家长的疑问问答（ 西瓜乐园原创，不经同意不可转载）

1.Why does your program seem so difficult?
Difficulty is a subjective opinion. What seems difficult to you now probably won’t after a year of practice. After that, you will be on a whole new level and seeing completely different things as difficult and easy. A new skill always seems difficult to acquire in the beginning, but this is nothing to be concerned about. Everything is difficult at first, yet becomes easy with practice. Does it seem difficult to walk or feed yourself now? Just look at how wobbly and messy a baby can be though.
A lot of students feel overwhelmed and uncomfortable with the English language when they first encounter it. These feelings can be a real hindrance to a student’s progress, so it’s no wonder that many schools and teachers seek to soften the introduction of English into the students’ lives. However, they may not be considering the whole picture.
        The problem is that softening the program often prolongs the students’ resistance and uncomfortable feelings toward English. Instead of helping the students, they are actually retarding the students’ growth. We believe that it’s best to tackle those uncomfortable feelings head on rather than seek ways to ease the students into the English language with as little pain as possible. In the West, we have a saying: no pain, no gain. Anything worth achieving is going to require hard work and discipline. If you try to reach your goals by avoiding all pain, you will probably never reach them.
        Students must polish their skills in the fires of difficulty in order to become sparkling diamonds. What we try to do at Watermelon Kids is teach the kids how to have fun while overcoming the difficulties that a foreign la

2.Why do you teach so many words?

The biggest reason for this is because we CAN teach a lot and, furthermore, most students are ABLE to learn a lot. So, why shouldn’t we give the students what they have come to us to receive? Students are often capable of more than adults believe and we know this from experience.
The real question is: why don’t other schools & teachers teach MORE? There are various reasons for this. Many of them possess a limited pool of knowledge from which to draw their lessons. The amount of information we wish to share at Watermelon Kids is vastly superior to theirs. So basically, we have more to teach from the very start. Not only do we teach more, but we teach it in a shorter amount of time due to the efficiency of our program.
Another reason that other schools and teachers teach fewer words is due to pressure from their customers. Parents often have a difficult time accepting or understanding new ways. They expect English to be taught according to the ways they have been taught or understood themselves, without considering the fact that a professional teacher may be aware of things they had not even considered. Trust must be given to the teacher whose capabilities are far beyond those of the customers, but it is difficult to trust someone or something you don’t fully understand. At Watermelon Kids, we are willing to sacrifice the enrollment of some customers in order to preserve the quality of our program, but a lot of other places do not do this. They take their financial gains very seriously. It’s easier for them to give the customers what they want rather than what the students really need. Besides, if the students never reach a high level, they will still be in need of more instruction and that means more money for the schools and teachers.
We also teach a lot of words because we believe that a broad exposure and familiarity are very important for the student who wishes to communicate. If your child was sent to an American school for six months, do you think he/she would be able to speak some English when he/she returned? It’s almost certain that he/she would! That student would be bombarded with English at every turn and some of it would likely stick in his/her mind. Not all of it would stick in his/her mind, but some of it would. The words that would not be fully learned or remembered would still hold a great deal of importance though. That is the point that a lot of people are missing. You see, even the words we don’t fully learn become somewhat familiar to us in our minds and affect the way we listen and understand. So, it is likely that a six month excursion to a foreign country would impact a student’s ability to learn in many immeasurable and lasting ways. The same principle applies to our classrooms. We seek to expose the students to as much of the English language as possible in order to change the way they listen and learn.
The power and existence of the subconscious mind is a scientific fact, yet it is still very mysterious and often overlooked by the general public. However, when students pay attention (as much as they are able) to what is spoken and demonstrated in our classrooms, they are learning on many different levels. A real teacher understands this, but many everyday people do not notice it. Do not underestimate the power of the human mind and you will see new possibilities.nguage presents. In this way, kids achieve a whole new attitude toward English. Perhaps this attitude can be applied to other areas of their lives as well and they won’t be so prone to give up when they face other difficulties.

3.Why don’t you spend more time making sure that every word is memorized and understood?

