General
How is Wonderlit different from the other speech and drama enrichment providers?
Wonderlit’s mission is to unlock creativity and develop confident and effective communicators.
From designing the learning space to crafting the curriculum and choosing qualified educators, every aspect is aimed at creating the best experience for your child to learn and excel.
- Leading Curriculum — Our curriculum is carefully crafted not only to meet the objectives of building confidence, creativity, character and communication; it is also structured to help each child succeed in MOE oral and Trinity exams.
- Holistic Learning — We encourage curiosity in our students by expanding beyond textbooks into literacy and perspectives on real world issues.
- Experienced Educators — Our inspiring educators though experienced, undergo extensive in-house training with regular assessments to ensure the required standards are met.
- Invigorating Environment — Our warm and nurturing learning space spurs imagination and creativity, while small class sizes fuel both collaboration and individual growth.
- Regular Updates — Student progress is monitored every step of the way with periodic updates for parents through the Wonderlit app.
- Individual Development — We empower students to think critically and on their feet, speak their minds, and have their own voices.
How will attending Wonderlit programmes help my child?
It is well documented that the number one fear in the world is the fear of public speaking or presentations. Yet, recent research done across 600 global companies has shown that the number one skill organisations look for when hiring is the ability to communicate and present effectively and confidently. Thus, having a fear of speaking can be severely career-limiting and at a school level where oral assessment (e.g. oral exams, direct school admissions) becomes more important, it can impact our children’s grades and future opportunities.
Wonderlit’s curriculum is thoughtfully curated to nurture our children on their journey to becoming great storytellers, from reading, writing to speaking and performing, building character and important communication skills. The programmes are designed to provide a clear framework to let our children evolve from a novice to an effective communicator with international certifications, walking away with the confidence, ability and skill required to manage any speaking situation — from school assessments right through to giving a TED talk! Their self-confidence and self-esteem will grow and they will walk away with a truly sought-after life skill.
What is your teaching philosophy?
Wonderlit’s teaching philosophy has three tiers:
Firstly, the safety of our students is paramount. We do not allow our educators to conduct any activities unless the students are safe, both physically and emotionally. Besides, our curriculum and lesson plans are centrally managed and controlled to ensure only a high standard and quality of curriculum are being delivered.
Secondly, all students need to have fun in our programmes while picking up new skills. We use a range of techniques to ensure that the students maintain their attention by mixing theory with practice, and by using activities that teach speaking skills without the students even realizing that they are actually being exposed to something new!
Thirdly, the students should learn. We believe in learning by doing — that students will only walk away with a new set of skills of they have had the opportunity to practice them. That is why we keep class sizes small — to ensure every student has an opportunity to speak and receive ample personalised feedback for improvement.
What is a typical class size?
We keep our class sizes small so that we can pay close attention to our students and tailor to the different individual needs. For our Read programme, the maximum number of students for the younger ones is kept at 8 while the older ones at 10. Classes for other programmes will be kept at a maximum of 10.
English is not my child’s first language. Can he do a Wonderlit class?
Do students have the opportunity to perform on stage?
Yes! Although stage performance isn’t a focus of speech and drama lessons, we know students need to have the necessary exposure to speak and perform in front of a live audience outside their class. Towards the end of term 4, students perform an informal showcase that family and friends are invited to, provided that we are not restricted by any epidemic or pandemic. This is a chance for you to witness the amazing progress of our students learning in Wonderlit. We look forward to seeing you there!
Are you a speech therapy school?
No, we are not a speech therapy organisation. We are a speech and drama studio with a practical approach and goal to develop effective communicators. While there are some overlaps between how we develop confident communication and how speech therapists help children with speech difficulties, the two disciplines are very distinct.
Enrolment
Do you offer trial lessons?
We sure do! To book for your child’s trial lesson, simply fill in our form on the enquiry page or speak to our Programme Consultant via phone and in the studio.
What happens during a trial?
Can I enrol my child outside the suggested age range?
Except for the Wonderlit Read programme which is based on progressive learning, we do not encourage students to enrol in classes too far above or below the ages of their classmates in other programmes. We believe there is too much value in students working and learning with their same age group so that they may connect through relatable concerns and issues, allowing them to best understand the way that themes are expressed by their classmates in speech & drama activities.
