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K1 to Primary 5 · Jurong West
Primary English tuition in groups of three
English is the subject parents assume will sort itself out, because their child speaks it all day. Then the composition marks come back at 22 out of 40 and nobody can say exactly why. Usually the answer is specific and teachable.
What we work on
K1 & K2 — sounds before spelling
Phonics, blending, sight words, listening comprehension and speaking in full sentences. At this age reading aloud together does more than any worksheet, so that's most of what we do.
Lower Primary (P1–P3) — the mechanics
Vocabulary built in context rather than from lists, sentence structure, punctuation, tenses and subject-verb agreement, and the beginnings of picture composition — how to look at four pictures and find the story, including what happens in the blank fourth box. We also start comprehension properly: how to find the answer in the passage instead of guessing from memory.
Upper Primary (P4–P5) — where the marks actually are
Composition. Most children lose marks not on grammar but on structure: a beginning that takes half the page, a climax in two lines, and a rushed ending. We work on planning in ninety seconds, showing character reaction rather than narrating it, and building a bank of openings and phrases your child can genuinely use — not memorised paragraphs bolted onto any topic, which markers spot immediately.
Comprehension. Question types are taught explicitly — literal, inferential, vocabulary-in-context, and the "why do you think" questions that need evidence from the text. Children learn to lift and rephrase rather than copy whole sentences, and to answer the question that was asked.
Paper 2 components. Grammar cloze, comprehension cloze, synthesis and transformation, editing, and vocabulary MCQ. These are pattern-based and highly trainable, and they are where a diligent child can pick up ten marks fairly quickly.
Oral and situational writing. Reading aloud with proper phrasing, and stimulus-based conversation — how to give an answer with a reason and a personal example instead of one flat sentence. For situational writing we drill purpose, audience and tone, because that's what the format marks reward.
How the lessons run
- Everyone speaks, every lesson. With three children there's nowhere to hide, which is exactly what a quiet child needs before oral.
- Compositions are marked in front of them. Written feedback that a child reads alone changes nothing. We go through the marking together so they see the marker's logic.
- Rewriting is part of the work. One paragraph rewritten three times teaches more than three new compositions.
- Reading is assigned and discussed. Vocabulary that arrives through a story sticks. Vocabulary from a list survives until the spelling test.
Signs your child needs English help
- Compositions are grammatically fine but score in the middle band every time
- They lose marks in comprehension for answers that are "nearly right"
- They speak fluently but freeze in oral
- Their writing has the same three sentence structures throughout
- They read very little outside of school
English class fees
| Level | Lesson length | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| K1 & K2 | 1 hour | $100 per month |
| Lower Primary (P1–P3) | 1.5 hours | $130 per month |
| Upper Primary (P4–P5) | 1.5 hours | $150 per month |
Assessment books, weekly worksheets, marking and feedback included. No registration fee or deposit. See the full timetable and what's still open →
Common questions
Do you give model compositions to memorise?
No. I'll show your child strong examples and we'll pull them apart to see why they work, but memorised compositions read as memorised, and markers penalise a story that doesn't fit the given topic. What we build instead is a usable set of techniques and phrases your child can adapt.
My child speaks English at home but still scores badly. Why?
Spoken fluency and exam English are different skills. Paper 2 rewards precision with tenses, prepositions and connectors that conversation never tests, and composition is marked on structure and vocabulary range rather than whether the story makes sense. It's a very common pattern and it responds well to targeted work.
How much writing will they do?
Every lesson involves writing, but not always a full composition — often a single paragraph, rewritten and improved. There's a piece of written homework each week, which I mark and return with comments before the next lesson.
Do you teach P6 English?
No — at P6 I take Maths only. English runs from K1 through P5, which is where the foundation for PSLE actually gets built; by P6 most of the remaining gain comes from paper practice rather than new teaching. If you need a P6 English tutor I'm happy to point you towards one.
Do you work on oral?
Yes. Reading aloud and stimulus-based conversation are built into every Upper Primary lesson — giving an answer with a reason and a personal example rather than one flat sentence. Doing that from P4 is what makes the P6 oral manageable.