At Watermelon Kids, we believe that practice, exposure, and attention are more important than understanding. This may seem strange to some, but it is a very natural approach and should seem logically familiar to those who have observed the development of a baby.
        Some people have voiced the concern that students who parrot a teacher don’t really learn. Yet, this is precisely how humans learn a language in a natural environment. We repeat words even when we don’t understand. The important thing is to keep paying attention even when there are things we don’t understand and trust that understanding will come in due time. That’s difficult for older people to do, but babies do it all the time. Students can do it too, if they are taught such habits by a teacher.

4.But English is my child’s second language!
        Of course, it is! In reality, we believe there should not be much difference between acquiring a first or second language. The same principles apply. The fact that you may have learned your second language in a less natural and communicative manner could be seen as a flaw in your own education. The level and methods of teaching English in this country have begun to change since you were a student. Students in today’s society have more opportunities than ever before and it seems a shame to miss out on that. As a result, your child could be much smarter and better off than you if given the chance.
        The fact that your child gets little exposure to the English language on a daily basis only intensifies the need to immerse him/her more fully in our program. Students need all the help they can get and we’re here to provide it. You might want to think of us as a little piece of the outside world within China. That’s definitely something worth exploring since there is so much out there awaiting the arrival of adventurous people.

5.But most other schools don’t teach the way you teach!
        We’re glad you noticed that and we hope to keep it that way. After having worked for other schools in this country, we feel that there is a real need for a better approach. We wouldn’t feel so happy with the work we do if we weren’t doing something different.

6.I don’t even know many of these words. Why do you teach them? How can my child possibly learn them?
        Of course, you probably don’t know many English words if you are not a native speaker. English is a vast language in which you have probably only received limited exposure. Our program was developed by a native speaker and the words do not seem unfamiliar to most other native speakers. Since our goal is to educate students who will be capable of communicating with native speakers, these words seem very natural to us.
        Keep in mind that you are looking at the program from a very different perspective than a native speaker. The fact that you haven’t learned certain words doesn’t mean that others (including your child) also cannot. In fact, many do learn such words and use them regularly. Even if your child does not consciously remember some words, it’s still important to get him/her to pay attention and place words into his/her subconscious mind. Familiarity with the pronunciation and use is always beneficial to students.
        If a native speaker can learn those words, so can your child. There really is no difference. The fact that you haven’t learned them means that you just didn’t get a full exposure to the English language, which is something your child can get in spite of this.
        If you wanted a program which taught only words that you know, why don’t you teach your child yourself? Watermelon Kids exists in order to provide a service that others cannot.

7.Certain words don’t seem to be very practical. Why should we learn them?
        We believe that all English words are useful and practical. That’s why they exist in the language. It’s pointless to view certain words as more practical than others when you look at the long-term development of students. If our program was designed for a very short period (like the length of a book) then such considerations would be valid. Our goal is to teach students for as long as necessary, so such considerations are not worthwhile since we are not short on time. We have more than enough time to cover the most practical aspects of English communication and even the more obscure ones. All of these help us learn to be better communicators.
        This is not to say that we don’t teach students to speak in a short amount of time. We do that, but we don’t feel there is any need to limit ourselves in our approach. The same would be true of a natural environment and that is what we seek to emulate. Don’t forget that every word you learn builds your listening, comprehension, grammar, and pronunciation skills. Yes, even obscure words that you would rarely use.
        Practicality is also a subjective opinion. You never know just how practical a word could be. There could be applications for that word that you never dreamed possible. Actually, that is quite often the case. You never know what is behind the door until you first unlock it.

8.My child doesn’t seem to remember very much. Is it useless to continue studying?
        Certainly not! The only ones who fail are the ones who give up. Every student has their ups and downs. There are times when they don’t seem to be making progress or they may have been slow from the very start. Either way, it’s probably just temporary because the students will more than likely show improvement with a little patient and diligent practice. Students who seem almost hopeless can suddenly improve overnight just when everyone was about to give up on them. Wait a shame that would have been! There’s nothing more heartwarming than an underdog who turns out to be a winner. It happens all the time and all it takes is for grownups to show a little patience.
        Fortunately, most kids do remember a lot at Watermelon Kids, but there are those that seem a little slow. My advice is to be patient and be assured that your child is learning more with us than he/she would in another place. Remember that we aren’t competing with each other. Each student is simply expected to learn the most he/she can at his/her own pace. It is the impatience of adults that is most detrimental to some students. We hate to see that.
        There is also the fact that parents sometimes have their own methods of evaluating the students which can be quite harsh and vastly different from our own. Perhaps it would be good to relax a bit and ask the teacher of your class for a personal assessment of the student. It may be helpful to balance your opinions with those of another.

