Parents' Place is a community-style center set up in Neihu District, Taipei City, by long-time friend Angie Chang. Like me, Angie is an expat married to a Taiwanese man. Her children are also bilingual, mixed-culture kids. The center is the result of years of discussion in our group about how to best meet the needs of our own children as well as those in a similar situation as us. Open for almost two years, there are now many classes and groups on offer. English is the language of instruction, and children of all levels of English are welcome.
Today, I want to introduce the classes that I teach.
1. Writers Workshop - Wednesday afternoons 1:15-3:15pm
The target age group for this class is Grade 1 to Grade 6. Although most of the 8 children enrolled have been in the class for at least a semester, the class is designed in a way that children coming in at any time will feel welcome and will be able to work at their own level.
 |
| First-graders taking part in NaNoWriMo in 2012. |
Hour 1: We are learning English grammar in a fun, story-type way. I chose materials designed for homeschooled and/or gifted and talented children. Grammar is introduced through several books written as stories. We are currently learning about stems (eg. re, in, de) including their history, meaning, and usage. Most of this work is done in the group and their is minimal written work. We then do individual phonics/language work in books for each child's level.
Hour 2: Writing: The goal in this hour is to give children the skills and motivation needed to develop themselves as writers as they move the grades. We are learning stories and material that children in English speaking countries would learn, and doing a short writing project each week. Because the time most of these children spend doing "academic" English work is very limited, I endeavour to choose the best of works available to us.
Cost for the class: TWD900 per week, payable in semester blocks. A TWD300 material fee applies. This subsidies your child's workbook, which you can take home at the end of the course. You can register your interest in the class here:
http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html
2. English in Action - Wednesday afternoons 3:30-5pm
Opened in response to a request for a class for more ESL/EFL level elementary-aged students that enjoyed my style of teaching, this class currently has just two students (2nd Graders) and would definitely benefit from a couple more students.
In this class, I am currently doing a crash-course in Grade 1 level phonics (CVC words at the moment), as well as working on basic reading and writing skills. Vocabulary development is also a focus, and I am using the Wordly Wise 3000 pack for this purpose.
If you have friends with children who plan to immigrate to an English-speaking country or are telling you they would like their children to have a more "Western" style of language education for their local children, please let them know of this option.
Cost for the class: TWD675 per week, payable in semester blocks. A TWD300 material fee applies. This subsidies your child's workbook, which you can take home at the end of the course. You can register your interest in the class here:
http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html
3. Stepping into Literacy - Tuesday mornings 10am-11am
Designed for children of preschool age (3 to 6), this class is a wonderful way to begin the journey into reading and writing. Due to the transient nature of the community, our class has suddenly gone from six students to three, so again, the class size is small enough to ensure your child gets attention. This semester, we are covering Nursery Rhymes from A to Z. We make a folder each week. Children learn the rhyme, read a related reader, do some art and writing preparation work, and play a short game, all in one hour.
Cost for the class: TWD450 per week, payable in semester blocks. You can register your interest in the class here:
http://www.parentsplace.com.tw/Register.html
**All classes at Parents' Place are open to have one free, obligation-free, trial class per student. As this is also my income, I encourage you to come and try the classes and check out the space! Please prevent me from having to go work in a Taiwan-style cram school where it is so much harder to ignite the flames of inspiration in the children. Even though I spend more time preparing these classes than I would need to in the "English Mill", it is so much more rewarding for both myself and the children involved.
Parents' Place Information:
2F, No. 315, Section 4, ChenGong Rd, Neihu District,
台北市內湖區成功路四段315號2F, Taipei, Taiwan
Tel: 0987 576 771
Email: parentsplacetaiwan@gmail.com
Any questions can also be sent to me via the comments section of this blog.
