Bridging Borders: DAS International's Innovative Approach to Online Specialist Teaching

By Anaberta Oehlers-Jaen
Head of DAS International

At DAS International, we are dedicated to supporting our overseas clients through our specialised services, particularly in the realm of online specialist teaching. Our clients come from across the region, flying into Singapore to benefit from our comprehensive psychological assessments conducted by our registered psychologists under our esteemed DAS International Concierge Assessments Service. This service is designed to cater to the unique needs of our clients, offering a seamless process with a quick turnaround time, often less than 4 weeks from booking an appointment to flying into Singapore.

Following assessments, recommendations are made to our clients, and if specialist teaching is deemed necessary, we ensure a tailored approach to meet their needs. We have had the privilege of serving clients who receive one-to-one online specialist teaching for literacy and maths from countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Istanbul, and Brunei. These students periodically fly into Singapore for intensive rounds of specialist teaching, typically consisting of 10 hours over 5 days. This physical connection to their specialist teachers enhances the multisensory experience through direct teaching, reinforcing concepts that they can then continue to build upon in their online lessons upon returning to their home country. This formula has proven to be highly successful, as attested by numerous satisfied parents.

Let me share a case story of Michelle Jones*, a Grade 2 student. Michelle's parents brought her to Singapore for assessment under DAS International Concierge Assessments, where she was diagnosed with dyslexia.

Upon returning to Vietnam, Michelle commenced online specialist teaching sessions twice a week for literacy and maths with Senior Specialist Teacher, Shilpa Madane. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) was meticulously crafted based on her recent psychological assessments, focusing on a holistic approach to support Michelle in reaching her potential in these areas, as she was performing below her grade level.

Michelle is scheduled to attend a 10-hour intensive specialist tutoring session at the end of April, a testament to the effectiveness of our blended approach to learning.

We are immensely proud of Michelle's progress and grateful for the heartfelt feedback from her mother, Mrs Jones, acknowledging the positive impact of our online specialist teaching on Michelle's academic journey.

Bouquet from Michelle’s mother for Ms Shilpa:  Senior Specialist Teacher

“Michelle enjoys the lessons and has been progressing well. I do not know if she is at the level of kids her age or not (I fear not) but clearly, she has been progressing since starting with you for her Online Specialist Teaching. Michelle is really looking forward to meeting you in person when she comes to Singapore for her intensive Specialist teaching with you. 

In general, Michelle absorbs like a sponge everything that we give her from academic content (in English or Vietnamese) to physical activities like golf, rollerblading, martial arts or extracurricular activities like piano, dancing, cooking, coding, etc…. Sometimes I wonder if I had to follow her schedule would I be exhausted? Because I travel a lot and her daddy is not with us all the time as he is also travelling, and grandma is already old so engaging her in activities or having her take lessons is a way for me to ensure that someone is always with her instead of her lying in bed watching her iPad."

At DAS International, we're dedicated to extending our support to clients in regions with limited access to specialist services for diverse learning needs. Through DAS Academy, we offer courses and workshops to empower parents in understanding their child's learning journey. Whether locally or during visits to Singapore, we provide valuable resources to enhance parental support and create a more inclusive learning environment for all.

Our unique blend of online and in-person specialist teaching continues to bridge distances, ensuring that students, regardless of their location, receive the support they need to thrive.