Q4: How prepared will my child be for the PSLE English exams?
PSLE English Examination tests (inter-alia) reading, writing and speaking skills in addition to the mechanical and grammatical aspects of the English Language. In our i-Creative Learner Programme, we put emphasis in the areas of Grammar, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Writing Skills (all of which are crucial in the students’ preparation of their academic examinations). Our course contents (which are current and relevant) are formulated to help students develop a maturity level that is required to enable them to respond to the challenges of comprehension at the Upper Primary Level.
In this respect, all successful i-Creative Learner students will easily demonstrate improvement in the areas of analysing, understanding, synthesizing, critical reading and evaluating. They would have been taught not only how to write inspiringly and creatively but to do so with an eye for detail and clarity. Their written essays would have also displayed originality and logic.
Students with a good grasp of the English Language will inevitably also show an improved ability to field questions in all English-based exams such as Science and Mathematics. This is another value i-Creative Learner brings to the students in our programme.
Q5: Is 2 hours per lesson enough to cover so much?
Yes, it is. In our experience, a two-hour lesson is just right in engaging the students and accomplishing the work for the day.
Q6: What is it that will set my child apart from those who have not gone through your programme?
As described above, what will set a successful i-Creative Learner child apart from others is an increased confidence in the usage of the English Language in both the spoken and written form. Our programme does not end at or with exam achievements. Our i-Creative Learner child is an independent learner who understands and treasures the gift of literacy – and is constantly on the quest for knowledge in the unending journey of learning.
Q7: Is it too late for a non-winning kid to come into the i-Creative Learner Upper Primary Programme?
It is i-Creative Learner’s firm belief that every child should ‘start early and finish strong’. We cannot emphasise enough how very important it is to give a child an early head start in building up a strong English foundation. Our winning kids who have been with us since pre-school have emerged strong in their language foundation and this has evidently put them in good stead when they enter primary education. Our programme is systematically structured to take the child from their early literacy years right through their primary school education. Each phase is carefully structured to progressively help the child meet the challenges expected of them at the respective levels.
Whilst as educators we do believe it is never too late to learn, we would like to reiterate the importance of starting early in order to put the literacy processes and language skills into place to meet the challenges of the primary levels. A child coming into the programme only at the Upper Primary Level may not be able to enjoy the full development and progress that an i-Creative Learner Winning Kid will. Progress at this stage may vary and be measured. For that matter, expectations of progress at this late-stage would have to be realistic.
As a matter of experience, students from our winning foundation programme definitely have an added advantage and edge over non-winning kids. They are generally better able not just to cope with the challenges and demands of the language, but to excel in so doing – all this is made possible by an early head start!
Q8: How important is reading at this stage?
Reading in itself, is something that will vary in usefulness to each individual. However, often associated with the reading habit is undeniably, the ability to better understand everyday situations, especially current affairs. This can stimulate the child’s thinking processes and development in many ways. Hence, reading should be a habit cultivated in children as early as possible. At i-Creative Learner we make it a priority to instil in the children, a love for reading. This is further encouraged and sustained through the innovative use of our content materials.
Q9: How qualified are your teachers?
Apart from our teachers’ own teaching credentials and experience, they are also in-house trained to teach the i-Creative Learner curriculum. Our i-Creative Learner teachers are able to create a learning environment that both promotes and inspires learning.
Q10: Can your teachers guarantee an improvement in my child’s marks?
We have more than a decade of success accredited to our i-Creative Learner programme which has benefitted so many children. Our parent-testimonials speak volumes of the positive outcomes. Although countless many have experienced this as a direct improvement in exam grades, this is not the first and only objective of i-Creative Learner, which is to create joy in the learning of English. The improvement goes far beyond the examination results.
Q11: Why are there much fewer upper primary locations than lower primary ones?
Our Teachers are all carefully selected and trained to teach the i-Creative Learner curriculum – and we are happy to say that our current team of pre-school, lower and upper primary teachers are all doing an excellent job with the students registered at their respective centres. i-Creative Learner is aware of the need for more Upper Primary locations. However, as in all real-world situations, the ideal is something sought but only sometimes achieved, due to many a good reason. An example is the need to ensure that all teachers recruited into the programme are experienced beyond simply being tuition or rote teachers. i-Creative Learner has a set of stringent pre-requisites that teachers must meet to join the programme be it pre-school, lower or upper primary.
Q12: Will there be more upper primary locations in future?
Rather than recruiting just to meet the numbers, iCL must ensure that the incumbent teacher is able to deliver. For that matter, we choose to err on the side of caution. Be rest assured, however, that i-Creative Learner is constantly on the lookout for dedicated, qualified, competent and passionate teachers for its Upper Primary programme. So yes, in time to come! |
