Dining With Jewelle

Someone I know said that sending her child to tuition classes is more than simply a way to help the child revise.

It’s also a way to keep the child in a controlled environment, making sure that the child is in a place where lessons are being done. I guessed this is important for parents who work as they won’t be at home to monitor their children’s movement.

My parents were believers of tuition classes too. I have been having tuitions since I was in my Form Three (not my choice) until I was doing my A-Levels (my choice).

While hubby, and the rest of his siblings, never had any tuitions when they were in school. His parents both worked then and I think it’s amazing that despite this, two of them in the family were Best All Around Student award recipients when they were in their fifth form.

So of course, hubby thinks that tuition is a waste of money. He never needed any.

While I, since I am a tuition classes pro, think that it can be useful but not crucial. At least, not that critical to the point of sending Eu for extra classes when she goes to Kindergarten next year which I know is becoming quite the thing to do among very responsible parents.

But when they reach secondary classes with more important exams and tougher subjects, I wouldn’t dismiss tuition classes altogether.

Instead of sending them to teachers who are supposed to impart all their knowledge during school hours, I wouldn’t mind online tutoring, if the girls can prove themselves trustworthy and responsible. I think I’d prefer having them at home as they revise and get get homework help on tough subjects like Math or Science subjects with an expert online tutor at any time of the day, under my supervision.

There is one online tutoring site, called the TutorVista which has been featured in NBC’s Today’s Show and BBC News which offers comprehensive online help for students in subjects like Chemistry, Economics, Algebra and exams like TOEFL, GMAT and IELTS.

FYI, TutorVista offer their service worldwide for 24/7 and their basic unlimited use monthly package for all subjects is $99.99.

Anyway, it’s still a long way for me to consider this service but it’s good to know such a service exists.

Later tonight, we’re going to a dinner function to celebrate the anniversary of a Chinese school in Seria.

I’m not expecting fantastic dishes and even now, I could already guessed the kind of dishes that we’ll be served. Have you noticed that despite having perhaps the widest range of dishes, there are only a few must-have dishes for any Chinese dinner functions, be it wedding or anniversary dinners such as the one we’re going to later.

For one thing, there will be the starters which would definitely have to be the hot and cold dishes - which I kind of like. There will be one soup and my bet is, it will be a sharkfin soup.

There will be pork and perhaps roast chicken or some fish dish.

Most definitely, it will end with fried rice - for some funny reason, they always serve this dish just before the dessert!

Oh well, I’m there to prepare myself for a new chapter in my life next year - attending school functions as a parent!