Student Testimonial: Zhang (Math J 200 by Grade 5)
The first time I went to Kumon was when I was in kindergarten. Only a few years later, I was learning to draw horizontal and vertical lines under the guidance of the teacher. Since then, it has been nine years (since I moved to another place, it was interrupted for nine months.) Kumon-style education has gradually become an integral part of my life, whether during New Year or vacation, it hasn’t been a day since I stopped learning Kumon.
I was deeply influenced by Kumon's concept of "advanced learning", constantly breaking through my limits and enjoying the charm of esoteric knowledge. Here, I met enthusiastic, friendly, and knowledgeable teachers. They inspired me to ask questions and have a passion for knowledge. Kumon learning method is like mellow fine wine, the more time passes by, the more flavour it emits.
To this day, I am still grateful that I learned so much in Kumon: when my peers struggled with solving equations, memorizing ancient poems, and learning grammar, Kumon gave me a glimpse of guidance ahead of me. I read aloud at my desk "For whom will I go to Xiaoxiang", bow my head under the lamp and think about the mystery of derivatives and differentials, and indulge in the original masterpiece of A Tale of Two Cities Yu and Oliver Twist by the wall... All these memories, together with the exercise books "stacked like a mountain" at home, are weaving together outlines the story of me and Kumon.
There will also be adversities in the process: I was at a loss in the face of complex mathematical formulas, and I thought of giving up. I broke down and cried several times, but I am very glad that I persisted. Finally, in seventh grade, I successfully passed the Chinese, Mathematics, and English exams, and the moment when I picked up the trophy, everything was worth it in nine years.
Thanks to the Instructors who have been with me, your teaching and encouragement have supported me to this day.
As I write this passage, I hope to encourage you who are about to participate in Kumon, or who are already learning Kumon, and hope that you will not forget your original intention, persevere to the end, pursue your dreams, and achieve success!
Student Testimonial: Johann
Entering the Kumon math program at the age of 4, I must say that I benefitted from the early grasp on the foundations of learning, which gave me a head start in my academic journey. New to the entire system, I spent the first few weeks engaging with the instructors, who provided me with guidance on the course content and the worksheet instructions. Given the free time I had, as well as how near the Kumon centre was, I would visit there 2 times a week to ask specific questions or continue working on the homework with the available support from instructors. Gradually, I developed a sense of confidence and started to self-study with the worksheets, picking up useful learning tips along the way. Additionally, I adjusted my learning style to a comfortable pace, so I could progress the course with ease.
There were times when I found myself stuck on certain obstacles, especially from the variety of difficult problems. Nevertheless, I was able to overcome these mistakes, whether through reflection on the previously studied content, a change of pace, or further assistance from instructors. Not only was I able to strengthen my overall knowledge of math, but I was also able to appreciate the course and enjoy learning it. I have practically grown up with Kumon, and it has undoubtedly enhanced my academic ability and motivation to continue learning today.
Student Testimonial: Brian
Kumon is more than just a place to learn.
It definitely does that if you’re just looking for this, though - I should know, as a person who has been part of it since over 10 years ago as a 4th grader. Even as a student with some prior affinity for mathematics, Kumon’s structure greatly accounts for all levels of skill, all the way up to the college level, which meant I fit right in off the bat. With its format of daily booklets and an adjustable number of in-person sessions each week, as you see fit, Kumon is not only accommodative, and educational, but also teaches discipline; traits that no doubt extend to its English program as well.
But as I have said, it is not just a place to learn. Kumon and its teachers greatly value their students, providing not only a welcoming environment, but also prizes for consistently hardworking students. Just forcing the learning process isn’t going to be appealing to anyone, let alone young students - a point Kumon perfectly grasps. It would be selling Kumon short to even just call it a community - what it really is, is a family. Even now, as a college student facing graduation, Kumon still holds a special place in my heart.
Eliza's Story
We have known the Instructor, Nester, for more than a decade. She is a patient Instructor with lots of passion for young kids. My daughter Eliza was three when she started her path with Kumon. First, she learned how to hold a pencil properly and write numbers nice and neat. My routine for 7 years was to send Eliza to Nester's Kumon centre in Shanghai, and she started with Kumon math. She learned to be disciplined and sat at the Kumon centre doing one set of Kumon’s exercises. If she had a question, she could raise her hand to ask her instructors. Eliza benefited from Kumon for her math ability and is much smarter compared to her peers. In year 7 at a private school in the U.K., her school math teacher split the white board into two parts - one is the British way and left the other half for Eliza to fill in with Kumon learning method, which was much more efficient and simpler. She was put into a set among all grade 11-12 math sets at her school in the U.K. Without preparation, Eliza even won the top 100 math Olympiad exam in 2020. Also, without any diligent practice, she scored one of the highest at the sixth form entrance exam at Westminster School in 2022. Besides, her math ability helps her music education dramatically. When you transpose scores on different clefs, your brain needs to spot the relative positions swiftly. Eliza has tremendous ability regarding those trainings. Thanks to Kumon, Eliza is now at the keyboard principal seat at the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. We could not thank Nester more for making things easier for my daughter.
- Eliza's Mom