and explains the stories behind them, which made us very happy to see his enthusiasm for Chinese.

The One and Only

We made the conscious decision to enrol Jaden only in Berries during his formative years, as we did not want him to be overwhelmed with too many enrichment classes. We firmly believe that Berries' teachers are well-equipped to support and guide him throughout his learning journey.

Over the years, Jaden's teachers have kept us informed of his progress and provided suggestions to aid his development in learning Chinese. The consistency of the customer service at Berries has also been remarkable. We have even joked that we could give up other things, but never Berries!

A Rewarding 10 Years

Jaden's ten-year journey at Berries has been rewarding. Once, he was approached by a friend to be a wedding emcee, and he courageously agreed, confident in his ability to speak in Chinese. When it was time for him to choose a secondary school, he insisted on selecting one that offered Higher Chinese so that he could continue learning the language at a higher level.

We are thankful to Berries for allowing Jaden to grow and become passionate about Chinese culture while developing his language skills. We believe that his positive experience at Berries will continue to serve him well in his future endeavours.

Handling exams with ease

Berries has a small class size which allowed me to communicate with my teachers easily and clarify any questions I had. The interactive classes, where teachers frequently direct questions to encourage participation and discussions, also proved beneficial for me.

One of the things I particularly appreciate about Berries is the reward system. It motivates me to learn Chinese by allowing me to exchange stars, earned through completion of tasks in class, for gifts.

Berries’ diverse teaching methods and resources have also enhanced my writing skills and taught me to be flexible in applying my knowledge. For example, I can apply the themes and writing techniques learnt for tackling different types of compositions interchangeably and by comparing my compositions to the model compositions provided in class, I can identify areas for improvements to excel in my exams. I also encourage my younger brother, Joel, to do the same.

Furthermore, the writing techniques, model phrases, and vocabulary I acquired in class have enriched my writing and I became more confident in expressing myself during composition writing. I could even complete my exam paper without the need for a dictionary! 

I understand that learning Chinese could be challenging, especially the oral component. However, the practical tips and advice shared by my teachers have helped me to improve in the area tremendously.

Thank you, Berries teachers!

I enrolled Chang Xin in Berries' Higher Chinese programme when she was in Primary 4. Since then, she only has good words for Berries and insists on continuing with Berries until PSLE.

Chang Xin often shares with me that, among many things, Berries' curriculum is particularly helpful in expanding her learning of the Chinese language. The school has a way of teaching new vocabulary that clears her understanding, aid retention and enables easy retrieval of phrases. This helps lay a strong foundation for the language.

I remember that not long after Chang Xin joined Berries, her teacher recommended that she go for the Berries Elite Chinese programme. I am impressed that Berries' teachers take the initiative to plan students' learning routes based on their needs and ability. I am appreciative that they saw my daughter's ability and potential and gave her a chance to excel further.

I have also had very good experiences with Chang Xin's teachers. They will go the extra mile to connect with me, sometimes after class, often beyond her working hours, to share Chang Xin's learning progress and offer practical suggestions on areas she can improve. Their sincerity in wanting to engage parents really warms my heart.

I have since referred many parents to Berries as I believe that, in Berries, students are able to learn according to their aptitude.

Lastly, a big thank you to Berries for having a team of responsible teachers who genuinely care for the students!

Realising the need to build up Amanda's foundation in the Chinese language when she was in Primary 1, I decided to sign Amanda up with Berries, where she stayed until her PSLE.

Fond memories

Amanda likes her Berries' teachers very much as she finds them warm and approachable. The interesting teaching methods used in class and the interaction with her teachers and classmates motivated her to learn, and she thoroughly enjoyed every class in Berries.

Often after classes, I will receive feedback on Amanda's learning progress from the teachers. I can see the teachers' commitment to building a solid and positive relationship with the parents so that we can work together to help the children achieve good grades

Until today, Amanda still thinks of her teachers and hopes to visit them soon.

Good preparation for examinations

Berries' has excellent learning materials to help students master their composition writing skills and write vividly, especially the "Ah Li" series of composition handbooks. Amanda learnt many model phrases and writing techniques that she can apply in her composition writing.