Besides, our curriculum in the Speak programme will prepare our students for their school oral exams and having them in the right level will ensure adequate attention to their needs for this.
Do you accept enrolment when the term has already started?
Most certainly! Students are welcome to join at any point throughout the year, and our educators will make sure that new students learn the basics taught while keeping up with the more experienced students.
How do I have my child continue his class after the first term with Wonderlit?
Enrolments for classes are rolled over each term unless notice of withdrawal is given prior to the beginning of the new term.
Lessons
Are there catch-up lessons or refunds of missed classes?
All lesson fees are non-refundable whether due to individual absence, or closure of the studio as a result of public holidays gazetted or otherwise declared or observed in Singapore. However, replacement classes will be offered within the same week, subject to availability. In the event that it is not possible to arrange a replacement class due to a lack of vacancies in other classes, we will provide the programme materials for the particular class which is missed.
There will be no make-up classes or refund of fees if Wonderlit closes or there is a closure of classes due to an outbreak of contagious diseases (e.g., hand-foot-mouth disease, COVID-19) or other unforeseen circumstances beyond its control.
How much notice do I have to give to stop lessons?
To allow for planning of lessons and for refund of deposit paid, a Notice of Withdrawal form from Wonderlit must be completed and submitted by the student at least one calendar month before the last day of the term. In the event that less than one calendar month notice is given, Wonderlit shall not be obliged to refund any part of the deposit.
What are the benefits of your private or bespoke lessons?
A 1-on-1 (private) or small group (up to 4) class in Wonderlit Coach promotes greater time per lesson in which the student has the educator’s undivided attention. This allows educators to customise and tweak lesson plans to the individual’s or small group’s needs. There is also the added benefit that for children who have a need to work faster or slower than their peers, Wonderlit Coach provides an easier environment to do so.
For how long can my child do private lessons?
For the vast majority, we encourage our students on private lessons to move to group lessons as soon as they are ready as we believe group lessons have many incredible benefits for students. Not only will there be many points of interaction within the class, we see peer learning helping to add an extra dimension of motivation to lessons as students have a tendency to want to keep pace with each other. It also encourages students to be social, considerate and cooperative, all key ingredients in developing social competence in children. Speak to your child’s educator to assess if your child is ready to move into a group lesson.
Educators
What are the qualifications of your educators?
All our educators have recognised qualifications in Theatre, Speech & Drama, Communication Skills and/or tertiary training in Early Children Curriculum and Education. While most have stage performance experiences or are working theatre actors, some hold Trinity College London or London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA) exam qualifications. Educators must have experience working with children as well before they are hired.
Before an educator starts to teach at Wonderlit, a comprehensive induction and training programme in line with our teaching philosophy must be completed. Quarterly refreshers will be given before every term to ensure they continue to understand the learning objectives and outcome we want from our students.
Our Educator’s profile (individual bios) will also be available at the studio if you wish to know more.
Will my child have the same educator each term and each year?
Our goal is to ensure that all classes have the same educator for a full year (four terms) where possible. This will ensure that the educator knows your child’s learning needs and can help him or her progress quickly.
While it is our desire to keep the educators consistent throughout your child’s learning journey as he progresses to the next level, it may not always possible or beneficial. We believe that it is good for your child to be exposed to different teaching styles. Moreover, it is our position to only hire the very best educators for our students and ensure that they are properly trained before they start teaching a Wonderlit class.
It is also worth noting that your child’s learning journey will be properly documented through progress reports, video/photo snippets and certification exams etc. and these records will be kept in our system for your child’s next educator to access and learn before starting the class with your child.
Assessments & Certifications
How do I know my child is progressing in the Read programme? Will there be assessments?
Our Read programme is based on progressive learning (not age alone), aimed at helping our young students move from sounds, words, emerging reading, fluent reading to advanced reading (love for books and literacy!)
All new students enrolling in our Wonderlit Read programme will have to sit through a pre-assessment to allow us to put them in the appropriate level based on their learning needs. Thereafter, yearly assessments will be conducted with our students before they progress to the next stage, in addition to sharing quarterly reports on their progress with the parents.
What examinations and qualifications do you offer?
