Let’s hear it for the WINNERS of the Parent-Get-Parent 2015 contest! They are the people who introduced the most number of friends to VITAL YEARS because they believe in the VITAL YEARS Programme and are seeing the results with their very own eyes. Your support is what motivates us to give our best to your children.

Congratulations to the Grand Prize Winner from Kuantan Centre, Madam Leoong Siew Luen for bagging a 3D2N Hotel + LEGOLAND® Malaysia Theme Park + Sanrio Hello Kitty & Little Big Club. We hope you have a lovely time!

Congratulations to the Runner-Up from The Atmosphere Centre, Mr. Edwin Chen, who receives RM500.00, which should come in handy during this holiday season!

And congratulations to all Consolation Prize winners who will receive RM100.00 each. Better luck next year!

I believe that having a good English foundation is very important for every child. In my experience, not every English learning centre has the ability to cultivate the reading habit but VITAL YEARS has done it!

In just a few months, my son Leonard is able to read storybooks and speak English fluently. His pronunciation and writing skills have improved tremendously. He even likes to write short messages and stories on his own, without any guidance.

VITAL YEARS’ motto ‘Reading Opens Doors’ is very apt. Leonard has picked up the reading habit and can now access all kinds of information. Being a reader has proven to be helpful, especially when it comes to spelling and writing, which he does so confidently now.

Thank you VITAL YEARS for providing such a good programme, and to the facilitators for guiding Leonard.

Chong Siew Nyoon
Mother

Umar has improved so much over time. I am very impressed that a 3-year-old boy can read and write a little bit. His ability to hold a pencil properly is far more advanced compared to his brothers when they were his age. Apart from that, his social skills and his spoken English have also improved tremendously. Thank you VITAL YEARS for bringing out the best in my child and for creating such a fun and enjoyable learning environment!

Nadhira Othman
Mother

I enrolled my children, Shyer Enn and Shyer Ting, at VITAL YEARS in Damansara Jaya in January 2015. My husband and I have seen a lot of improvement in their reading and writing skills, and most importantly, we notice a marked improvement in their interest and passion for learning. We get asked frequently about what school the children are attending because outsiders find that my children are able to pronounce English words accurately and possess a rich vocabulary.

As parents, we like the learning experience and environment that VITAL YEARS provides. We would also like to really thank the facilitators in VITAL YEARS Damansara Jaya, especially Teacher May, Phyllis and Maggie, for their dedication and hard work in nurturing my children.

Mrs Goh
Mother

HOLIDAY CAMP IS SO FUN AT VITAL YEARS!

Here are the children from VITAL YEARS Medan Damansara, Bandar Baru Klang and Pertam with their “All About Me” Tree! They were participants of the Holiday Camp, which took place at the end of November. There was much fun throughout the camps as they shared about their likes and dislikes, their hobbies, their favourite trips and much more; and then they exchanged ideas on how to incorporate all that into their personal Tree. As you can see, they are mighty proud to show off their “All About Me” Trees to you too!

On the last day, each of the participants gave a short presentation about themselves with the help of their very own “All About Me” Tree, which was very much appreciated by their fellow campers judging by the claps and laughter that could be heard in the classroom!

I enrolled my son, Louis Beckham in Vital Years 5 months after he had commenced kindergarten at the age of 4. As English is not spoken in our household, I realised that he was lacking in the ability to communicate with his teachers in English and there were many occasions when he could not comprehend what was being said. I was introduced to VITAL YEARS by my sister-in-law, who had heard then that I was looking around for an English learning centre, which could help my child develop in all areas of the language.

True enough, after attending classes at VITAL YEARS for a month, he showed marked progress. His vocabulary improved and most importantly, he started to converse with this teachers and friends in English. He would readily pick up and flip through English books, a habit he had never displayed prior to attending VITAL YEARS. After seeing Louis Beckham’s progress, my husband and I decided to enrol our 27 month old daughter, Hailey Natalie at VITAL YEARS as well.

We would never have expected the difference it made, enrolling Hailey Natalie in the daily classes whereas Louis Beckham only attends lessons twice a week. Prior to attending VITAL YEARS, Hailey Natalie would refuse to listen to anything we said if we attempted to speak in English; her immediate reaction was to raise her hands and exclaim, “Please do not speak like that; I do not understand what you are saying!”. Such was her resistance to the language. However, after attending classes at VITAL YEARS, she now takes to the English language naturally and is confident when speaking in English. She has impressed my sisters with her language skills, so much so that they intend to send their own children to VITAL YEARS too. My children have even performed “mini concerts” at their own free will, entertaining us with songs learned at VITAL YEARS and stories before bedtime have become a routine in our home now.

