- Why did you stay with us when school started?
"It hasn't been an extra burden for the child in our case, but it can vary from child to child. No para! The beginning is difficult for everyone but not because of the extra one session a week of HD English, but because of the change and the more rigid system compared to the nursery. Really don't worry, your child will get used to it!"
"No, as it's also a recreational activity for him and the group here is a special place with lots of playmates."
What message would you give to parents who are thinking of dropping out of English?"The HD system has worked for the children so far. They learn by playing and their pronunciation is already great. P has started learning another language at school and we plan to continue learning English with HD."
Were you worried that this would be too much for him?
- Weren't you worried that starting school would mean a lot of HD English for the girls?
"The girls didn't have a problem with continuing English while starting school, they were used to it since kindergarten. We did try to cut back on other activities at the start of Year 1 or keep them in school if we had the opportunity (e.g. sports, chess), but continuing English was very important to me as a parent and it remained the only extracurricular activity in Year 1."
Do they learn English at school?
"They only started English at school from second year, one lesson a week. I think this is very little, at this age I think they saturate themselves with foreign language skills if they are engaged in the right environment and playfully. That's why it was important for us to continue."
What would you say to parents who are about to start school?
"Even though they have only been coming to you for a few (5th) years, I notice that their speech comprehension is excellent, they understand the lyrics and the meaning of songs when listening to music in the car, they can understand most of the English stories without any problems. Even though they have only been learning to read and write for a year, they are learning to read and write English week by week in parallel with their English, and it is fantastic to see their progress. I'm very happy with the way they are progressing and we will definitely stay with you for more, if only because the girls really love coming to class :)"
Weren't you worried that it would be busy with school?
"He loves to walk. He sees it as a game. In all these years, I've never heard him say he doesn't like it. He plays a lot at home with his plushies in English class. Going to your school is relaxation and fun for him, not a burden or a compulsion."
Why do you think it's right the way you have chosen?
"The sessions are run by competent, extremely kind, attentive professionals who make the child love English through the experience of success. It visibly works, a super method."
What message would you give to parents who are thinking of quitting English?
"It's something everyone can decide for themselves, every child and life situation is different. Obviously any extracurricular activity comes at a sacrifice for parents because it's not easy logistics, time . Although, it's in the child's best interest to continue."
Has Helen Doron English caused any inconvenience in parallel with starting school?
"No, in fact! You were a sure point. She has a very difficult time with change, so starting school was not easy for her. It was a lot of new things. Once through the gates, there's always a family atmosphere where it's good to arrive."
Positive, negative experiences of English at the start of school?
"This is the 6th year we have been going. We spent almost the whole summer at camps. We can't even be dropped off. :) I attribute this to the fact that despite starting Hungarian-English school, he is not as tired as we hear from other parents. She had no difficulty with e.g. the technology class in English. At the moment, thanks to you, he is making much more progress than the school is asking for. The term is coming to an end, and during this time he has brought home from school 100% on his tests, commenting on them all with the comment that baby was easy. This is totally your doing."
Why did you decide to stay with us when school started?
"Our child did not stop learning English when he started school because as parents we consider it important to know and learn a foreign language, especially English. In today's world, it is very difficult to get by without it, even if you have to go abroad, but it is also essential for further education and job opportunities later on."
Do you regret pursuing English as a first language?
"Initially, we were worried about how the child, after kindergarten, would manage even the afternoon English lessons in a completely new environment, facing new expectations. Yet we insisted that he should not stop (mainly for the reasons given above). And we were right! We did not encounter any difficulties, she was and is just as keen to attend classes."
What would you say to parents who are about to start school?
"If you want to continue with English in the afternoons later, after 1-2 years or as a senior, it is much more difficult to get used to it and to get used to it again than to continue on the path you have already started. In our school, children only start learning a foreign language in the 3rd grade, which is why it is important to get to know the language earlier. "
