Berries teaches easy way to learn Chinese language
Berries teaches easy way to learn Chinese language
Learning how to speak Chinese and to write Chinese characters
can be a burdensome activity. But Berries World of Learning, a
Chinese enrichment center in Graha Rekso Kelapa Gading, East
Jakarta, knows the secret of how to help children learn the
richness of the language. Operated under license from Berries
World of Learning in Singapore, the center is designed to create
excitement about learning Chinese among children aged three to
12.
A Place where learning Mandarin is an enjoyable, lasting and
enriching experience. From humble beginnings with 80 students in
1993, Berries has today groomed more than 15,000 students to
learn and enjoy Mandarin language and culture.
Berries, which runs five centers in Singapore, divides its
classes into Nursery 1 and 2, Kindergarten 1 and 2, and Primary 1
to 6. Through a "learn, enrich and feel" approach, the center
encourages children to love the language. Entering the
500-square-meter Berries in Kelapa Gading, children have access
to colorful classrooms, a storytelling room to enhance
comprehension and communication skills, and a library that is
well-equipped with children's books to improve vocabulary and
Chinese reading skills.
Berries in Chinese is bai (a hundred) li (energy) guo (fruit),
meaning that in Berries World of Learning teachers use 100% of
their energy to bear fruit, and students use 100% of their
attention to enjoy the fruits.
Well-trained and experienced teachers, using a curriculum
approved by the Ministry of Education in Singapore, guide
children to appreciate the culture while they are learning the
language. During two-hour classes, children are exposed to
activities such as recognizing and pronouncing Chinese characters
through fun games, rhymes, singing, dancing, arts and crafts, as
well as riddles. Teachers also use PowerPoint with lively
animations and other audio-visual tools to stimulate children's
curiosity about the language. Students are also exposed to the
history of Chinese characters, an appreciation of traditional
music, and tea ceremonies.
"At Berries, children are encouraged to engage in purposeful
play so the joy of learning is brought out in every lesson. If
children are given pressure or examinations they are easily
disappointed if they fail, and will give up the learning
process," says Ita Chrisjanty, the cofounder of Children First
Indonesia Foundation. "It's very important that we maintain our
standards so that we can prepare our next generation for the
international market"
It has been a truly challenging, yet wonderful and rewarding
process for us to bring this creative, innovative and tested
learning method to Indonesia. In our preparations to introduce
this revolutionary learning system, we have seen how the
propriety programs have changed the way that Mandarin is taught
to children, and the amazing way in which kids have learnt to
love the language.