Amanda lacks confidence in oral examinations. However, Berries' oral practices prepared her well and helped build her confidence. Eventually, she overcame her psychological barriers and unleashed her potential to perform well in the examination. I am delighted with her results.

Pleasant Berries experience

It has been a positive experience entrusting my child to Berries. I did not have to worry about Amanda's learning progress, and I have to thank Amanda's responsive, engaging, and motivating teachers for that!

Creating a Mandarin-friendly environment

When Aqeel was young, he was very reluctant to speak Mandarin. As we are a mixed-race couple, Aqeel does not have a Mandarin-friendly environment at home. We wanted him to have the opportunity to speak the language and be confident enough to do so. Thus, upon the recommendation from other mummy friends, we signed Aqeel up for Berries when he was in K2.

Coped well in school

After enrolment, Aqeel took a while to adjust to the Mandarin-speaking environment, often replying to his teacher in English instead. But we soon saw a noticeable change in him after a few months. Subsequently, when he reached Primary 1, he could cope well with his studies and the examinations.

Well-designed curriculum with excellent learning materials

Berries' curriculum is well-designed. As a result, Aqeel learned well at a good pace. The various learning materials also helped make revision easy, contributing to his strong foundation in the subject. One such example is the "Ah Li" series of composition handbooks. The various writing techniques and model phrases are instrumental in their composition writing.

Aqeel's weakness lies in the Oral component; however, Berries covers a wide range of topics in their oral practices. Thus, he was well-prepared and could answer confidently during the PSLE oral examination.

Patient and encouraging teachers

In Primary 6, each lesson was a gruelling 3-hours. Yet Aqeel was surprisingly motivated to attend, despite a tiring day in school. The credit goes to his teacher, who, with his humour, makes lessons enjoyable, lively and fun.

Excellent PSLE results

We did not expect him to achieve such stellar results in the PSLE. Still, with the confidence he built over the years in Berries, coupled with the teachers' encouragement and dedication and his own hard work, Aqeel eventually obtained an AL1 in his Chinese language paper!

To parents looking out for Chinese enrichment programmes, I would highly recommend Berries for their excellent teachers and comprehensive curriculum.

Prior to transferring my daughter, Deirdre, from another institution to Berries, I have heard many friends vouching for Berries' effective teaching methodology and the quality of teachers. They shared that Berries makes lessons come alive, injecting fun and activities, gifts and surprises – in short, lessons at Berries are never dull.

Experiential learning

Indeed, Deirdre's experience affirmed what we heard. Berries' philosophy of experiential learning is one that I fully embrace. For example, Deirdre came back one day to share with me that she got to cook in the class as part of the day's lesson! The learning amid fun and laughter was firmly etched in her memory.

Caring and encouraging teachers

Deirdre also had very caring and attentive teachers. The teachers always have words of encouragement for them, even when they are not meeting the mark. Not only were they generous with encouraging words, her P5 teacher, Teacher Han, even treated the students to bubble tea as a reward for them!

Power of Composition Handbook

Most importantly, Deirdre has benefited much from the "Ah Li" series of composition handbooks. The model words and phrases taught and the weekly dictation helped her excel in writing and enriched her active vocabulary to become a part of her daily life. To this day, I still keep the whole series of "Ah Li" composition handbooks.

Expanding interest

Another change I observed in Deirdre was her increased motivation to learn Chinese. She now appreciates that she needs to expand her vocabulary through reading to write well.

The way Berries teaches the children to write compositions is similar to imparting swordsmanship. First, they give the children a sword – the vocabulary and model phrases, then teach them how to use it well. Armed with the skills, interest and confidence built up, I believe Deirdre will master the Chinese language with ease.

Learn Chinese effectively

If I have any advice for other parents, it would be to inspire interest and inject fun into the learning of Chinese and expose the children more to the language through multiple sources.

Emphasis on student's learning and environment

We first heard about Berries' good reputation from colleagues and friends. Unlike other tuition centres, Berries does not focus only on courses and assignments - the usual dry rote learning. They also place emphasis on the learning environment and teaching methodology and introduce activities that enhance learning.