We are impressed with the VITAL YEARS Programme and its pedagogy. Meanwhile, the Centre Director and teachers at the VITAL YEARS Centre display much dedication in educating the young, inculcating the reading habit in the children, facilitating their learning on a 1-to-1 basis and provide much motivation and opportunities for the children to communicate in English whilst at the centre. Seeing my children enjoy their lessons and learning in a stress-free way at VITAL YEARS makes it worth the while sending them to the centre.

We would like to express my utmost gratitude to the teachers at the VITAL YEARS KIP Centre for all their hard work and for playing an active role in moulding our children’s character. More importantly, they have ensured Louis Beckham and Hailey Natalie a solid foundation in the language. The experience has been both rewarding and priceless!

Alice Lim
Mother

我们在家都是以纯中文 交谈的，所以去年在儿子Louis Beckham进入4岁幼儿班的第5个月后，某天我察觉到他无法与英文老师们好好沟通交流，甚至很多时候都听不懂老师在说些什么的时候，当下我就决定了把Louis Beckham送去弟媳强力推荐的Vital Years上课。我想让他在这个以英语为主的环境，熟悉这个语言，学习正确的发音，让他在这方面加强沟通交流的信心。

果然，去了Vital Years的短短几个月后，就让我看到了他语言上，认字上的进步；而最让我感到欣慰的是，此刻的他在幼儿园里已经可以与老师们沟通自如了。甚至有时候与友人聚餐时，他也会主动以英文跟他们的孩子们聊天呢！在家时，还会自动自发地拿起英文绘本阅读；看到他各方面的进步，我和先生更加肯定半年后也要将满27个月大的女儿Hailey Natalie送去Vital Years上课。

由于Hailey Natalie是上5天制的，相对于哥哥的一个星期才2天上课，她进步神速的英文，更让我们感到惊喜与惊讶！犹记得还未上课前，如果我们以简单英文与她对话，她会叉起双手气鼓鼓地回应我们说：“请不要说这种话，我听不懂”，选择不回应我们，那可爱的模样真是让我们感到好气又好笑，至今还深深烙印在我的脑海里。

但自从在今年的3月份开始上课后，她整个人不同了，与我们沟通时都可以华英交替地非常好。现在很多英文单字都会认了，每天放学回来还不停的哼唱英文歌，十句话五句不离英文，发音非常准确，一副信心满满的样子。我的妹妹们每次看到她喋喋不休地讲英文，都觉得Vital Years很不错，也纷纷打算将他们的孩子们送进去就读呢！有时心情大好的时候他们还会给我们办个小小演唱会，一边表演一边唱歌，当然每晚临睡前要求读一两本绘本的阅读习惯是少不了的。

我觉得Vital Years的教育理念非常棒，院长与老师们在教学上都非常地用心。老师一对一的教学模式，适时的从旁指导，引导他们使用英文沟通交流，互相问问题，这样的学习过程对他们来说是最重要的。看到孩子们在舒适开心零压力的环境下学习，享受上课的乐趣，我们觉得是值得的。

在此，我们衷心地感谢Vital Years分院KIP的老师们培养了我的孩子们对英语阅读的兴趣与能力，真心感谢他们给予我孩子们的一切，感恩！

妈妈Allice Lim

Everybody loves to hear of a good and wonderful product. All the better when it is introduced to you through a friend! At VITAL YEARS, we give you a chance to win some cash prizes just for introducing your friends to any VITAL YEARS centre nationwide through the Parent-Get-Parent Contest. You and your friends are also entitled to immediate rebates upon registration. So hurry now to the nearest centre for more information.

Contest starts from 1st March 2016.

You are cordially invited to join us!

The centre in Subang 2 is almost ready for its re-opening! Classes will commence on March 14 and the Grand Opening is set for Saturday, March 26, 2016 at 3:00PM.

It all started when I sent my little cutie pie to VITAL YEARS when she was 2 years and 10 months old. Since then, she can always be heard humming tunes whenever and wherever she is. And within 1 or 2 weeks, she was able to sing a complete song with the correct pronunciation.

She has only been in VITAL YEARS for 11 months, yet she has gained a lot from there. Other than singing nursery rhymes, she has also learnt some simple words, as well as to read short sentences. And of course, these include daily conversation in English. On top of that, this little girl is also able to mix around with other kids easily after joining VITAL YEARS.

The list doesn’t stop here as she is still learning!

From her little heart, VITAL YEARS is a joyful place where she loves to be, not forgetting also the loving and caring educationists there. As a mummy, I strongly believe that “A joyful learning environment grows a happy child”.

Keep it up, Vital Years!

Evelyn Kan
Mother

Hello, Parents!

