Singapore is a tuition nation. Based on the Household Expenditure Survey conducted by the Department of Statistics, in 2017/18, Singapore households spent S$1.4 billion on tuition. The tuition industry in Singapore has grown increasingly difficult to navigate, and many parents find themselves lost in the vast selection of courses, teachers, and centres available. Where should one even begin when enrolling their child in English tuition?
In this article, we will address 4 realistic facts about attending tuition classes in Singapore.
1. Improvement takes time
We’ve all seen it – advertisements for crash courses or holiday bootcamps, screaming “Proven results! Improvement guaranteed!” We are not claiming that this is untrue, but the short timeframe of these workshops may lead both students and parents to believe that they will see improvement by the first lesson. This could not be further from the truth!
It may seem as if the student is learning and improving quickly when they are simply asked to memorize and regurgitate phrases, concepts, and answers. However, it takes time for a dedicated tuition teacher to truly teach a concept or a framework from its foundation, such that a student truly understands the meaning and thought process behind it.
Not only does it take time for student to grasp new ideas, but it also takes time for students to apply them independently, without the guidance of their tuition teachers. Additionally, a skilled tuition teacher needs time to understand and evaluate the child’s ability, strengths, areas of improvement, as well as learning style, and adjust their teaching style when needed.
Hence, we recommend that parents do not jump from tuition centre to tuition centre. This causes unnecessary stress for both students and parents, as both must continuously adjust to new arrangements. Since each student is different, the time it takes for their efforts to show improvement will be different too.
2. There is no one-size-fits all
Nowadays, there are numerous types of tuition in Singapore. There are tuition centres with large class sizes, tuition centres with small class sizes, private tutors, and online tuition services. Each of these modes work differently for each student, and parents need to know which is best for them and their child.
Tuition centres with small class sizes are best for students who not only want to learn in a classroom setting which fosters sharing and teamwork, but also for students who want to interact with the teacher closely during the writing process.
At Write Edge, we are firm believers in the effectiveness of our small class size of 6. Students get the best of both worlds: Compared to private tuition, students can express their views, discuss, and brainstorm new ideas alongside their peers. Compared to a larger class size, there are fewer distractions and teachers are better able to guide the student closely during the writing process.
On the other hand, online tuition reduces travelling time by allowing students to study from the comfort of their own homes. Parents can gain a better understanding of their child’s studies and are in greater control of the study environment to ensure their child stays focused.
As part of Write Edge’s online English tuition programme, alongside online classes, we offer access to our very own e-learning portal, WELearn. Students can access our high-quality content and structured materials to revise with their preferred device, location and time of their choosing. By revising at their own pace, a student’s ability to retain and recall information is dramatically increased.
3. Tuition is an investment
With the vast selection of tuition services in Singapore comes a seemingly wider variety of prices. When it comes to tuition, we believe consistency is key. Teachers must work alongside students regularly so that their writing progress can be monitored, especially when it comes to students who are about to sit for their PSLE English Language papers. With consistent weekly lessons comes a price tag, and parents must consider the sustainability of paying these long-term costs before enrolling their children in tuition classes.
However, price should not be the only factor. Parents should also consider the quality of tuition services and goodness of fit between the teacher and the child. We offer a trial lesson for students to experience a part of our writing programme, such that both parents and students can make more informed decisions without the stresses of financial commitment.
4. Children must be empowered to succeed
In Singapore, tuition is seen as a requirement. Many parents fear that without tuition, it is difficult for their children to keep up in school. However, tuition will have limited benefit unless the child wants to succeed. When students feel forced to improve or learn, they still may be able to do so, but there is a limit to how far they can go. To achieve success, they must make a conscious decision and effort to do so.
If parents force their children to go for tuition classes without also encouraging them to take responsibility for their own learning and education, it is difficult for a child to truly succeed. In the same vein, if teachers force students to remember and regurgitate information without instilling passion, confidence, and the drive to learn, students are unlikely to enjoy or perform well in tuition classes.
We encourage parents to discuss enrollment in tuition with their children and consider their feedback after attending tuition classes. Engaging in respectful and open discussion instead of forcing a child down a certain path will help them learn to make deliberate choices about their education, their future, and their lives.
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