25.7.09

不要忽視嬰兒首年的學習能力

千萬不要忽視嬰兒首年的學習能力。
動物有求生的本能,必須學得早、學得快,學得準。
一出生,必須能找到食物,能辨認環境,學習溝通的能力。

視覺、聽覺、語音資料庫、辨音系統,基本在首半年完成。

嬰兒通過大量和人接觸學習,建立龐大的記憶體和資料庫。
語音資料庫愈大、音域愈闊、辨音系統愈強,語言能力愈高。
語言引發嬰兒全方位的學習,記憶庫愈大,反應愈快,人愈聰明。

東山語言中心,投入了一萬小時研究,積累了5年的經驗。
東山語言中心是全球第一個為嬰幼兒提供多語培訓的中心。
中心培育了大批資優兒,自信、開朗,英語說得地道,通多國語言。

香港在語言方面的研究,得天獨厚,有人才、有資源、有條件。
香港在語言訓練方面,已遠超中、英、美、法、俄等單語國家。
香港已創立全球首個嬰幼兒多語教育中心!做出了驕人的成績。

歡迎出席週六下午2至3時半的家長研討會。
金鐘海富中心一期5樓,電話:2866 2028。
最新的研究發現,可能改變孩子的一生。

23.7.09

情緒比智商重要

KJ是很值得看的一套電影。這套電影反映,父母從小栽培、得名師指導,才能成才。5年來,東山已栽培了大量語言天才。

這套電影帶出另一個問題,孩子長大成人,事業開始初露頭角,為什麼父母要離異,給年青人這麼大的打擊?KJ只看到父親有第三者,但為什麼婚姻會出現第三者,這是否單方面的問題?

冰凍三尺,非一日之寒。婚姻出現裂縫,是否雙方面在處理彼此的關係上,都出了錯?港人自幼重視IQ的培訓,但往往不重視EQ的訓練,不懂處理個人的情緒或關心別人,不懂談話的藝術和逗人開心。

東山語言中心,視學生為子侄。在成長過程中,我們認為,IQ, EQ, LQ,缺一不可。

我們重視培訓LQ和IQ, 同時重視培訓EQ,重視孩子對情緒、對人際關係和溝通技巧的訓練。

牛津大學最出名的選課組合是PPE, Philosophy, Psychology and Economics. 哲學對處理情緒,幫助最大;心理學亦觸及不少情緒問題,只有經濟,側重理智分析,但仍離不開市場的不完美和羊群心理。

活到老,學到老!學習積極的人生觀,學習說話的藝術。孩子需要鼓勵、贊賞,身邊人何嘗不需要鼓勵、贊賞?如你言談充滿幽默,家人常常沐春風,哪會有空間給第三者?

22.7.09

KJ 音樂人生

這是一套難得的高水準紀錄片,情真、意真,大飽耳福。
喜歡音樂的人會喜歡;身為父母,更不可不看!
如不想坐第一排,早好早一星期訂票。
九龍塘和國金二期的影院,每晚一場。

好友羅乃新,是音樂天才,對音樂全情投入,每天練琴不少於六小時。
家俊是兒子學兄,音樂天才橫溢,但正在經歷人生的磨練,遙致祝福!
珍惜緣份,珍惜枕邊人,每個孩子都渴望有一個愉快的家庭!

KJ再一次証明早期培育的重要。名師出高徒,豈能計較輜銖?
父母對孩子應有要求,培養興趣,才能誘發孩子的全情投入。
不要忽略早期教育,特別是語言、情緒、觀察和思維的訓練!

11.7.09

Saturday parenting seminar, July 11, 2009

The parenting seminar at 2 p.m. this Saturday at the Admiralty Centre was well attended by parents. Most of the kids were around 1 1/2 years old. They all seem to like the centre.

We shared the 10,000 hours of research on early brain development and language acquisition.

One parent shared her first hand experience that her baby learned much better through interaction with people than watching DVD.

