Jolly new way of teaching children
By Azaraimy HH

Chris Jolly explaining on the publication.

Parents nowadays are more actively involved in their children's early learning process as could be seen from the strong turnout at the talk last Wednesday.

Topic of discussion in the Mutiara Ballroom of Sheraton Utama Hotel, BSB was a new method of teaching young children called Phonics.

Organised by the British Council, the guest speaker that night was Mr Chris Jolly of Jolly Phonics publication.

This event was attended by about 180 people, a large number of them travelling all the way from Kuala Belait and comprised of both interested guardians as well as teachers.

According to the organiser, there has been an increase in the interest of Phonics in Brunei as government schools have begun to use this technique, so Mr Jolly's visit came at a very good time.

He said that he would like to see this type of teaching become established here as the main way that children ought to be taught to read in the first year of school, raising standards higher than usual.

Mr Jolly generally described Phonics in his presentation and plenty of questions were asked later. This event was arranged by British Council branches in both Kuala Belait and the capital with KiKi Nowers, the Education Counsellor of the former, chairing the meeting.

The British Council invited Mr Jolly to Brunei so that the method is reinforced in schools already practising them and to promote understanding for those wishing to introduce it into their schools.

Materials of Jolly Phonics became in great demand at the end of the evening with catalogues made available for ordering.

Paul and Elizabeth Bookshop, Yayasan Complex will be accepting orders for any interested parties.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin