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KUMON HONG KONG has done a study to convince parents that a low starting point and more worksheets help students to learn faster.

Kumon instructors and 370 students from eight centres were involved in a  voluntary study group (VSG) from April last year to February this year to prove that point. The results were presented at the Kumon Asia & Oceania Instructors' Conference.

Instructor Rosa Leung Yim-yin said that parents usually preferred their children to start Kumon at a similar level to their school grade, and not  to be given too much Kumon homework as they were busy with schoolwork and extra-curricular activities.

Students are usually given a diagnostic test before joining Kumon classes to determine  their level.

Originally students were assigned fewer worksheets, but since the study, Kumon's Hong Kong centres have gradually increased the number.

The results of the study group showed that students' learning abilities were enhanced when they had lower starting points and an increased number of worksheets,  Ms Leung said.

She said the completion time, accuracy and achievement results of the target group were better than the control group.

The VSG report found that the percentage of students in the target group  who could  achieve the required school grades and complete more levels was higher than the control group.

The study suggested that a new starting point was useful for newly enrolled students, especially for the young students, she said.

'Doing easier worksheets helped new students adapt to the new environment and learning method, built up their self-confidence and aroused their interest in learning,' Ms Leung said.

'In the past, lower-level students were only required to do five worksheets a day. Now the number of worksheets is increased, based on the individual ability of a child, and students better assimilate what they learn in the worksheets,' she said.

'A low starting point and increased number of worksheets helped students to develop better learning habits and concentration.'

Ms Leung said the instructors were concerned that parents and students would not  find it easy to accept the new teaching method, but in the end they agreed with the results of the report.

'No pain, no gain. In fact, we didn't go through a lot of pain. All we needed were strategies to persuade the parents,' Ms Leung said.

The instructors held two meetings  with parents to explain how a low starting point and more worksheets would help their children learn faster.

They started the study close to the summer holidays so that the students would have the time to do the extra worksheets.

Kumon Hong Kong initiated the VSG to support its theory on better learning.

Ms Leung said the instructors believed their method would work, and accepted the challenge happily.

'We have to be role models for our students. When we teach our students to be brave and to face difficulties, we should also be brave in trying to solve problems of study.

'We were thrilled to know that our VSG was selected to represent Hong Kong at the conference. It made those months of hard work even more worthwhile.'



New study improves method of teaching