APRIL 2013

GROWING WITH AGAPE Agape takes pride in the development and successes of its students.

class. They talk about the culture, the scenery and their impressions of the country.

Many of these students are eager to improve. They practise Korean outside the classroom and would like to continue with Korean right up to the Advance level.

Agape is thrilled to have such dedicated students!

Last June, Agape paired with Groupon to release vouchers for their language classes at a low price.

More than 500 students came into the school to find out more about Agape, and were able to take a chance and discover if they wanted to commit to learning a new language through a 12-class trial package.

In particular, the Beginner level Korean class for adults received a lot of interest. People across all walks of life and age groups signed up. Most of them came with a friend, which made them feel more confident to take on their new Korean challenge.

After the package was over, 16 students from this group decided that they weren’t done with learning this language. Choo Pui Shan, 26, shared that

the teachers are what kept her with Agape and spurred her to continue with the language. “The quality of my teachers were beyond my expectation since I saw the offer on Groupon. My teacher, Julie, challenges us, which is great!”

Teacher Julie tries her best to keep her students interested and makes the class lively and active. Originally from Korea, Julie is happy to answer questions that students might have about her culture.

There are also many presentations and discussions by students to allow them to gain confidence when speaking Korean to others. For example, students who have visited Korea are invited to share an account of their trip – in Korean – with the

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

* Growing with Agape – Student Feature: Toh Sin Yee

* French for Kids

* Lunch & Learn – Find out about Agape’s Corporate Classes

* Teacher Spotlight: Learn more about Laure

* What’s coming up? See our latest news & announcements

* Agape Photo Album: See all the fun at Agape!

Agape School of Education

LANGUAGE A quarterly update brought to you by Agape School of Education

APRIL 2013 2

Toh Sin Yee developed an interest for the Korean language the same way many teenagers and young adults do – from a love of K-POP music and celebrities. After a while, it wasn’t enough for her to just sing along to the music; she wanted to really understand and speak the language.

She signed up with Agape nine months ago, and within a short period, she’s grown leaps and bounds. Her teacher says she speaks the language with ease and almost sounds like a native. To Sin Yee, this is a great compliment, “The language sounds beautiful, and when I hear a Korean speak, it’s so flawless, it’s like an art.”

At only 20, Sin Yee already understands that it is an advantage for her to pick up and excel at a third language. Having more three languages at her disposal makes Sin Yee an ideal candidate for work or study programmes.

While many students at her university are interested in going on an exchange programme in Korea, Sin Yee wants more. She hopes to one day have the opportunity to work in a country that she finds extremely interesting.

Now at the Intermediary level, there is still some way to go before Sin Yee will call herself fluent in the language. However, she is keen to pursue it and determined to become internationally certified in Korean.

With that attitude, we have no doubt that she’ll master the Korean language in no time!

1

Singapore is becoming more diverse and cosmopolitan than ever, and we’re noticing that parents are embracing French as a replacement for the traditional second language options in Singapore, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu and Tamil.

As a school registered with the Ministry of Education, Agape welcomes a number of students who take French in lieu of their mother tongue. Some students in the Découverte, or Discovery, classes take French as a third language.

In total, Agape has eight classes held over the weekend for these little learners who are from the ages of 8 to 12. They are grouped together according to their language proficiency; so it won’t be odd to see a 9 year old in the same class as his 11 year old friend.

While our teachers try to inculcate a passion for learning and ensure that

2

students enjoy their lessons, there are still formalized tests that must be carried out.

Students have to sit for term tests (on a quarterly basis) and their results are tracked and sent to their parents and schools, along with a progress report.

While primary schools have the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) for Primary 6 students, students learning French in lieu of a second language do not have this option. Instead, our students will prepare to sit for the DELF examination that assesses their proficiency in reading and writing, and conversation, and award them an international diploma.

Our young students have grown together in their classes, and bit-by-bit progress to the next level. The teachers at Agape could not be more proud!

FRENCH FOR KIDS :-)

French for children has become increasingly popular over the last few years. We take a look at the little ones who are learning

French with Agape.

Growing with Agape STUDENT FEATURE

Agape student Sin Yee recently graduated from the Beginner level for Korean. Inspired by her teacher, Sin Yee hopes to be able to master the

language she loves with Agape’s help.

3

facilitate a graded examination, after which, participants are presented with a Certificate of Achievement. In the final exam of each Level, participants will be assessed on both their written and oral ability in the new language, and will receive a Certificate of Proficiency.

At the Intermediate level, participants have the option to sit for an internationally recognised examination, to be officially certified as proficient in the language.

To find out more about how your organisation can sign up for any of our language courses,

visit our website or email info-ase@agapeschool.edu.sg

With a full time job and a family to go home to after work, it’s a real challenge for working adults to pick up a new language. Agape understands this, and since 2006, has offered Corporate Language Courses to provide an opportunity for busy professionals to learn a new language with ease.

Agape has worked with companies such as HSBC, FJ Benjamin and UBS AG, providing language development solutions. There are 12 languages that you can choose from that can help you build employees’ capabilities whether for business or leisure. Mandarin, French and Korean have been our most popular classes to date.

We try to make it as convenient for you as possible – our teachers travel straight to your office building during your lunch break and provide all the materials you’ll need. Class frequencies are negotiable, with most classes taking place twice a week for one and a half hours. The

“Do you like living in Singapore?” Enthusiastically, Laure says her favourite thing about this tiny island is its weather, despite how often Singaporeans complain about the heat. She takes full advantage of it too, often taking walks in The Botanic Gardens. She’s also become a big fan of Chinese cuisine; Din Tai Fong is a big hit for her and she loves Peking duck and Xiao Long Pao.

Before her journey to our shores, Laure began her career in France as a journalist. Teaching was something she picked up in Singapore, she confesses. In fact, Laure was learning Mandarin when she was offered the position to teach French to teenagers and adults. Mandarin still remains a language she wishes to master sometime in the future, “I took about 10 to 12 lessons, and found the learning curve to be very steep. But I’ll go back to it.”

Over the years, Laure has learnt that each student is different and she tries her best to ensure she gives that individual attention to

Laure dE cHARETTE

Lunch & learn Agape offers companies language courses right at their doorstep.

3

anywhere between 8 to 20 students.

As with all our standard curriculum, there are classes at the Beginner, Intermediate and Advance levels. Each level is made up of two or three portions of 12 sessions each. Depending on your employees’ needs, you can determine how far you’d like to extend the courses.

At the end of every 12 sessions, Agape will

help bring out the best in her students. “The more demanding I am with them, the better they become. I’m here to push them, but never to be negative. Some students have doubts or confidence issues with their ability, but if I am constantly positive and telling them they can do better, it helps them improve.”

Laure’s class of 12 adults now at Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank have gone through 12 months with her and will be sitting for their DELF examination (at Intermediate level) in the next few weeks. Upon passing, they will earn an International Diploma in French, which essentially makes it official that they are fully able to understand and have conversations in French.

In between her classes at Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Laure also teaches at the Agape School of Education premises, contributes to an online French newspaper called the New Economist and is a full time mother to her nine month old baby girl.

Name: Laure De Charette Language Expertise: French

Favourite Movie: Amélie Personal Mantra: Yes, You Can!

“Our team thoroughly enjoyed learning the basics of the language and they are now more confident in expressing

themselves in simple Mandarin to our Dior clients.”

Yuraida Yusoff Martin Assistant Training Manager Christian Dior Singapore Pte Ltd

Students from Credit Agricole Corporate & Investment Bank who are preparing for their DELF

Laure packed up her life in Paris and started her Singapore adventure in 2010. 3 years in now, she loves Chinese food & Singapore’s weather, and has a new baby!

• French, Korean, German, Mandarin, English Beginner level classes for the new quarter (April – June 2013)

• June Holiday Programme: Discovery of French Language through Dance Let your child discover French through French folklore, songs and dance. Age Group: 5-12 years old Duration: 2 sessions of 60 minutes each (Dates to be confirmed) Course Fee: $20

• Mandarin without Fuss Saturdays 4pm – 6pm or 6.30pm – 8.30pm | Sundays 2.30pm – 4.30pm or 5pm – 7pm Improve your mandarin through this class catered for non-mandarin speaking natives, or those who experience difficulties with the language. Our native Chinese teacher comes with over 10 years of experience and a Masters degree.

APRIL 2013

Contact us:

We are registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore. We are also members of The College of Teachers (UK) and the Association of Private Schools and Colleges (APSC), Singapore.

4

What’s coming up?

AGAPE PHOTO ALBUM

Agape School of Education

153 Goldhill Centre 3rd Floor, Thomson Road Singapore 307607

Website: http://agapeschool.edu.eg Telephone: +65 6222 2331