Foundation teaches English to infants
Foundation teaches English to infants
JAKARTA (JP): A South Jakarta school is adhering to a
principle that people are never too young to learn by teaching
English to infants, some as young as six months, from families
which are non-native speakers of the language.
The approach of the school, run by Yayasan Pendidikan Whiston
and affiliated with Australia's ABC Early Childhood Training
College, also covers English lessons for mothers and nannies so
they can also speak the language to the children.
The infants are taught the language through play.
"Children learn, observe and experience through playing. They
can start learning from the early age in an environment which can
make them independent," foundation director Yosephine Sumarni
said.
The foundation held an "open day" at the school on Jl. Daksa
in Kebayoran Baru Saturday in which parents of prospective
students could view facilities.
Among the sights was a native English-language speaking
teacher giving a lesson to infants, who were accompanied by their
mothers and nannies.
The babies, aged between six months and one year, listened to
several songs.
"Take the spoon, cut... cut," an Indonesian mother ordered
her eight-month-old child sitting on a plastic chair with dishes
and spoons on the table.
The mother from Jl. Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, said that she
hoped her child would learn English easier in the future.
Yosephine said the children attended the school every Saturday
when their parents usually had free time.
"We only accept between five and eight babies in every class."
In addition to the infant program, Whiston also teaches
English to children aged between one and half years and five in
its programs named Toddler, Toddler plus, Pre-kindergarten and
Kindergarten.
"In the prekindergarten and the kindergarten classes, we don't
teach writing and reading. We give the children prewriting and
prereading programs," she said.
"Reading and writing could make the children bored when they
go to the elementary school."
Whiston has hired six teachers from Australia, the United
Kingdom and New Zealand to educate the children of various
nationalities, including South Korean, Indian, Indonesian and
American.
She said the tuition fees for the infant program was US$150
for three months and between $250 and $1,250 for the toddler and
kindergarten programs.
She said the parents could pay the tuition fees in rupiah at a
special exchange rate of Rp 3,300 to the American dollar. (jun)