Towards the end of each calendar year, our students in the Wonderlit Speak and Wonderlit Perform programmes will be given the opportunity to opt for Trinity College London’s graded examinations. These examinations are completely voluntary and we offer to support our students to work towards certification for Communication Skills (Initial, Grade 1–Diploma), Speech and Drama (Young Performers, Grade 1–Diploma) or Performance Arts (Young Performers, Grade 1–5).
What are the benefits of my child doing a Trinity exam?
Exams provide a structured framework to progressively develop performance and communication skills individually, in pairs and in groups.
In addition to celebrating your child’s proficiency step-by-step along the learning and development journey, it is worth noting that Trinity’s certificates and diplomas are internationally recognised, and in the UK, Trinity’s Grade 6-8 qualifications for individuals are eligible for UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admission Service) points for applying for those applying to colleges and universities. Moreover, being a part of the exam experience encourages students to explore their own free-choice of performance pieces, which allows them to express their own strengths, interests and passions.
What are the differences between the categories of Trinity exams?
- Communication Skills exams: These give our students in Wonderlit Speak exposure to practical and creative challenges that are based on real-world situations. Students create, develop and communicate original ideas, expressing views and negotiating. For older students, exams involve the preparation and delivery of a presentation. Students are encouraged to develop vital skills for the modern society, workplaces and social situations they are/will be a part of.
- Speech and Drama exams: For our students in Wonderlit Perform, these involve the performance of a range of texts, interpreting and analysing text and performance, and expressing these views coherently. The structure of speech and drama exams is intended to build students’ confidence, and progressively develops skills such as; Interpersonal Skills (relating to others in appropriate ways with ease, confidence and consideration), Expressive Speaking (understanding a range of texts and performing them creatively and expressively), Practical Speaking (sharing information engagingly and confidently with peers), and Reflective Skills (exploring, considering and relating original thought to pieces of written English.
- Performance Arts exams: Only for group exams up to Grade 5.
What are the differences between solo and group exams in the Trinity certification programme?
- Solo exams: Students practice for their exam content individually, guided by their teacher. At exam time he/she will be in the exam room by him/herself and the grade and feedback they receive is attributable to the student solely. Note that sole exams assess individual skills and ability and while there is lots of room for personal expression on a wide choice of topics, more ownership and sometimes more preparation may be required.
- Group exams: Students in the group (typically 3–4) practice their exam content together, guided by their teacher. At exam time they will all be in the exam room together and will receive a team grade and feedback. Individualised grades and feedback are not given, which makes the group exam a truly collaborative experience. Group exams encourage group interaction and discussion, and promote teamwork for success.
Does my child have to sit for Trinity Exams if they join Wonderlit?
No, it is absolutely optional though there are some benefits in doing it. On a yearly basis, your child’s educator will reach out to you to discuss if you wish to have your child enrolled for the exams. Your educator can provide more information for you to decide then.
Parental Support
Can I attend lessons with my child?
At this time, we do not offer for parents to sit in with their child during lessons. We believe that when a child comes into Wonderlit classes independently from his or her parents, it gives him/her a chance to develop self-confidence, to express freely and to discover more about him/herself.
How do I know that my child is progressing?
We employ numerous ways to keep you in-the-loop on what your child is learning and how he or she is progressing in Wonderlit. These include:
- Using the Wonderlit App to upload photo or video snippets of classes in closed groups or of your child
- Sending you Progress Reports on your child on a quarterly (Read programme) or half-yearly basis (Term 2 and 4 for the rest of the programmes)
- Organising Meet-the-Educator on a half-yearly basis (end of Term 2 and Term 4) to discuss your child’s progress
- Holding bi-annual Showcases of Work by students for their parents to attend each year
- Sitting for Assessments for Read students on a yearly basis
- Going for annual Trinity College London’s grading certification for Speak and Perform students (towards end of Term 4)
How accessible will my child’s teacher be to me?
Will homework be given to my child? How can I best support my child in his homework?
We generally do not schedule large amounts of homework, although the requirements may step up slightly if your child chooses to enter into Trinity Communication Skills, Speech and Drama, or Performance Arts certification exams at the end of the year. For these, the most common homework is researching/writing/learning scripts or memorising speeches. We recommend students learn a little every day if possible.
It would be beneficial if you can lend your support to help them with their preparation at home, if needed, and especially in ensuring regular attendance and practice at home.
