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)