Maria in panic mode
Tonight I talked with a friend who is teaching English to two little girls, 8 and 11 years old respectively. The mother initially hired my friend to teach the older girl but it wasn't too long before she started helping the younger one. By helping I mean that my friend isn't the only one who tries to teach them. Both girls, apart from their English courses in primary school, attend courses at a frontistirio, which is a private afternoon school for foreign languages. This is normal here since the teaching of foreign languages in state schools is poor. But what is extraordinary is that my friend was hired to help the girls with their courses at the frontistirio. A frontistirio is supposed to teach the kids without making them feel the pressure of the grades. You go there, first of all to learn. Grades are only means of showing the pupil's progress (exactly what they should be at schools as well, but let's not go there) and not some kind of prestige.
Apparently the mother has lost the measure. She thinks that extra tutors will help the other extra tutors. The girls have also a tutor for other courses in primary school, such as Greek, History and Religion. They spent the majority of their day under someone's supervision and they're not helped. The young one hasn't learned yet "yes" and "no" and the older doesn't know when to use Simple Past and Simple Present, but she got As in her previous classes.
The girls need someone to focus on them and start everything from scratch, including courses at primary school. So far they've been getting help to not fail a class. What they need is to learn and more hours of study isn't obviously working. Less is more in this case.
So why am I in panic mode? Well, will I see the signs in time or will it be too late? How will I help my kids with their homework without putting too much work on them? My mother taught me how to write and read simple sentences before primary school and bought me mostly educational games. I felt cheated, I wanted to have more fun, but now I think that even more may be required. Perhaps a bilingual kindergarten? Someone stop me before I lay out a complete program of their studies up to high school graduation.
Apparently the mother has lost the measure. She thinks that extra tutors will help the other extra tutors. The girls have also a tutor for other courses in primary school, such as Greek, History and Religion. They spent the majority of their day under someone's supervision and they're not helped. The young one hasn't learned yet "yes" and "no" and the older doesn't know when to use Simple Past and Simple Present, but she got As in her previous classes.
The girls need someone to focus on them and start everything from scratch, including courses at primary school. So far they've been getting help to not fail a class. What they need is to learn and more hours of study isn't obviously working. Less is more in this case.
So why am I in panic mode? Well, will I see the signs in time or will it be too late? How will I help my kids with their homework without putting too much work on them? My mother taught me how to write and read simple sentences before primary school and bought me mostly educational games. I felt cheated, I wanted to have more fun, but now I think that even more may be required. Perhaps a bilingual kindergarten? Someone stop me before I lay out a complete program of their studies up to high school graduation.
posted by Maria | 10/28/2004 01:32:00 am
Maria geia sou :) Found you through Blogexplosion. I'm Jenny, 31yrs old Greek living in USa. Kai giati milao agglika den mporo nakatalavo lol. Eimai Thessalonikia kai vriskomai stin Ameriki edo kai dyo xronia me tin oikogeneia mou. Xarika poly pou vrika elliniko blog mesa se ola ta ypoloipa.. na sai kala
Geia sou Jenny. Pragmatika xarhka pou mesa stous elaxistous episkeptes pou diabazoun kati apo to blog mou bre8hke kai kapoios apo thn Ellada. Elpizw na se 3anadw :)
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The best way is not to put pressure on the kids. Bilingual education seems a bit far-fetched if you do not live in a bilingual household. However, foreign languages are quite useful (as you can see :P).
My mother is a teacher and she has told me a lot about children in school, children at home and how they react to different tactics of teachers and parents. Each kid is different, yet force and pressure will not help you at all. I wish the mother of these two girls could understand this.
First of all you need to find yourself a Mr. Darcy and then you can start thinking about the education of the heirs. ;)
C,
First of all:
"First of all you need to find yourself a Mr. Darcy and then you can start thinking about the education of the heirs. ;)"
Yes, finding Mr Darcy is the logical first step, but do you really think I was being reasonable when I wrote this?
Seriously now, I understand the potential difficulties of a bilingual kindergarten. The second language must be spoken in the house or else the child will only be confused. On the other hand it's one of the "easiest" ways to learn a foreign language. Amazing how a 3-year old's mind works.
Btw, I decided to leave your second post. Apart from the signature I didn't notice anything else different compared to the first.
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