Timely feedback and advice by teachers

Our experience with Berries did not disappoint. The teachers at Berries are indeed very attentive to each student's learning progress. Our son, Breyen, gets distracted and loses concentration easily. Thus, Breyen's teachers worked very closely with us through the years and constantly shared his progress and improvement areas. During the PSLE period, we had some practice questions which we were unsure of and had to seek advice. Breyen's teacher promptly replied, and we are very thankful for that.

Having responsible teachers who adopt a collaborative approach in partnering with parents certainly helps us supervise Breyen better at home. With his teacher's careful guidance and Breyen's self-motivation to study, we are happy he achieved good results at the PSLE.

Journeying with Berries for 9 years

Looking back over the 9 years in Berries, we are glad that we started Breyen early. We are very satisfied with his progress and always have the peace of mind to know that Breyen is in good hands. During the pandemic, Berries switched to online lessons and learning. Adapting to a new learning method wasn't easy for us, but the learning continued with strong support and confidence.

To us, Berries met all the requirements we had in mind for an enrichment school - an excellent learning environment, great teachers, and a convenient location. We would recommend Berries wholeheartedly to parents looking for a place for their children to learn Chinese.

9 years with Berries

I first heard about Berries from my colleagues who shared that Berries has a way of instilling a love for Chinese in children. So when my daughter Zi Qi was four, I enrolled her in the Nursery 2 class in Berries. She has since stayed on and graduated with Berries.

Dedicated teachers

Zi Qi liked everything about Berries, from the curriculum design to the materials and teachers. She felt Berries equipped her with good reference materials and a comprehensive vocabulary list. In addition, Berries' mock examination papers also helped ease her fears of facing the actual examinations.

Berries has excellent teachers. I am particularly thankful to all the teachers who have taught Zi Qi over the years. Special thanks to her P6 teacher, who built a very good rapport with the students. Her connection with the students and her patient guidance motivated Zi Qi to put in extra effort in the PSLE. I witnessed how her results improved leaps and bounds and am very pleased with her final results. I know I can always entrust her Chinese in the hands of her responsible Berries teacher.

Going an extra mile

Not only are the teachers dedicated, the frontline staff are also very impressive. To help Zi Qi adapt to the new environment when she first joined Berries, the frontline staff would gently assure her, take her by her hand and bring her to class. On another occasion, there was a heavy downpour one morning. Fearing that the children might get wet, the frontline staff donned raincoats and carried umbrellas to pick up the children. I was deeply moved by their willingness to go the extra mile for the students. Their service attitude is indeed laudable!

Start early

If I have a word of advice for other parents, it would be to start immersing your child in a Mandarin-speaking environment early. This will help your child cultivate interest and master the Chinese language.

Returning to Berries

My daughter Chervel started with Berries at K2 but unfortunately stopped at Primary 1 when I transferred her to another tuition institution. Somehow, she did not take well to the teaching style in the new centre; she felt overwhelmed and gradually lost interest in the language. She finally requested to return to Berries. The decision to return and stay until Primary 6 was definitely right for Chervel.

Growing in interest

Chervel rarely speaks Chinese at home; naturally, her Chinese is not proficient. However, lessons at Berries kindled her interest in the language. I noticed that she would take the initiative to revise Berries' learning materials at home. She made such good progress that she joined the Berries Distinction Chinese class in P3.

To broaden her vocabulary, she went beyond the curriculum to immerse herself in the Chinese speaking environment, including listening to Chinese songs and broadcasts and watching Chinese TV shows. She sometimes even copied the lyrics of Chinese songs and researched words unfamiliar to her. All thanks to the nudging and encouragement of her teacher in Berries.

Remaining steadfast during the pandemic

When the COVID pandemic struck, I was concerned about how the online zoom lesson would affect Chervel's learning progress. However, I was surprised to know that Chervel had no problem adjusting to online lessons. Berries' zoom class was very well designed, with little difference from the physical class. From how the lessons were conducted to the administrative aspect of handing out and returning students' homework, Berries was efficient and organised.

Lesson Comprehensive, Having the Right Balance

Overall, I think that Berries' lesson design is all-encompassing and comprehensive. The curriculum covers every examination component yet does not place too much pressure on the students. This is important as it motivated Chervel to love the language and master it well. We are heartened to know that her love for learning eventually translates into impressive results during the PSLE.