9.My child is not at the top of the class. Should we give up hope?
        No, you shouldn’t. The worst student in a good class could very well be the best one in a bad class. If your child is in a good class then he/she would do well to stick with such good students. You become the best by associating with the best. You can’t soar with the eagles if you fly with turkeys.
        Sometimes a bit of competition can make things more exciting, but our classes are not really designed for competition, so we try to discourage such thinking.  Over time, students that seemed to outshine others can start to seem more average and those that didn’t seem so good can start to shine themselves. The only constant is change.

10.My child has trouble sitting still and concentrating. What should we do?
        There is no easy answer for this question. Children have immense levels of energy and little self-control. Try to be firm in your discipline and understanding in your observation of his/her behavior. There are behavior specialists who may be able to give you further advice. If need be, please feel free to seek them out.

11.Do you teach students to read?
We do feel that reading is important and it is taught progressively in our lessons. However, we don’t begin to teach it intensely until the students have gained some rudimentary communication skills.

12.Why don’t you teach many reading skills at the beginning of your program?
        We believe that reading is much easier to be taught after you have covered some of the basics of communication. Most students who have been taught communication skills will learn to read very rapidly. It may even seem like an explosion of learning. This is the easiest and most natural way to teach reading skills.

13.Why don’t you use a book in your classes?
        Books can actually distract students at the early stages of learning. Books are also limited in their approach. After all, a book is not alive. It cannot say anything that the author did not write in it. The program at Watermelon Kids is quite complete in itself and there is usually not enough time to add more from a book. Teaching from a book is not a very natural approach and can get quite boring very quickly. Our classes are designed to be fun and lively.
        Some people get a certain sense of security from a book. They feel happy to know that the information they are being taught is easy to reference. They feel happy to feel something solid in their hands. They feel happy as they remember the books they have learned from in the past. However, it is not necessary.
Information for reference is printed on a performance sheet and handed to parents after every class. Discs are also distributed which can demonstrate the proper pronunciation. The most important part of the class is embedded in the minds of the students. You need a teacher to do that. You don’t necessarily need a teacher in order to read a book. At Watermelon Kids, we take joy in providing people what they need.

14.Chinese students learn to read and write very well, but we cannot converse in English. Why is that?
        First of all, who told you that you read and write very well? Was it another native Chinese speaker? Isn’t that kind of like a blind person telling you that you have good eyesight? I’m not trying to go out of my way to be insulting, but I’ve found that many people need a reality check on this point. I’ve met people who have asked me to grade or correct documents for them. They seemed to think that it would be such an easy task for me.  I’ve stayed up until the wee hours of the morning correcting their mistakes and trying to decipher a lot of their gibberish. These were well-educated people who thought very highly of their own English skills. Were they really as good as they thought? I suppose it depends on who you ask. If you want my opinion, I’ll tell you that I’ve seen third grade elementary students (in my own country) who do much better. Most of what they wrote was barely comprehensible despite their use of professional and complicated words.
        I understand that they may have spent a lot of time learning grammar and memorizing vocabulary words. To say that they have accomplished so little after such a lengthy period of study and effort may seem like an insult to many, but it’s an honest assessment. I don’t think this to be the students’ faults. There seem to be some problems with the education system itself and correcting that is no easy task.
        Now it is true that speaking, listening, and writing are all separate skills, but it does seem a bit silly to pretend that they aren’t related; especially in English. Without good communication skills, how can you say that your writing is good? Writing is only another means of communication. Do you think that your problems with the spoken word are only due to your unfamiliarity with the pronunciation? I suppose that could be possible, but it seems unlikely. Is it simply due to your level of comfort when speaking a foreign language? That is also possible, but again, unlikely. Most likely, it is because you’ve spent your time using Chinese to translate English words without practicing real communication in English. Again I ask, how can you say that your writing is good without good communication skills? Find a foreigner who is willing to give you a real assessment of your abilities and try to be more honest with yourself.
        Can you read foreign books without difficulty? How many of them are in your library? How often do you read foreign literature, newspapers, or documents? Do you chat online in English? If you don’t do these things then don’t consider yourself a good reader. Even if you do all of these things remember that there is a difference between simply getting the gist of things and truly understanding. I find that many people who claim to have good reading skills are really only able to comprehend some of the main points. There is a lot they overlook without even realizing or caring.

