The Kumon Programmes and their benefits

The Kumon Programmes aim to develop:

Calculation ability and reading ability
Concentration
Discipline to maintain a daily study and reading habit
Confidence to learn independently.

Please scroll down to read about the Kumon curricula and the specific topics we cover in our Maths, English, Japanese and Kokugo programmes.

Maths

The Kumon Maths programme develops quick, precise calculation skills necessary for the study of high school mathematics. Only topics essential for high school mathematics are included. They include number recognition, counting and writing; the four basic operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; fractions and decimals; algebra, equations, functions and calculus.

Each worksheet builds on what has come before and prepares students for what comes next. Students progress step by step, towards the goal of advanced high school mathematics.

English

The Kumon English worksheets develop a high level of reading comprehension ability. To inspire students to read widely, the worksheets contain more extracts from published texts than any other reading programme in the world.

They are arranged in order of increasing difficulty, from the simplest to the most complex.

Audio files support the student’s progress, as do Kumon’s recommended reading lists.

Japanese

Kumon Japanese aims for mastery of advanced reading comprehension skills, which enable students to fluently read Japanese texts.

Kumon Japanese has links to the Japanese Language Proficiency Tests, conducted each year throughout the world by the Japanese Ministry of Education. Thereby, Kumon Japanese students are able to acquire internationally recognised qualifications.

Kumon Japanese is comprised of fifteen levels of worksheets that are designed for students to learn step-by-step. CDs recorded by native Japanese speakers ensure students hear correct pronunciation of words.

After mastering hiragana and katakana (phonetic alphabets), students progress to the study of kanji (Chinese characters) and more complex sentence structures.

Kokugo

Kumon Kokugo is a language programme designed for children whose native language is Japanese. The programme assumes native Japanese fluency.

Furthermore, students who have completed Kumon Japanese can then progress to Kumon Kokugo.

Kumon Kokugo enhances vocabulary acquisition through development of advanced reading and writing skills.

Pencil Skills

The Pencil Skills Programme is a supplementary programme that supports the development of students’ ability to control a pencil.

Pencil Skills includes the ability to hold a pencil securely and correctly, to use consistent writing pressure, to control the start and end of lines, to draw straight lines, to draw curved lines and to draw lines within narrow spaces.

The worksheets are intended to be fun and to be studied by preschoolers. The Pencil Skills Programme consists of two levels, ZI and ZII, with 100 worksheets in each level.

Therefore, the Pencil Skills programme is usually studied as a prelude to Kumon Mathematics and/or Kumon English.

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How Kumon study could benefit students of all ages

For early learners: ages four and younger

Kumon Maths

The Kumon Maths programme has many benefits for early learners. These include:

Instructing early learners on how to hold and use a pencil through interesting exercises and activities in the preparatory level worksheets
Helping early learners to recite, read and count and write numbers by themselves
Assisting early learner to see the joy in learning through our colourful and interesting worksheets, and through the constant encouragement from their Kumon Instructor
Preparing early learners for later learning by providing a strong maths foundation
Kumon study only takes a small amount of time each day. Early learners will have plenty of time for play and other activities!

Kumon English

The Kumon English programme has many benefits for early learners. These include:

Instructing early learners on how to hold and use a pencil through interesting exercises and activities in the preparatory level worksheets
Helping early learners learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, early learners’ letter writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing words
Assisting them to see the joy in learning through our colourful and interesting worksheets, and through constant encouragement from their Kumon Instructor
Preparing them for later life with a strong foundation in reading and writing
Kumon study only takes a small amount of time each day. Early learners will still have plenty of time for play and other activities!

Kumon Japanese

The Kumon Japanese programme has many benefits for early learners. These include:

Learning a second language is proven to have great benefits for children’s development. The earlier they begin to learn a language, the more likely they are to retain the knowledge in later life
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, their character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing
Kumon study only takes a small amount of time each day, leaving plenty of time for play and other activities!

Kumon Kokugo

The Kumon Kokugo programme has many benefits for early learners. These include:

Maintaining and developing early learners’ Japanese native language ability.
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing
Kumon study only takes a small amount of time each day, leaving plenty of time for play and other activities!

For primary school students: ages five to 12

Kumon Maths

The Kumon Maths programme can benefit primary school students, aged five to 12, by:

Providing a personalised study programme based on your child’s individual needs and addressing any gaps in their learning. Students can even go on to be advanced in their learning
Ensuring students have mastered essential mathematical concepts. This includes the four basic operations, fractions, and algebra
Ensuring students have developed essential skills. This includes strong mental calculation ability, verification skills and self-correction skills
Extending the abilities of advanced students. Some students come to Kumon with a special interest or ability in maths. Our programmes can help develop their interest, abilities and pique their curiosity.

Kumon English

The Kumon English programme can benefit primary school students, aged five to 12, by:

Providing a personalised study programme based on your child’s individual needs and addressing any gaps in their learning. They can even go on to be advanced in their learning
Ensuring students are exposed to a wide range of texts and develop strong reading comprehension ability. Afterwards, your child will be able to compose simple sentences, visualise passages and interpret passages, through re-statement, examples and description.
Stretching the abilities of advanced students. Some students come to Kumon with a special interest or ability in English. Our programmes can help develop interest, ability and pique their curiosity
Supporting the learning of both native and non-native English speakers.

Kumon Japanese

The Kumon Japanese programme can benefit primary school students, aged five to 12, by:

Helping them learn a second language. This is proven to have great benefits for the development of children’s brains. The earlier they begin to learn a language the more likely they are to retain the knowledge in later life
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, their character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing.

Kumon Kokugo

The Kumon Kokugo programme can benefit primary school students, aged five to 12, by:

Maintaining and developing their native Japanese language ability
Building their Japanese reading comprehension ability
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, their character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing.

For high school students: ages 13 and above

Kumon Maths

The Kumon Maths programme can benefit all high school students, aged 13 and above, by:

Providing a personalised study programme based on your child’s individual needs and addressing any gaps in their learning. They can even go on to be advanced in their learning
Ensuring students have mastered essential concepts. This includes complex algebraic equations, functions and graphs, differentiation and trigonometric functions
Ensuring students develop the discipline, mindset and skills necessary for learning independently, as they progress through high school maths
Extending the abilities of advanced students. Some students come to Kumon with a special interest or ability in Maths. Our programmes can help develop their interest, ability and pique their curiosity.

Kumon English

The Kumon English programme can benefit all high school students, aged 13 and above, by:

Providing a personalised study programme based on your child’s individual needs and addressing any gaps in their learning. They can even go on to be advanced in their learning
Ensuring students develop their critical reading skills. They are able to summarise, analyse and interpret elements of literature. This includes figurative language, comedy, irony and tragedy
Ensuring students develop the discipline, mindset and skills necessary for learning independently as they progress through high school English
Extending the abilities of advanced students. Some students come to Kumon with a special interest or ability in English. Our programmes can help develop their interest, ability and pique their curiosity
Supporting the learning of both native and non-native English speakers.

Kumon Japanese

The Kumon Japanese programme can benefit high school students, who are aged 13 and above, by

Helping them learn a second language. This is proven to have great benefits for the development of teenager’s brains
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, their character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing.

Kumon Kokugo

The Kumon Kokugo programme can benefit high school students, who are aged 13 and above, by:

Maintaining and developing their Japanese native language ability
Build their Japanese reading comprehension ability
Helping them learn to read and recognise words, phrases and sentences, through repeating, reciting and reading. Additionally, their character writing will improve by tracing, copying and writing.