不过虽然我续了4~6月份的学费,看着虫虫的学习兴致下降,也在思考问题出在哪里。除了孩子的新奇劲儿过去了,是不是教学的进度、节奏有些快了?这种感觉在上周课中尤甚。前一节课Ian教的歌“the wheels on the bus round…”, 这节课压根没有复习(以前他会带着孩子复习唱几遍),倒是又新教了打电话,报电话号码、地址的方法。Ian 在教通话时,一口气教了”telephone, cellphone”, 我感觉孩子明显跟不上他的思路。 讲到地址,“address, sreet, number” 这些新单词也让孩子摸不着头脑(孩子可以用英文数数1到100);而在教各国的国名、民族的说法时Ian通常是画一个大大的地球,五大洲,再指着各个区域、国旗教孩子具体的说法。这种方式对我们成年人来说一点问题也没有,不过对于3~5岁的孩子来说,是不是有点难以理解?三四岁的孩子是否明白美国和西班牙的区别?还有量是不是大了点?
我承认自己是个懒妈妈,每次课后不会按照上课的内容天天给孩子复习,买回来的光盘估计她也不听的。但是我有口语基础,上课时Ian教的那点东西我能上记个大概,尤其是儿歌,基本上回来我会逐句地教她,日常用的口语我也教她,比如“I want to peepee”之类的,不强求她满口英文,先做洋泾浜也可以啊。每天早上送她去幼儿园的路上,我们会唱Ian教过的英文歌,看到地上的垃圾,她会说”plastic, paper”。加上我们不缺课,别的孩子倒经常有不来的。她在班里年龄也算中等偏大的,如果她都觉得吃力,那别的孩子估计不会好到哪里。不是我吹牛,我们孩子算比较聪明的。但是她对把握不了的东西就会排斥,就象学旱冰,刚开始自然掌握不了平衡的诀窍,她就不愿意学。我估计尽管她每节课得了那么多五角星,可是其实很多时候她在听天书,所以她现在不愿意去西瓜那里。
The approach used at Watermelon Kids is quite different than what you may be used to experiencing. I would like to take a few minutes to explain a little about our philosophy and approach to teaching.
First of all, we do our best to provide what other places do not. We teach vocabulary that many places neglect and we offer a learning environment that is hard to find in China. Yes, the pace is fast and can seem overwhelming to people unfamiliar with such a complete method of language immersion. It is supposed to be that way in order to overcome the students' resistance to the language and allow them to reach their full potentials. We do not believe that there is such a thing as "too difficult" or "too easy." In fact, if your child has learned words and concepts in Chinese, he/she is certainly ready to learn the same things in English. So, if your child can say "Fa guo" he/she can say "France" just as well. Many kids can say these things at a surprisingly young age, so don't underestimate the potential of a child just because he/she is young. It really has more to do with the students' comfort level, acceptance of the language, and desire to learn. Even if the words taught in a lesson have not been learned in the students' native language yet, there is still no reason that they can't be learned in English first. Our goal is to create students which can use either language interchangeably. That means they should have no preference for one language over the other. They should simply see language as a tool for communication. In the beginning, almost none of our students see English in this way. Over time, they will.
When your child comes to Watermelon Kids, he/she learns everything presented; have no doubt about that. Whether your child can recall and USE what he/she has learned is another matter, of course, and that has a lot to do with his/her level of acceptance and mental skill. These are things that must be developed with practice and guidance. It takes a lot of time and effort before the students are able to use what they have learned independently. In the meantime, they should follow the guidance of a skillful intstructor. The Watermelon Kids program is designed to develop a "feel" for English rather than a simple understanding. This is because a feeling for the language will allow much better communication. Even though the students are presented with a lot of words, they are not expected to "memorize" big lists of vocabulary. In fact, we discourage rote memorization. We believe that everything a person (especially a child) hears goes directly into his/her memory (even if it's only heard once or twice), so the act of "memorization" is completely unnecessary. Therefore, we don't expect our students to recall every word in the lessons because we believe that, though they do know the words, they simply haven't connected the words to the proper feelings for each and every word. With practice and proper guidance, they will make the connections to those words and they will come out naturally. This is a process completed on an individual basis. Everyone is different in this regard because the connection must be made by the student. Attitude is very essential
I'm very sorry to hear that some kids begin to lose interest in our English classes. I don't know the specific reasons for your own child's loss of interest, but I do know that a child's interests change like the wind. One minute they like to play with yo-yos, the next minute they want to play with blocks. One minute they like Johnny, the next minute they like Susie. Children are also easily discouraged by the slightest difficulties. Your child could start playing basketball, fall down on the court, scrape his/her knee, and decide never to play again. You can let them follow their childish whims or you can teach them a little discipline and make them stronger for it. Personally, I think that's what a good parent should do, but that's just me.
