Giraffe Learning Center

I had a very poor experience when I was a student in the after school day care/​tutoring program (from 1998 – 2001) at Giraffe Learning Center (now also affiliated with Eastern Chinese School). I would not recommend this tutoring center to anyone; the verbal, emotional and psychological abuse I endured from the principal, «Yin 老师», left me with some degree of PTSD. I am not opposed to the traditionally strict Chinese approach to parenting, but what I experienced does not fall under any «Chinese» approach to parenting. Being singled out and screamed at for two hours (for chatting with other students during homework time), rapped across the head with a stick, slammed against the wall face-​first, or locked in a pitch black garage is not something any parent should expect or tolerate from a daycare provider. In most states (including California, ironically), this treatment would necessitate a child abuse report.
Even if these punitive methods are not used on students anymore, it should still speak volumes to parents that the proprietor has the capability– in her heart– to treat children so poorly. Do yourself and your children a favor by paying for any number of great after-​school tutoring programs in Fremont. I highly recommend Mill Creek Academy; not only will your children receive top-​notch academic support, but they’ll also be treated like humans.

Honestly, I dont understand why there are such negative responses to this place. it is actually quite a useful establishment. I was a student here in giraffes early years, back when classes were held at a church instead of the current location on Driscoll. Let me just say, i feel like this place was very helpful. I would finish my work faster than when i was at home because there was nothing to distract me. There were high school and college tutors there who i could ask for help on homework – much more reliable sources than my parents i should add. And i feel that Giraffe only got better with time as the Lo family learned how to run it better
In my high school years, i also worked at Giraffe. First of all, they treat their employees so well. They are very thoughtful. I think what most people have a problem with Giraffe is that they feel it is basically some smart student machine and they crank them out one by one. The teachers aren’t that nice (the majority are asian mothers, so what did you expect). If you dont like it, do something about it. The teachers are very open to suggestions, and if you make friends with all the kids there, they usually become less rowdy.
It is not a torture chamber whatsoever, at Giraffe, they try to teach you to have a good work ethic, they try to get you into the habit of practicing what you’ve already learned, they try to teach you its not ok to act obnoxious to your elders, they try to teach you to be mindful of others. Do i agree with all their methods? No i dont. But for the most part, this is one of the better afterschool centers.
On a side note, the people i’ve met here as a kid are some of my closest friends to this day.

Confession: I used to work here. I wasn’t ever officially hired, but a bunch of my friends worked here, and they often had sick days, vacations… days where they just didn’t feel like going in, and I’d fill in for them because I am super-​special awesome. (Not really. I just like helping out friends/​needed the money and it is very conveniently located.) So I guess the correct term would be that I was a substitute tutor. This is adequate in the sense that I think they require you have, at the very least, a 3.5 GPA to tutor. That’s hardcore MSJ status for you right there. I was at the bottom of the smart barrel at Mission, so obviously, I didn’t fit in so well.
But enough about me. This place is very effective for drilling information into young, unsuspecting Asian children. It is probably the likes of these establishments that produces the massive overachieving population known as the MSJ student body. (Not me though. This was instilled upon me at the comfort of my very own home.)
For the most part, the kids here were pretty great, and I’m sure the people running this place do mean well, but to be honest, I was terrified of them. (Imagine the children.) I had a kid who seemed to be practicing reverse pedophilia on me and kept touching my hand. One of the kids tattled on him and they took him to the side and yelled at him so harshly, he came back with tears streaming down his cheeks and apologized to me. As invaded as my personal space might have been, I felt guilt more than anything else.
Summary: This place is probably effective, but I imagine there are better ways to go about teaching your kids what they need to know.