Another parent shared her experience that private tutoring by the primary stage was not too effective as the child has developed a passive mode of learning.

We hope to build up a strong foundation for our babies not only in languages, but also in the essential learning skills such as curiosity, concentration and logical thinking.

Le Beaumont's program are all interest driven. Beaumont babies develop active learning skills and no longer needs tutoring when they grow up.

Based on the experience of bilingual families and multi-lingual countries, babies benefit from early exposure to a wide range of languages. Actually, babies are only interested in sounds in the first 15 months. So there is nothing to confuse them.


Early years are vital in language learning and in developing the voice recognition system. English is of course important. But learning another European language increase the sensitivity to sounds and usage and is of big help in learning English.

Through language and interactive activies, we can reach the inner part of the brain and exercise the brain. This boosts the baby's IQ, EQ & LQ.

10.7.09

『東山外語教學法』

『東山外語教學法』,建基於一萬小時的研究,重視外語的特色、學員的興趣、和學習的成效,理論和實踐並重。語言之間有很多共通處。研究外語,越發覺語言的奧秘,其樂無窮。

孩子的外語基礎好,成就自然高。隨著經濟的全球化,和科技的特飛猛進,大量最新科研報告、財經雜誌,均以外語發表。到了中學、最遲是大學,學習均以外語進行。

如何可以學好英語?嬰兒有學習語言的本能,從嬰兒期開始學習英語,和英語一起成長,發音及表達能力,可以直追母語。

學好英語有什麼竅門?最重要是啟發興趣、多接觸、多運用。如果孩子已經入學,主要是和同齡的孩子相比,好的教學法、師資和語言環境,可以爭取先機。

參加東山語言中心暑期24小時的『英語遊戲組』、『Jolly Phonics』或『普通話遊戲組』『普通話拼音班』、『會話寫作班』,從生活中取材,從遊戲中學習,增加和英籍或北京籍老師面對面的接觸,消除對英語和普通話的恐懼,建立學習外語的自信心、興趣和成就感,為新學期作好準備。

在暑期學習多一種歐洲語言,對語音的敏感度、拉丁語系的特色、和對學習英語的信心,有很大幫助。

遍訪名山尋名師,名師出高徒!

9.7.09

Enrollment for summer program picks up strongly

Enrollment for summer program picks up strongly in Le Beaumont in the first week of July, with more than 100 enrollments in one week. Kids enjoy the language programs and the company of other children. Parents like the A-grade premises of Le Beaumont as well as the quality of the programs.

I have 2 sons, aged 12 and 14, studying in DBS. I am also very concern that they can use the extended summer holiday this year fruitfully. And I choose on the quality of the program as well as the service provider more than on the fees.

8.7.09

Brush up language skills

The extended summer holiday this year is equivalent to 50% of a normal school term! How can we ensure that our children will not stop learning?

When formal school term ends, informal learning begins. Learning through play is the most enjoyable and effective way in learning a language.

Students can brush up their English and Putonghua in the summer, or learn a new language a year. Enroll now so that precious time will not slip away.

6.7.09

What makes Le Beaumont stand out?

How is Le Beaumont Language Centre different?

Le Beaumont has the heart on the development of our future generation. All its programs are research based and evidence based. Babies grow up so fast. Le Beaumont is mindful of the importance of the early months. It arouses babies' sensitivity and interest in languages, curiosity and love of learning, confidence and self-esteem, and the use of senses and the thinking facultly to stimulate brain development.

Aspen's mom has this experience to share.

Since Aspen began she has learnt to crawl, stand and now walk. She learnt to give a high-five from her teachers at le Beaumont and she has learnt to sit and listen attentively and play along with the games. She has also learnt to greet her classmates with kisses and hugs from her older classmates and she learnt how to "au revoir" from her teacher. She loves French and she always stops and listens if she hears anyone speaking French. She also enjoys listen to French baby music and moves her body with the music.