Just three days to the Grand Opening of the VITAL YEARS Subang 2 centre! The centre has been lovingly set up with books and toys for your child’s enjoyment and we would love to show it to you soon.
We would like to extend an invitation to you to join us on Saturday, March 26 at 3:00PM, for a short presentation on the VITAL YEARS programme, video recording of children reading and a chat over a cup of tea. Do bring along your friends and neighbours too! Every enrolment is entitled to free registration of RM60 and a T-shirt worth RM22.

See you there!

VITAL YEARS held its Annual Conference 2015 on Sunday, March 20 2016 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club. Everyone was taken on a nostalgic journey through the early years when the VITAL YEARS Programme was first developed. We watched old clips of the founder, Mrs Lam Kam Foong, giving live demonstrations and talks with her young daughter Shannon in tow, who captivated everyone with how she was able to read ‘big words’ even at the age of three.

The usual reporting and updates followed, and then everyone participated in a brainstorming session. After a delicious lunch, Mrs Lam Kam Foong held a little workshop for the Franchisees and Facilitators on the importance of speaking well and developing oneself in this area.

The Prize Giving Ceremony took place right at the end where the overall Top 5 centres in the Klang Valley, Major City and Rural Town areas were recognized. Most of them were common faces, however it was good to note that there are some other centres close behind, vying for the Top 5 spot next year!

The next big event will be the 20th Anniversary Dinner on May 29, 2016.

Thank you to our Parents, Speakers and all Attendees for making this occasion.

The Grand Opening of the VITAL YEARS Centre in Subang Bestari was met with warm sunshine. The event kicked off at 3.15pm with the arrival of a handful of guests. The centre had received a few walk-in enquiries in the morning itself as those who visited were unable to attend the Grand Opening actual scheduled for 3pm. Despite the slow crowd, VITAL YEARS Subang 2 recorded its first enrolment that afternoon itself. Yes, VITAL YEARS Subang 2 has finally re-opened to serve the community at Subang Bestari!

Don’t fly by, drop in for a cup of coffee and have a chat with our Facilitators!

“Just to be able to speak is nothing special; but to be able to speak well requires nurturing.”
- Madam Lam Kam Foong, Founder of VITAL YEARS

1. Why is it important that your child should speak well?
English is said to be the language of progress and development. English dominates the world of trade and commerce; as well as in travel, social media and education. Speaking well in English helps the child to stay relevant in this fast-changing and challenging world.

2. What are the characteristics of a good speaker?
A good speaker is one who is eloquent, charismatic, articulate, influential, inspiring, persuasive, precise, confident, convincing, authoritative, effective and comprehensive. To speak well is a skill that has to be cultivated.

3. How can VITAL YEARS empower your child to speak English well?
Speaking well opens the door to a wider choice of career prospects, higher pay and a greater capacity to contribute to the world. VITAL YEARS aims to produce the speaker who can be all of the above through its iSpeak Programme, available in all VITAL YEARS centres in April 2016.

The VITAL YEARS iSpeak Programme is poised to empower your child to stand out and succeed in life.

To find out more, please contact the VITAL YEARS Centre.

Today marks 20 years since the first VITAL YEARS centre opened its doors! We look back on how far we have come and what it is that has brought us here. We are grateful to be celebrating 20 great years of business success.

Here is a message from the VITAL YEARS Founder, Madam Lam Kam Foong:

When the staff at our illustrious headquarters reminded me of the significance of 2016, I must say it caught me off-guard. Our twentieth anniversary! Quite an achievement, I am told.

Yes, we could pat ourselves on the back for overcoming the odds, for creating a brand that has lasted two decades. Despite the pressure of competition, in a world where consumers are crying, “Faster, bigger, cheaper!” with increasing frenzy, we have remained purists. We teach English. Not Math, nor Science, nor Geography. We would rather be experts in a single field than masters of none.

Yet without taking anything away from the hard work of our team and franchise network, to whom full credit must be given in the reaching of this milestone, it matters little to me whether we have been open for twenty years or two hundred. Vital Years is more than statistics and figures, profits and losses. You cannot contain it within four walls and is impossible to say when it started or if it will ever end. It is, and always has been, an ideology.

– Every child is born a reader.
– Every child, regardless of race or background, should have the opportunity to read print
speedily and painlessly.
– Every child deserves to be raised in an environment that fosters a love for language.

In the child who reads English naturally, who acquires that key to a lifetime of discovery, these ideals live on.

Thank you for the journey.

Lam Kam Foong
VITAL YEARS Founder

Celebrating 20 great years indeed! With the decorations up and food laid out, staff and facilitators at the VITAL YEARS Headquarters celebrated over lunch, cake and wine. This is just a taste of what is to come in May when we really celebrate with the entire network! Happy birthday VITAL YEARS… the best is yet to come!

Click here to see the pictures!

Happy 20th Anniversary!

Congratulations to VITAL YEARS for the brand and 20 years of business success.

