Join My Classes at Parents' Place - Something for all Learning Levels and Interests

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.

Keeping Up Your Child's English in the Taiwan Public School System

From the time I found I out I was pregnant with my first child in Taiwan, I have been committed to developing my children's English language skills to the level of a native speaker in my home country of New Zealand.  I expect my children to be able pass University exams and to present themselves well when speaking and writing English. I also crave for them to have a passion for, or at least an educated appreciation of, quality literature and poetry.  My children are still young (eight and six years old), but with my series of articles on Taiwan elementary school education options being published in Centered on Taipei magazine, and after observing how they are faring in a New Zealand school right now, I thought it timely to share some resources and strategies I have used from birth through to 2013.  This article focuses on the first two or three years.

We lived with my husband's parents in an apartment for the first six years of my eldest son's life. My husband and father-in-law both speak English, but spoke mostly Mandarin to my son.  I started singing Nursery Rhymes and traditional songs to my son from birth.  If parents can't remember any childhood songs, pregnancy is a great time to start a music collection, and to listen to the music, too.  I also had a collection of picture books, bath books, and cloth books ready.  Some of my favorite titles include:



That's Not My Puppy - one of a series of cute sensory books.

 

 

 

 

We Love Bathtime

 

Pat the Bunny

 

 



Books were considered an integral part of both of my children's toy collections.  There was always one in my bag or on their strollers.  At just a few months old, they would look at the pages whilst waiting for my husband and I at cafes or at friends' houses.  For many expats, this is how their children started their literary journeys.  However, many of my Taiwanese families and friends were amazed that children so young could sit still and enjoy books.  My view is, just like carseats and bike helmets, these things can be integrated smoothly and without fuss at a very young age, and using them can end up being as natural as eating and sleeping.  (My children go hardly anywhere without a book, even now.)

The Spoken Word

Whilst I agree that baby talk, babble and cooing to your young child have their place in developing intimacy and communication, I feel there has been a considerable "dumbing-down" of language used when talking to young children, which in turn can limit their vocabulary and hinder reading development later on, particularly if you are the only native speaker communicating with your child.  I believe parents have a responsibility to let children hear the beauty of many English words and phrases, and to model grammatically correct sentences to their children.  Getting the level right can be a lot of trial and error, especially when children are very young.

This is where poetry and rhymes can prove a delightful way to share your culture and language with your children.  My Taiwanese family often say they are "amazed" at how many rhymes and poems my children know.  It's not rocket science; the more you recite, the more your children enjoy and retain.  Nursery Rhymes are still a great starting point, but there is also a mountain of contemporary poetry youngsters can enjoy.  Start with The Poetry Foundation's dedicated Children's Section, but don't be afraid to make up little rhymes of your own.

When out and about, be diligent about pointing out things in the world around you.  Not only the obvious buildings, trees, and signs, but also the names of flowers, insects, blades of grass, or a fading rainbow.  Use words like fading, brilliant, shiny, dull, enormous, serious... pink can be magneta or baby pink, red can be crimson or flame red.  Talk to your child face-to-face, one-on-one, and with affection and passion for the child, the language, and the world around you.  As best as you can, keep pronunciation clear.  I am always aware that in Taiwan, my children's English language development is a responsibility that falls squarely on my shoulders.  I try to use all the good lessons I learned as a child, no matter how annoying I may have found them at the time.

Building the Reading Habit

My Taiwanese family do not read for pleasure in front of the children.  My husband freely admits that, at age five, his son had read more books than he had in his entire life.  I grew up in a family of readers, where we spent time together daily in the living room, each of us with our own reading material.  Mum would often sneak into her room for a "bit of a read".  We were read bedtime stories every night.  The material was varied, that's for sure! 

I've worked really hard to develop this reading habit in my children.  From the time they were very small, I would read a book to them at each quiet point in the day, and at bedtime.  I did try to encourage the family to read Chinese stories to the children, even purchasing Chinese language picture books, but it was not successful.  Now the children are elemenatry-aged, it is apparent what effect this has had on their reading choices.  I am a bit concerned Chinese will be seen as a chore and English a pleasure, which is good for their English but also a bit sad.

The Taipei City Library has a huge selection of books for children.  Here is a quick how-to on the library, on my blog.  You can also refer to pages 12-13 of Centered on Taipei's May 2012 edition for a comprehensive instruction guide I wrote for library users.  If you want to purchase English books, Book Depository has a free shipping policy and books are reasonably-priced.  You can also visit or contact the Second-Hand bookstore in Jubei.

When the children are very little, you can spend hours poring over the pictures in the picture books.  You don't have to read the story word-for-word.  Illustrations in quality children's books tell many stories of their own.  Look for details.  The colors, style of illustration, expressions, clothing, even the paper, have been chosen with care and reason.  As children get older, you can enjoy many longer stories together. I will share some favorites in my next post.