Compared with children her own age she is very advanced. She is not afraid of strangers and she smiles and laughs a lot. She doesn't scare easily and she loves playing with anyone and learning new things. She is unbelievably curious about everything and she will look under a new chair and all around it to see how it works. She has a tremendous amount of energy and she searches the house and learns something new all the time. Many times people have asked my maid about Aspen's age and been shocked when they learnt how young she was because she is so alert and responsive.

I think Le Beaumont TKO is a great school with enthustistic teachers and a friendly and professional staff. Everyone knows my daugter's name and they greet us every time we walk in. The teaching style is very interactive and the children love that they can move around during the lesson. They also vary the tasks for the children a way to keep their interest. Thanks to their wonderful teaching, my daughter shows an affinity to French, I think that is an outcome you cannot buy, and if she speak with a native accent when she gets older that is even more priceless.

Tammy Harris
(Aspen's Mommy)

5.7.09

Nature or nurture?

Is a genius by nature or by nurture?

After 10,000 hours of research, I tend to believe that it is largely by nurture.

Yes, given favourable environment, we can nourish another Einstein. But the developmental process that Einstein had gone through from infancy to his early school years are difficult to replicate. Even his parents would not be aware that some of their casual conversation, the stories they told and the games they played had stimulated an active, inquisitive and imaginative brain. The education system we are brought up with today stiffles initiative, imagination and innovation.

The latest research on early brain development indicates that a baby is born with over a hundred billion synapses, not yet wired. Wiring takes place upon suitable stimulation.

Adaptability is the hallmark for the survival of species, like the flu virus. If the majority of synapses have already been wired before birth, it would be hard for the human species to weather through the myriads of changes taken place in 600,000 years of evolution.

If a genius is born, retarded brain development should not have happened to highly successful parents in affluent societies. Research indicates that babies from high income, highly educated families are more succeptible to developing language impairment than babies from poor families. The successful parents are too busy. Acute deprivation of language stimulation, not language confusion as prviously believed, leads to retarded brain development and the inability by the baby to develop a voice recognition system during the critical period for language development.

The Abecedarian Project was conducted by the North Carolina University over a period of 35 years (1972-2007). The research proves that early language training boosts IQ, academic studies and future career.

Le Beaumont Language Centre in HK is probably the first teaching and research centre in the world to focus on the study of early brain development and language acquisition.

Found in 2004, its Gifted Babies program enrolls babies 4 weeks and after. The majority join the program at 3 months. Many parents accept our recommendation to join the program an hour a day, 3, 4 or 5 times a week. Infants and toddlers join an Aladin type of tour on their magic play mats, visiting different countries on different days of the week.

We set up dedicated playrooms in English, Putonghua, French, Spanish and Japanese. Babies moved to different rooms on different days of the week and are entertained by a local guide, a graduate teacher from the respective country. The native teacher entertains the young visitors with songs, stories, games and interactive activities to involve the babies.

Initially, we see little change. But back-up by massive research findings, we know that our research-based program is actively exercising the babies' brain.

Through language, we have reached the inner most part of the brain that deals with sounds, images, emotion, memory, association, logical sequencing and interacting with people. We know that the wiring of synapses is taking place at a phenomenal rate.

Two months after joining the program, there are many observable behavioural changes among the babies, notably their attention span, concentration, curiosity, eye contact and smiles.

After 6 months, even though the babies are not yet able to speak, parents can observe for themselves that their babies are much more alert, responsive and intelligent than babies of the same age. They have higher mental age.

By the 13th month, when babies begin to utter their first word, the difference is breath taking. Babies who have joined the program for 9 months are able to utter their first words in the languages they are exposed to with impeccable clarity and confidence. Toddlers who join the program not until after they begin to talk take months to master the exact pronunciation of the words.

We have proven beyond doubt that rich language stimulation in early years, facilitated by a team of highly professional teachers from 5 countries, can boost the IQ, EQ & LQ of infants and toddlers. The program help to realize more potential of your child and make your child more gifted in learning, social skills and in languages.

