Enrichment vs. Tuition

Parents often ask us: what is the difference between English enrichment and English tuition? As parents, we want our children to do well in school exams, so that they can have a better chance at securing a seat in a well-known secondary or tertiary institution. We want our children to have all the resources at their disposal, as much as we can financially afford, so that they can have an edge over their peers. We want the best for our kids outside the school syllabus, so that they have the exposure and perspective to handle real-world problems when the time comes.

English enrichment is all of that, and more.

A good enrichment class will not just focus on the short term academic needs of the student, such as doing well in the school assessments. It must create an awareness in the student: that life is more than just books and projects; that what is happening around us will ultimately impact our lives in numerous ways. In the mid- to long-term, language is a lifelong learning process. The ability to critically analyse information is crucial for students in the 21st century. And it does not stop there. Head knowledge is one thing, but knowing how to communicate one’s thoughts well is another.

There are many things that we do differently at Creative Campus. We believe these distinguish us not only from tuition classes, but also other enrichment centres. Here, we highlight just a few:

(1) Handling Compositions

A common question parents ask is this, “Why is my child not scoring in compositions? He has all the nice phrases and I send him to the most expensive enrichment centre which gives them student models.” Memorising stock phrases at the Primary level is not the way to go, especially when every other student attends the same tuition or enrichment centre. Imagine how an examiner would feel when he comes across “fluffy magnolia clouds dotted the azure sky” for the 20th time. Naturally, these students will not score well; the beautiful phrases have lost their lustre and become too common, cliched even.

Examiners look for compositions that have character and showcase the writer’s personal voice. At Creative Campus, students learn the necessary skills and techniques to approach the topics. By mastering these techniques, students can apply them to any composition they face, and always craft essays that stand out from their peers.

At the Secondary and General Paper levels, the emphasis is on analyzing the questions with care; brainstorming with fellow students in class to derive the content; approaching the given topic critically from various angles; and then expressing their opinions clearly and coherently. The requirements for a top grade at the upper levels would require much substantiation. Our lively classroom discussions of news and current affairs also serve as a fodder of information for students to flesh out the arguments they need to excel in the discursives.

(2) Handling Comprehension

There are certain skills students should master when approaching comprehension questions. Changes to both the PSLE syllabus from 2015 and the varied examinable components in the ‘O’, ‘A’ and IP levels have left many parents scrambling to understand how best to equip their children with the necessary tools to ace these national examinations. When handling comprehension components, the teachers at Creative Campus will teach students to identify the different question types, then impart the skills to address each question type, such as how to analyse the questions, accurately source for the answer, and then phrase the answer to address the given question.

(3) Communication is Key

In order to stand out from the crowd, a student must know how to communicate his ideas clearly, coherently and succinctly. Knowing and applying information learnt to assignments are prerequisites for entrance into top-tier academic institutions. At Creative Campus, we start students from young to communicate effectively, be it in writing or verbally. The little ones learn about the world via Media Studies, or Show and Tell, while the older students learn how to craft their thoughts and opinions into structured morsels in their essays or for verbal presentations. But don’t just take us at our word. Read our student’s testimonials to find out more.