About our curriculum
Q: How are your programmes different from speech and drama programmes?
A: Speech and drama programmes tend to be performance-oriented. They typically focus on building self-confidence, with children reciting rhymes or delivering dialogue of specific characters.
Our programme focuses on communication skills. Children are consistently given opportunities to ask and answer questions, and to express their ideas and opinions using their own words.
While we teach children positive body language skills to enable them to speak more confidently in front of an audience, we also place emphasis on speaking and listening to one another. Every lesson includes public speaking, as well as discussions and conversations. Our lessons also allow time for building vocabulary and correcting pronunciation and sentence structure.
Q: How are your programmes different from other English enrichment courses?
A: Most English enrichment courses for children focus on reading, writing or phonics. Our programmes focus on communication skills and are designed to enable children to express themselves more confidently and articulately.
Q: What will the students learn?
A: Our programmes will enable students to develop effective communication skills progressively. Students will be exposed to many opportunities to speak up, both in small groups as well as bigger groups. They will be encouraged to ask questions, form opinions and engage in discussions. They will learn how to speak confidently and use appropriate body language when speaking in front of an audience.
This is particularly apt, given the recent revisions in the Primary School English syllabus, which focuses more on confident communication. As the four aspects of literacy – speaking, listening, reading and writing – are closely intertwined, our lessons will incorporate all these elements so that students can learn more effectively in an integrated manner.
Q: Does your curriculum include reading?
A: Yes, every lesson in our preschool curriculum is based on a storybook. It is through reading that children learn to form sentences, acquire vocabulary, pick up grammar, and develop creativity and imagination. Our primary school curriculum includes language worksheets, as well as many opportunities for students to read aloud and to develop their vocabulary skills.
Q: Does your preschool curriculum include phonics?
A: Phonics will be introduced where applicable, for example, when children need to learn the correct sounds of certain letters, or when they learn how certain words should be pronounced.
Q: Will students be given homework?
A: All our preschool lessons include a home extension link, which is a simple activity related to what the students learn in class. It usually comprises a suggested activity that parents can enjoy with their child.
For instance, if the children learnt about colours this week, parents can ask their child to help them sort the laundry according to colours. This will help to reinforce what the child learnt in class. It will also give parents an opportunity to have an extended conversation and encourage their child to communicate more effectively.
All our primary school lessons also include suggested activities at home, which often involve parents listening to their child reading aloud, or talking about something that they learnt in class.
Q: Some students are very shy. What if they refuse to speak up?
A: We will not force a child to speak or put him in an uncomfortable situation, as that will further discourage him from opening up. Instead, we will use various fun ways to entice or encourage children to take small steps to speak up. For instance, a shy preschooler can whisper his reply to a puppet that the teacher is holding and the puppet will ‘speak’ on his behalf. Children will also be given opportunities to get used to speaking up within smaller groups first.
Q: How will we know if the students are making progress?
A: Our preschool teachers conduct regular assessments of the children to track their progress in various areas, including pronunciation, vocabulary, sentence structure and public speaking. These assessments are done at the end of each term.
As for primary schools, the principal and/or teachers will be invited to observe the final lesson in the programme and to watch the students deliver their presentations. Our teachers will also provide evaluations of all the participating students.
About our lessons
Q: How long are the lessons?
A: Lessons for preschoolers are held once a week and are 1 hour each. Lessons for primary school students are usually between 1 hour and 1.5 hours each. The programme duration is flexible.
Q: Where are the lessons held?
A: Our programmes are available at various schools in Singapore and are offered to students who are enrolled in these schools.
Q: Do schools need to opt for a full-year programme?
A: While our full-year programmes are more comprehensive, we understand that different schools have different needs, so we also offer customised programmes of varying durations. In addition, we run holiday programmes, post-examination programmes and workshops.
Q: How much do the lessons cost?
A: For prices, please contact us via Tel: 93672949 or send an email to info@kidspeak.com.sg.