15.Why do you give the students coloring sheets at the end of the class?
        This serves many purposes, so it is important that parents cooperate with this activity. It keeps the kids occupied for a few minutes as the teacher collects his/her materials and fills out quizzes, evaluations, or performance sheets. Kids have a tendency to go wild when a class finishes; this is a nice way to calm them down a bit and keep them under control.
        Passing out the coloring sheets is a good way to encourage the use of language as the teacher requires the students to tell him/her what they want. The teacher can also continue to talk about what is pictured after the student has finished coloring. The students can also bring it home and talk about it with their parents.
        The use of crayons develops the fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination necessary for writing. Coloring stimulates the right hemisphere of the brain after an hour of largely left hemisphere activity. Studies have shown that learning and thinking are enhanced when both hemispheres of the brain participate in a balanced manner.
        Coloring sheets will gradually transition into reading and writing activities in later lessons and it is a good idea to keep the kids looking forward to their “reward” at the end of the class. The kids really do enjoy receiving their coloring sheets and these feelings will hopefully be transferred to reading and writing as well.

16.The teacher at another school said that my child does not have good oral communication skills. Is this true?
        While this may be true for some beginning students, I’ve encountered some really advanced students who were mistakenly classified as beginners by other teachers. Sometimes the teachers had not really spent enough time trying to actually communicate with the students in order to give an accurate assessment. At times, the student never really got a chance to speak in the classroom because the teacher made incorrect assumptions about the student from the very start.
        If the teacher is a native Chinese speaker, he/she may have a very different and narrow assessment of a student’s abilities. I’ve found that native Chinese speakers are usually the least qualified people to even make such assessments because their own communication skills are not entirely complete or proficient. Many of them do their best to hide their own inadequacies while critiquing students. They may be successful at teaching some English to Chinese students and passing themselves off as “experts” to parents, but their flaws cannot be hidden from a native English speaker. If I were you, I’d take the assessments made by Chinese teachers with a grain of salt. Don’t take them too seriously.

17.My teacher marked my answer wrong on my test. I think my answer was actually correct. What should I do?
        This happens a lot in Chinese schools. In fact, I’ve seen questions on exams with several correct possibilities, yet the Chinese teacher was only prepared to accept one possible answer. If a student happens to choose a correct answer that the Chinese teacher didn’t expect, the question will be marked wrong. That’s just the way it goes. You have to accept this, because the teacher is the one in a position of authority. In the real world, might often makes right. The ones with the power are the ones who set the rules and control our lives.
        You can try to argue your point with the teacher, but I know from experience that it is usually futile to do that. Chinese teachers often don’t possess a great deal of flexibility and proficiency with the English language. They often only understand what they have read from a book without realizing that the book may have only been showing a small part of the big picture. They may have had very little experience actually communicating with foreigners. You probably have no choice but to accept the fact that your teacher doesn’t know everything and may be a bit narrow-minded. You should simply try to be content in the knowledge that you were correct, but forget about receiving the credit. Sometimes the best rewards are those we hold within us.
        In the future, you should stick with learning (or guessing) the answer the teacher expects if you want to get good grades on your exams. There are definite flaws in the current education system. Maybe you can become someone who will fix these problems in the future. For now, you’ll just have to live with them.
        Let’s assume that English education in China is not generally as high as in Western countries. What do you think would happen if people with high levels of proficiency took tests made by people with lower levels of proficiency? Don’t you think they would get a lower score than they deserve?
        If my math skills were not very good, I would only accept certain answers, such as 2+4 = 6. How could I accept an answer like: 2+4 = 3+3 or 2+4 = 3*2? Knowing more than me wouldn’t give you a higher score on a test I designed, would it?