For many families newly arrived in Singapore, how quickly a child adapts to the English environment in secondary school often determines whether they can integrate into school life, maintain academic performance, and even affects future education opportunities and emotional well-being. However, many parents searching for English tuition often find themselves in a dilemma: there seems to be a lot of options, but it’s hard to judge which ones are truly effective.
Singapore’s secondary education system emphasizes practical English skills, not just exam techniques. Especially for immigrant children from non-English-speaking countries such as China, Malaysia, Korea, or Japan, even students with strong English grades in their home country may struggle in Singapore—finding it hard to understand lessons, score well in writing, or actively participate in class. These challenges not only affect grades but also confidence, social integration, and long-term development.
1. Why Do Immigrant Children Often See a Drop in English Grades After Arriving in Singapore?
Many parents are puzzled: their child excelled in English back home but struggles to pass exams, write essays, or keep up with lessons in Singapore. The root cause is that Singapore’s English education emphasizes logical expression + critical thinking + academic language, rather than just grammar and vocabulary.
Main reasons include:
- Different language logic: Singapore secondary English essays focus on expressing opinions, providing arguments, and using examples—not just narrating events.
- High listening difficulty: Teachers and classmates come from diverse backgrounds with different accents, making rapid comprehension challenging.
- Class participation culture: Teachers ask frequent questions; students who are hesitant to speak may be seen as “less engaged,” affecting overall assessment.
- Vocabulary goes beyond everyday use: Students need to understand terms from social issues, technology, and culture—far beyond traditional textbook vocabulary.
Real-life example:
Chen, a student from Beijing, consistently ranked in the top 10% in English at his previous school. After moving to Singapore, he scored only 52 on his first English exam. His mother was anxious but didn’t realize that the real issue wasn’t vocabulary—it was that Chen didn’t know how to express opinions in English or structure essays according to Singapore’s grading criteria. After three months of systematic tuition, Chen’s essay grade improved from C to A2, and he could confidently answer questions in class, earning praise from his form teacher.
2. Five Key Factors Parents Should Consider When Choosing English Tuition in Singapore
- Is there a structured placement system and learning path for new immigrants?
Children come with different English foundations; a one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. Professional programs must conduct an initial assessment, place students according to listening, speaking, reading, and writing ability, and set stage-wise goals. Without this, children may feel lost, fall behind, and lose confidence.How to check: Does the course provide a formal language assessment before lessons? Are students placed according to CEFR levels or Singapore secondary standards? Is there a clear progression path (e.g., reach B1 in six months, B2 in one year)?
- Is the course focused on speaking and thinking skills, not just test practice?
English in Singapore is not just an exam subject—it’s a tool for communication, debate, and presentation. Courses that rely solely on memorizing words or templates will leave students disconnected from the classroom. Effective courses should include plenty of speaking practice, group discussions, and role-play exercises, helping students gain confidence in expressing themselves.
- Teacher qualifications and experience
- Many parents are attracted to the “foreign teacher” label, but not all teachers are equal. A high-quality teacher should have one or more of the following:Native English speaker with an education-related degree
- Graduate from top universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, or UCL
- Years of teaching experience in Singapore, familiar with local assessment standards
- Ability to explain concepts in the student’s mother tongue (bilingual teachers)
Real-life example:
HeeJin, a Korean student, showed no improvement after six months in a regular tuition class. Her teacher focused only on exercises, without addressing her anxiety about speaking. After switching to a course taught by an Oxford-educated teacher, HeeJin practiced role-playing and class presentations. Within two months, she could deliver English speeches at school and eventually joined the school’s drama club.
- Class size and teaching style
Many institutions advertise small classes but have over 15 students, giving each child little chance to speak. Ideal setups are interactive classes of 3–6 students or one-on-one tuition, allowing teachers to correct pronunciation and grammar in real-time and guide participation.
- Support for language assessments like WIDA
New immigrant students often need to pass language proficiency assessments when entering local or international schools. Courses must have structured teaching systems and resources rather than improvised materials. iWorld Learning, for example, has custom WIDA-based materials focusing on reading, speaking, and academic writing.
3. Real Parent Cases: Choosing the Right Tuition Restores Confidence
Case 1: Li, from Nanjing, China
Her daughter was ranked at the bottom of her class, particularly struggling with logical and opinion-based essays. After a systematic assessment, iWorld Learning created a “Writing + Speaking” course. Month 1 focused on vocabulary and sentence variation, month 2 on opinion construction, and month 3 on simulated classroom debates. After three months, her English score rose from 55 to 72, and she excelled in a class debate—completely reversing her previous passive approach.
Case 2: A Brazilian immigrant family
The child couldn’t understand lessons and was extremely anxious during exams. iWorld Learning placed him in courses taught by native English speakers, assisted by bilingual Portuguese-English instructors. In an immersive environment, he gradually adapted to Singapore English, and after three months, he could follow lessons and actively participate in group discussions, earning the school’s “Most Improved Student” award.
4. Potential Risks of Choosing the Wrong Tuition
While not focusing on common mistakes, it’s worth gently noting: ineffective courses waste time and can make children resist learning English, reducing classroom engagement. Parents should ensure any course combines practicality + structure + adaptability.
5. Why More Families Are Choosing iWorld Learning
iWorld Learning is not a typical English tuition center. It is a professional institution designed for local and international students in Singapore. Its programs focus not only on language improvement but also on academic thinking, international expression, and confident output.
Core advantages:
- Professional WIDA preparation & custom materials – Courses align with Singapore secondary and international school standards, with a structured path to improve listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
- Small classes (3–6 students) & one-on-one tuition – Ensures each student has speaking opportunities and timely teacher feedback.
- Native English-speaking teachers + bilingual team – Teachers from the UK and US with top university backgrounds; bilingual instructors help weaker students quickly grasp key concepts.
- Flexible teaching formats – Lessons can be fully English or bilingual depending on the student’s level.
- Visible results – Each student has goals and progress reports, so parents can clearly see improvements instead of blindly tutoring.
6. Choosing the Right Path Is More Important Than Blind Tutoring
Language ability shapes academic success, social skills, confidence, and future opportunities. In Singapore’s highly international environment, English is not just a tool—it’s a gateway for children to integrate and thrive.
If you are looking for an English tuition program truly tailored to immigrant children, iWorld Learning is a trusted choice. We teach more than language—we help children develop the soft skills and confidence to express themselves on a global stage.
🎯 Book a trial class today and let your child experience the start of transformation:
WhatsApp: +65 8798 0083
📍 School Locations:
- CBD Campus: 10 Anson Road, #24-15, International Plaza, Singapore 079903 (Green Line: Tanjong Pagar)
- Orchard Campus: 111 Somerset Road, #10-19, Singapore 238164 (Red Line: Somerset)