The wholesome learning based on a natural reading concept proven to be effective, has made VITAL YEARS an awesome programme. Taking advantage of advanced technology and development of new elements such as Smart Board lessons and the iSpeak Programme will not only nurture the children to speak well but also to be able to face the challenges of the world. The hard work is also extended to the facilitators to prepare and help them to improve themselves through Personal Development workshops and other activities.

Thank you Mrs. Lam Kam Foong and the Management team for your continuous improvements and hardship for VITAL YEARS to stay relevant in today’s competitive and challenging market.

I must say that I have made the right decision 12 years ago to be part of the VITAL YEARS network and will continue to be with the family.

Thank you.

Yeap Hong Luan
Owner & Centre Director
VITAL YEARS Lagenda Heights, Sg Petani

After almost a decade of working at VITAL YEARS, I think one of the best parts has been seeing young children who joined us with no knowledge of English at all leaving the programme speaking fluent English, with a passion for reading . It really inspires me to keep doing what I do, that is making English not simply a subject to enjoy, but instead a language that’s part of their everyday life.

I joined VITAL YEARS as a Centre Director at Gottlieb Road before leaving to the Tanjung Bungah centre as the owner, Centre Director and as a joint franchisee. The journey has been an educational one, not only for the children I’ve worked with but even more so for me. It goes without saying that the children keep us on our toes with their endless curiosity and energy.

It’s an honour to be a part of this twentieth anniversary celebration and to be a member of the VITAL YEARS family. Of course, like in any family, there will be tears and disagreements (and not just with the children!) but in the end, we’re all in this together. All the time I’ve been a part of VITAL YEARS I never once felt that we did not achieve what we set out to do, and I believe we helped many children come to love a language they would not otherwise have.

Anna Choong
Owner & Centre Director
VITAL YEARS Tanjung Bungah, Penang

It was in 1988 that I first heard of the VITAL YEARS Programme. I was helping a friend in her nursery and one of her children was going for English lessons at a place called VITAL YEARS. I even had a peek into the first core book. Later that year I had to come back to Kuantan to take over the kindergarten set up by my late brother.

In 1997, my niece went to the VITAL YEARS Centre in Wangsa Maju. Something in me lit up. Could it be the same VITAL YEARS that I have heard about in 1988? I asked my sister to set up a meeting with the owners. I remembered Junie calling up and setting up a meeting. She flew into Kuantan. As I had never met her, I did what I saw people do on TV. I flashed her name on a large cardboard at the arrival gates.

I did not know how Junie Leow would have felt meeting me. To me it was comfortable, like meeting an old friend. Surprisingly I knew her aunt and her family. That was the beginning of a relationship that spans nearly 19 years and still going strong.

When Junie shared with me the vision of VITAL YEARS, my heart said, “Yes! Yes! Yes! That is how I would like to teach English and pass on my legacy of English to the young ones.” Thus, we embarked on a programme called Your Child Can Read (YCCR) for my kindergarten children starting in 1998.

In 1999, Junie mooted the idea of franchise centres and I was very keen. I said, “Yes!” Before this, I had extra VITAL YEARS classes at the kindergarten in the evening. I was very fortunate that I had a group of teachers who supported me in this project. Moving to a franchise centre was a natural progress.

My target was to be the first franchisee. However, due to official approval delays and hiccups I was second, but never mind I am still the longest. I opened my first centre on October 31, 1999. We went through changes and upgrading together. We saw the network grow. We also saw some downsides. As I believe a franchisee and franchisor’s relationship is synergistic, we need to work to keep it good all the time. We can always resolve issues.

I am happy to be a VITAL YEARS Franchisee. VITAL YEARS has given me a very profitable business. I have a large network of friends and supporters. The number of students that have walked through the doors of VITAL YEARS Kuantan has exceeded 2000 since we opened.

I salute VITAL YEARS and Mrs. Lam Kam Foong, the originator of the programme. May the coming years be good too.

Leong Lee Suan
Owner & Centre Director
VITAL YEARS Kuantan

VITAL YEARS is on a quest to find the best storytellers amongst its students!

The LITTLE STORYTELLERS CONTEST is for all existing VITAL YEARS students aged four to ten. Simply record a 3-minute video telling one of the designated stories and stand a chance to win Lego sets worth RM300 as well as 6 months free lessons at VITAL YEARS! Storytelling will be judged based on language proficiency, creativity and the ‘WOW’ factor. The contest runs from April 18 to May 30.

Shortlisted videos will be uploaded to the Vital Years Facebook Fan Page for voting in June. Get your friends to ‘Like’ our Fan Page too so they can vote! The video with the most ‘Likes’ will win. Find out more from your friendly facilitators at the VITAL YEARS Centres.

We are looking forward to discovering the best storytellers in VITAL YEARS!

For more information, please contact the nearest centre.