4.7.09

Multiple Intelligence

Dr. Howard Gardner, professor of education at Harvard University redefined the concept of intelligence in his book 'Frames of Mind'1983.

Dr. Howard Gardner believed that intelligence was multifaceted and dynamic - expanding far beyond the linguistic and logical capacities that were traditionally tested and valued in schools. Gardner argued that intelligence consisted of eight relatively autonomous intellectual capacities, namely:

(Provided by MIDAS - Multiple Intelligences Developmental Assessment Scales)

Linguistic

Linguistic sensitivity: skill in the use of words for expressive and practical purposes

Reading: skill in reading

Writing: ability and interest in writing such as poems, stories, books or letters

Speaking: skill in oral communication for persuasion, mnemonics and description

Musical

Musical ability: sensitivity to rhythms, pitch, tunes or melody; and the timbre or distinctive tone of a musical piece

Instrument: skill and experience in playing a musical instrument

Vocal: a good voice for singing in tune and along with other people

Appreciation: actively enjoys listening to music


Logical-mathematical

Problem Solving: skill in organization, problem solving and logical reasoning; curiosity and investigation

Calculations: ability to work with numbers for mathematical operations such as addition and division

Ability to perceive: logical patterns and relationships; statements and propositions; functions and complex processes and related abstractions


Spatial

Imagery: use of mental imagery for observation, artistic, creative, and other visual activities

Artistic Design: to create artistic designs, drawings, painting or other crafts

Construction: to be able to make, build or assemble things


Bodily-kinesthetic

Physical Skill: ability to move the whole body for physical activities such as balancing, coordination and sports

Dancing, Acting: to use the body in expressive, rhythmic and imitative ways

Working with Hands: to use the hands with dexterity and skill for detailed activities and small work


Interpersonal

Understanding People: sensitivity to and understanding of other people's moods, feelings and point of view

Getting along with Others: able to maintain good relationships with other people especially friends and siblings

Leadership: to take a leadership role among people through problem solving and influence

Intra-personal

Knowing Myself: awareness of one's own ideas, abilities; personal decision making skill

Goal Awareness: awareness of goals and self correction and monitoring in light of a goal

Managing Feelings: ability to regulate one's feelings, moods and emotional responses

Managing Behavior: ability to regulate one's mental activities and behavior


Naturalist

Animal Care: skill for understanding animal behavior, needs, characteristics

Plant Care: ability to work with plants, (i.e., gardening, farming and horticulture)

Science: knowledge of natural living energy forces including cooking, weather and physics

Beaumont observation: All these are acquired skills.

Gifted Children - Common characteristics

Here is a list of characteristics common in gifted four-, five-, and six-year olds (Smutny, 2000):

1. Express curiosity about many things
2. Ask thoughtful questions
3. Have extensive vocabularies and use complex sentence structure
4. Are able to express themselves well
5. Solve problems in unique ways
6. Have good memories
7. Exhibit unusual talent in art, music, or creative dramatics
8. Exhibit especially original imaginations
9. Use previously learned things in new contexts
10. Are unusually able to order things in logical sequence
11. Discuss and elaborate on ideas
12. Are fast learners
13. Desire to work independently and take initiative
14. Exhibit wit and humor
15. Have sustained attention spans and are willing to persist on challenging tasks
16. Are very observant
17. Show talent in making up stories and telling them
18. Are interested in reading.

Beaumont observation: These are all acquired skills.

3.7.09

Early language training boosts IQ, EQ & LQ

Any parent with a new born bay should not miss this 6-minute documentary,
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/%7Eabc/FPG_ABC-video.cfm

What makes a genius? Nature or nurture?
What is your opinion? What are the bases of your assertion?

We have invested more than 10,000 hours in the research on early brain development and language acquisition. The findings are eye boggling!

Based on these findings, we are helping an increasing number of working parents to nourish highly gifted babies.

Let me hear your views. I would share our findings with you early next week.

Sam