Now, your child may realize that our classes force him/her into the uncomfortable position of communicating with a foreign language from the very beginning. It is indeed uncomfortable to use a language you are not familiar with. At first, you'll have to say things you don't even comprehend and you'll have to use your brain to figure things out on your own. For some, that's more work than they are willing to do. This is especially true for students that don't understand the value of learning in the first place. Fortunately, there are adults in this world that understand what the future holds for them and can guide them to a better life.
Remember that it is easy to start something, but difficult to finish. There are SO MANY students that begin learning English as a foreign language and SO FEW that master it. There are far too many that don't take it seriously until it is too late.
We get messages from adults all the time that plan to travel to a foreign university or have an important job offer. They want to know how they can learn English in one month! It's too bad they didn't try sooner. Now it is too late for them. One month is far too little time. No matter how hard you try, you can't pour a gallon of water into the cap of a soda bottle. Yet, with time, that same cap could empty a swimming pool.
I was once an instructor for Gymboree in China. I understand their program quite well. I was actually asked to head their newer English program a few years ago, but I turned it down because I had plans of my own. They are a great (though expensive) place to take your kids in that they also offer a unique and useful environment for children that isn't easily experienced in China. They also have an approach to learning that develops the "feelings" of the child rather than simply focusing on "understanding" and "memorization." For this reason, I think their program is effective and highly beneficial. Although they are certainly better equipped to tend to kids of a very young age, for children who are ready to attend kindergarten (and older), Watermelon Kids is the better choice. Not only are we cheaper, but we have a much better focus on the English language. Gymboree was NOT developed with this in mind. It was simply a program developed for kids that ALREADY speak English and do not face the same difficulties Chinese kids face.
I hope that you have the strength and vision to see your child master the English language. If you seek a good program with visionary teachers, I think you've come to the right place. Now, all you have to do is continue studying. Don't give up and you will see just how far your child can go. We believe that will be far indeed.. 作者: watermelon 时间: 2007-4-10 02:28 标题: “妈妈呀,终于翻译好了。累死我了,困死我了。深夜两点半了
Many many thanks for your answer in time.
I'm not sure if I can take part in the meeting on Saturday. But I ensure myself as a friendly,openning,active person. That's why I wrote this letter and discussed it publicly. I wish both u and me can improve our work through this discuss.Also,that would be fine if others can get some useful idea from it.
I have acknowledged I am still a fresh man in children education. You and Ian are experts in this term and have more experience. On the other hand,I am kid‘s mother and I spend all of my attention on her when she study in watermelon’s garden.And I know her advantage and shortcoming much more than others . Everyone have their own characteristic. I hope her problem is just a common problem and you have already got the way to solve it.
Three years ago I spent one year to study oral English in Web English center. I consider I was a good student and got a considerable achievement there. Although I’m losing the ability now,because of without opportunity to use in daily work. I still remember the way to study. That’s practice and practice, try to forget Chinese and think in English. However, I have a lot o f vocabulary comparing with chongchong, and it’s easy for me to catch up with teacher’s thinking. I’m not sure how a new student feel in that case. And I still remember other student’s confused expression when they couldn’t understand teacher’s words. That’s true we can guess what the teacher said, but that’s should base on only less words we don’t understand. So it’s not strange for Chinese customers to value Web’s effection polarizely.
Anyway, I trust you and appreciate what you have done. Wishing your kid garden growing fast and bloomy.
通常一周两次,相对的复习工作可以少做很多。有的相对的不复习也记住很多东西。
孩子在记忆周期内,又来上课反复了。所以很多上一周两次课程的孩子的妈妈们发现没有给孩子复习,孩子也可以记住很多东西,当然我们不要求孩子记住所有的东西。但相对的,孩子更多的可以As Learn As much they can.. 作者: 阳光妞妞 时间: 2007-4-13 17:40
过去那么多年了,不知道当年退出的同学们,是否你们和当年一起来的,但坚持一直在西瓜乐园上到现在的孩子一样,八岁九岁,十岁,十一岁都都达到母语国家同龄孩子的水平了?我们有的孩子还是,美国母语的好学生水平。
我们当年坚持到现在的,几乎全部都母语级别水平了!
呵呵呵。
The truth told us, we are not over confidence at all: