Disheartened? Read On..
Mission:
I believe that every child can be taught.
Only by nurturing the child's interest towards Chinese, can he/she maximise their potential.
"I hate Chinese"
"...not anymore"
Home/Group Tuition
1 YEAR GUARANTEED IMPROVEMENT
- Tailor-made lessons by local ex-school teacher
(40 years experience)
- Change negative attitude & enjoy learning
- Learn oral, comprehension,writing skills, cloze passage, summary, proverbs via exam papers, internet, newspaper, webcam, skype
-PSLE/O/A level/IB CHINESE /Oral Exam Preparation
-Learn to do projects: presentations/book reviews/newspaper articles
- Analyse top-school/PSLE/chineseB/"O"/"A" level/
IB CHINESE past year series
- 2 pax per group, 1-2 pax for home tuition
- Pri 5-CHINESE B/ Sec 4/
A level/IB Chinese
- Sec 1 - 3 Higher Chinese
*Results Guaranteed*Since 1980
Mr. Kok 97641616
Please bring along your IPAD and MOBILE TABLET DEVICES for subsequent lessons
15%> 35% >50% >65%>80%>95%
Scroll down for 2019 Schedule!
20.10.07
Sec 3 student commenting on Mr Kok's lessons
I decided to attend this tuition to accompany my cousin, who's going to take her O Levels this year.
Having attended the tuition for the past month with my cousin, I've understood more about the format of the O Level Examination. Being sec3 only, this has provided me with a headstart.
I've learnt many skills that can be used in answering the comprehension questions. However, the composition skills he taught were the most helpful to me. From correcting simple mistakes, to helping me expand concepts, Mr Kok has helped me in my composition writing in many ways.
Mr Kok usually discusses the situation of the essay before we start writing to let us have a clearer view of what we were writing. This provides a personal response instead of the usual classroom experience, and during this time, it provided me with an opportunity to improve on my oral skills.
Mabel - 20/10/2007
Sec 4 student about to sit for O Level Examinations
My initial fears of the Chinese language lessened as the lessons progressed. Mr Kok taught me by giving me some practice papers from top schools to improve on my analysing and answering skills. My doubts about the Cloze Passage section were decreased after he assured me that it was a mere 5% of the entire score. Compositions were what he emphasised on - they carried the highest weightage of marks. I learnt essential composition skills and good phrases to add into my essays. My grasp of the Chinese language improved and I could form sentences in the "Chinese" structure - before, I was using the "English way". I am also able to express my thoughts and emotions in my essays, elaborating them further so that the marker would be able to relate to them ( and thus award me higher marks! ).
The O Levels start next week! It'll be my second time taking the Chinese paper. Wish me luck!
- Jia Ni ( 20 Oct 2007 )
12.10.07
Yearning for A/A* in Chinese?
(15/10-19/10) 5 days intensive
Tailor-made tution to build up confidence in Chinese Exam by local ex-sch teacher(26 yrs)
* Exam techniques/prevent losing marks
* Analysing top-sch papers
* P2-P5, Sec 4
* Commonly tested composition topics
* Oral skills/LC/Comprehension & cloze passage techniques
* 8.30/9.30/11am(1.5h at my place)Group size 2/4
(1 to 1 at your place)2/4pm
+Result G'teed+
Mr Kok 97641616
(near Eunos MRT)Since 1980
For Exam tips and testimonials,view:youtube.com/vincentkokhs or chinesetutionsg.blogspot.com
19.8.07
*P4-P6:Singapore School P6 Prelimary Exam: Composition Tips
Why must we review the topic?
Before you write, you need to read the topic carefully to find out the objective of
the question, so that you will be able to capture the important points, as a result
you will not have a problem of writing something out of topic/point or running out
of time.
The methods and steps for topic review
. Find out the keywords , for e.g in "My Favourite Present", a present shows that it
can not be more than 1 present.
. Use important factors as a basis , think about these keywords and related
details.
Draw outline - a waste of time or save time?
It is not a waste of time. Draw the outline about 5 minutes to avoid getting out
of point/topic or too long.
Five minutes to think-not more than that not less than that
Design the framework of the picture.
Pictorial and tabular composition
During the process of thinking, if you realise the words cannot express your
thoughts, you can use picture or table to temporarily replace the complete
sentences.
Something that upsets me
People: I, my friend
Place: School
Time: After school
Reason: my friend criticised me in school
Process: After school-Lunch-play-my friend lost
to me when playing a game-my friend was unhappy-my friend says that I look down on him.
Ending: I was very upset and disappointed.
Topic Review-important factors-help your train of thoughts
Although words are not included in the 5 minutes thinking time, some keywords in the
topic must be paid attention to. Also, we must keep reminding yourself to follow
these plans and outlines.
Subject: An Unforgettable neighbour
Keywords: " One Person "
" Unforgettable"
" neighbour "
Steps to writing composition
1.For picture composition, go through the picture carefully,
understand the theme of the picture, plan the conclusion.
2.Set the main subject, choose the ingredients and list down the important points so
that you will not miss out anything.
3.Plan the Outline: must separate into few paragraphs, the rough ideas of each
paragraph.
4.Constantly check the content, after every paragraph.
5.Take note of the number of words and Time management.
(150 words) (50 minutes)
6.After finishing the composition, you must
a)read the composition from the top to the bottom
b)Carry out the necessary corrections
c)Make sure the story flows.
18.8.07
*P5-6:17 August 07 PSLE Chinese Oral Exam Analysis
Jing Wen a dumb" girl who only nod and shake her head can elaborate her idea to a paragraph in conversation.She now has confidence of getting 40/50 for the oral.The girl who look like a Korean film star has this attitude change which is considered as another miracle.
16.8.07
P3-S4:Nervous! How?
22.7.07
20.7.07
15.7.07
*P4-6: PSLE Oral Examination advice from Andrew!
5.7.07
*P4-6: A Guide for PSLE Oral Exam
1. Reading the passage
2. Picture description
3. Conversation
5 minutes prior to the actual oral examination, here are a few things you should do while waiting for your turn:
1. Read the passage a few times
2. If you encounter any words that you really (I mean really and seriously) don't know how to read, skip it
3. In order to prevent missing out important parts of a picture, make it a point to describe it in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction
4. You're expected to describe the picture continuously; the more detailed you are, the better
Dos and Donts
1. Refrain from pointing at the passage or picture with your finger
2. Give your opinions about the things you see in the picture. Use words like "Wo jue de", "Wo ren wei" or "Wo xiang". If you can't tell if the person is an officer for example, (probably due to poor printings), use words like "Zhi yuan" as a general term to identify the character.
3. Try to control your reading speed;
> You might miss a word if you read too fast or
> Too slow and you might not be fluent enough
4. Stick to the theme and mood of the passage and read it as if you are really 'feeling' the story. Some moods include:
> Happiness
> Disheartened
> Angry
Dialogue of old people should sound slow, young characters should sound fast. It's all about the mood :)
5. Always remember to use the right mood for the passage but do not over exaggerate.
*P4-6:Picture description techniques
2. Do not talk about irrelevant subjects or topics in a picture description.
3. Leave questionable parts of the picture to the conversation section and try not to dwell too much on the subject as time is of course, precious.
4. Describe the environment seen in the picture first
5. After doing so, get right to the point of systematically describing parts of the picture either in a clockwise or an anti-clockwise direction.
*P4-6:Conversation for PSLE
P5-S4:*** ESSENTIAL TIPS FOR CHINESE 'O' LEVEL ORAL EXAM ***
2. Always keep an eye contact with the examiner
3. Put a smile on your face; it's not like the examiner's gonna kill you :)
4. Make a conscious effort to refrain from bad habits like shaking your legs. Doing so will give a bad impression of yourself to the examiner.
5. Read it aloud and with clarity, try not to 'press' your voice or you will sound like you're mumbling. You can prevent doing so by placing your paper more to the front and not so close to yourself
6. Be polite to the examiner; if he/she were to ask you a question and you don't catch the meaning, gently ask the examiner to repeat the question (e.g 'Qing Nin Chong Fu") For information's sake, "Nin" is a more respectful word to address the examiner
7. Refrain from using English words like "then", but instead, speak fully in Mandarin like "Hai You", "Hou Lai", "Er Qie", or "Jie Zhe Xia Lai". "Excuse me" can be said as "Bu Hao Yi Si". Speaking in English may also result in the deduction of marks
8. Skip the word if you don't know how to read it. For words that you're unsure of, find its closest pronunciation and say it quickly because the teacher might not be able to catch what you just said and will assume that you have read it correctly anyway
9. In a conversation, the first sentence makes the best impression. Try not to spend too much time thinking about what you should say on the first sentence. You don't have to think of really bombastic words or sentences to express yourself, just use simple words which you can say in confidence. Think on your feet, and you will be able to score.
10. Take note of a passage's mood (With a happy theme, read it as if you really are a happy person) and emphasize on important words. "Feel" what you say and don't read it with a single-toned voice.
11. Pause at regular intervals if a sentence is too long. Don't read the entire sentence or you may run out of breath. You can prevent doing so by reading the passage a few times (before you sit for it) and take note of its structure
12. Treat your examiner as a friend, and both of you will be able to converse and interact well with each other. The examiner isn't here to test your knowledge in a conversation, but instead, wants to see how well you can talk to him/her. This will in turn lighten up the tense atmosphere, so you can actually enjoy talking to the examiner.
*P5-6:MEMORIZE: PRAISES & CRITIQUE For PSLE Conversation, Composition or Comprehension
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My Profile
Profile : Designed by Local Ex-School teacher (34) Years of experience; Since 1980)
Employment History:
> Bedok View Sec -> 1980, Sec 1-4 Basic/Express and Higher Chinese
> Maris Stella High -> 1983, Sec 1-4 Normal/ Higher Chinese
> CHIJ -> 1984, Pri 1-6
> Monfort Sec -> 1986, Sec 1-4
> St. Theresa Convent -> 1989, Pri 2-6
> Stanford College -> 1984-1994, 'O' & Pre-U levels
> Top Grade Tuition Centre -> 1994-2004, Pri 1 - 'A' Level
> Home Tutor -> 2004-Now, Pri 2 - 'O' level
> Kong Hwa School -> 2007, P4,5 & 6,Chinese and Higher Chinese
I have tutor students mainly from these schools:
Pri School: ACS, MGS, Nanyang Pri, Ai Tong, Ngee Ann, CHIJ, Catholic High, Maris Stella, Tao Nan
Sec School: ACS(I), ACS(Barker), MGS, Fairfield Methodist, CHIJ, Catholic High, Maris Stella, RI, RGS, SJI, Dunman High, Anglican High, NUS High School of Mathematics and Science, School of Science and Technology
In the past, i would tend to focus more on those gifted and intelligent Higher Chinese students hailing from top schools. But now I specialise in teaching those students who are unable to concentrate and on the verge of giving up Chinese. I find this to be more challenging yet fulfilling. Very often, every teacher will choose to teach the ace students, neglecting the weaker students in the process. I aim to fill up this gap to achieve the higher aims of education.
Teaching adults of non-Chinese nationalities for 10 years
I have also coached foreign adults who are learning Chinese for the first time( American, Britons, Australians, Japanese, French, Indians and Russians). Some decided to pick it up based on interest, some for career needs. Teaching them from scratch may seem difficult, but they are usually more diligent and focused making the process easier. Initially without any knowledge of Chinese word or phrase, they go on to be able to speak confidently even though it's not fluent and accurate. In addition, I would teach them Chinese culture and philosophy (bringing them to drink Chinese tea, Chinese restaurants to use Chopsticks etc.) Teaching them is always very enjoyable because they tend to be very keen to learn the language, appreciating its beauty.
Using Skype to teaching Singaporean living in America
In 2012, twice a week, I would teach her almost everything required in the O level Syllabus. She would email me the assignments and I would mark and go through the errors via webcam. Skype programs allow the other party to view your screen, facilitating easy exchange of materials. Through omy.com.sg, she was able to keep in touch with local news and do up newspaper article reviews which is required in the syllabus. Oral exam and Paper 2 components could also be prepared likewise over thousands of miles. In 2013 she came back to Singapore to do her O levels. The online skype lessons were very beneficial so that there will not be too big a gap in time where she lost touch of Chinese.
Disheartened with Chinese results?
28% ----> 55% -> 1.5 years*
> Afternoon group tuition for Sec 1 - 3 (Higher Chinese)
*Can be proven with students' testimonials
+Guranteed Improvement in 1 year+
Description :
Catering to both strong and weak students!
TACKLING PSLE/'O' LEVEL ORAL EXAMS & ESSAY TOPICS with techniques like:
-> Analyzing mistakes
-> Establish strengths & boning up on weaknesses
-> Prevent losing marks
-> Time management
-> DAILY, INTENSIVE TUITION for PSLE & 'O' LEVELS
-> Preparing P5s & Sec 3s for 2008
Now focusing on 1 to 2 weak students with 30-40 marks to change their negative attitude towards Chinese, guaranteeing to improve them.
Starting from now, there will be intensive / long-term June holiday tuition.
> THOSE WHO JOIN MY INTENSIVE TUITION ARE
- UNABLE TO SCORE ANY HIGHER THAN THEIR BEST RESULT
- G'TD IMPROVEMENT IN 1 YEAR'S TIME
- TAILOR-MADE programs to ensure you to build up INTEREST & CONFIDENCE in Chinese Exams
- Specializes in individual tutoring for NON-Chinese
- Learn Chinese in a FUN way: CD/DVD ROMS, Newspapers, and the Internet.
- Preparing Secondary 1 ,'O' and the 'N' Levels
- Group size: 2 or 4
- Home tuition fees: Depends on students' level of standard
Objectives : To make sure students embrace Mandarin as a subject and incorporate the language into their daily lives by means of listening, hearing, reading and understanding, and ultimately motivating them to like the subject as a whole, which would lead to a significant improvement in their grades.
Outline :
1. Oral skills, picture description, listening compre & CD Roms
2. Commonly tested composition topics & writing skills
3. Comprehension & close passage techniques
4. Go through top-school exam papers
5. Analyzing past-year papers
6. Current affairs
7. Book reviews
Syllabus : Covering all syllabus set by MOE.
Days : Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun
Time : 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm, 8:00 pm
Location : Home tuition: 3 P.M - 4:30.P.M, 5-6:30 (Mon-Thurs)
Group tuition: 8 A.M - 7:30P.M (Weekdays-Sat)
* 2 to 4 students may attend tuition at my place around which should be around the East Zone. Most preferably Marine Parade, East Coast, Katong, Joo Chiat and Eunos.
Monthly Fees : S$160.00
Contact : 97641616
S1-4:Listening Comprehension tips for 'O' Levels
> The listening comprehension are related to the following topics/subjects:
- News
- Stories
- Broadcasting
- Reports
- Short passages
- Speeches
You will have to answer 10 questions in the Listening Comprehension. This exam weighs 10 marks and would last for 30 minutes or so.
> Think "What, when, where, who, why?" and "How?", otherwise, you would probably run short of time
> Listen to more speeches so that you can bring out a more accurate tone while realizing your own flaws or mistakes.
>The Listening comperhension examination questions will be read by the radio station DJs so we should familiarize ourselves to their TONE and ACCENT.
> You can listen to these speeches by tuning in to radio stations like: 95.8, 93.3, 97.2 or 100.3.
> You can also go to these websites:
mypaper.sg/myvodcast.html
youth.zaobao.com/friday/pages/777nie_sanjia.html#dhj
youth.zaobao.com/friday/popcorn.html
> These few days, try to spend as much time as you can to practice Listening Compre. by tuning in to the radio, hearing vodcasts and asking yourselves questions about what you have heard. In the examination hall, remain cool and calm, and you will have no problems with your L.C. All the best for your L.C Exam!
S1-4:Latest Listening Comprehension Samples
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S1-4: Chinese 'O' Level Oral Exam sample pictures
S1-4:Chinese 'O' Level Oral Exam tippers
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Good conversation phrases:
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Secondary 4 Chinese Prelim Oral Exam topics (Selected schools)
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S1-4: 2007 COMPOSITION/ORAL EXAM HOT TOPICS
S1-4: Tippers on conversations
which stands for: Concept, Rationalize, Experience, Examples, Thought
2. Don't just respond with a "yes" or a "no" but instead, elaborate further by explaining your reasons so the examiner won't have to continually prompt you to do so.
3. A speech requires you to be more expressive, but refrain from being too informal just in case you would or might accidentally utter an undesirable word of the language like "Bu shuang".
P6 & S4 :Scans of testimonials
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Hear a testimony!
(The file will be available for 7 days or when it hits 100 downloads. If it does, I'll upload it again.)
Click: Testimony 1, Testimony 2