75%+
of families come to DODO because another family told them
ELA Program · Little DODO
English reading and writing for Chinese-speaking families in Vancouver
DODO Letter House gives Chinese-speaking families in Vancouver one-on-one English reading and writing. Children start from Grade 3 and meet the same Navigator online for 50-minute sessions: close reading of unabridged classics, discussion, then writing. At Week 0 and Week 16 we estimate each child's Lexile level with our own assessment, and within 72 hours parents receive the number, a written report in English and Chinese, and a call with the Navigator.
Not a tutoring centre. Not an ESL programme. A structured 16-week methodology that trains the full cognitive loop — Read, Think, Speak, Write — in English. Measured by Lexile. Led by a Navigator.
Both the ELA Program (Grade 3+) and Little DODO (5–8) serve families online.
What your child gets
Both languages gain
the reasoning your child builds in English carries into their mother tongue
Serving This Community — Vancouver
Metro Vancouver is home to one of the largest Chinese-speaking diaspora communities in North America. DODO Letter House serves families across the Lower Mainland — students navigating English-language classrooms while Mandarin or Cantonese remains the language of home. We do not treat bilingualism as a gap. We build on it.
The Methodology
The Loop runs in every session.
Most English programs drill one skill in isolation. DODO trains the full cognitive sequence — because thinking in a language and performing in a language are not the same thing.
Read
Texts selected above the student's current Lexile level. Vocabulary depth and reading stamina built intentionally.
Think
A position is formed before speaking. Both language registers — English and mother tongue — are activated.
Speak
Live Socratic exchange with the Navigator. Clarity of thinking in English — not performance, not correction.
Write
Thinking committed to the page, and scored on the skills of the student’s level.
Program Structure
A beginning, a midpoint, and a measured end.
The ELA Program is a commitment — not a subscription. It has a defined arc with three anchor points.
Week 0
Entrance Assessment
An assessment of reading, language and listening (with a writing task at the upper levels), and a Lexile estimate. We find out where your child is — not where their school says they are.
Week 8
Midpoint Check-In
Midpoint review of the book checks, worksheets and writing scores. Written progress report to the family. Plan adjusted if needed.
Week 16
Exit Assessment
A second Lexile estimate and a full written report. Growth is quantified, visible and documented.
Diagnostic Consultation
Find out exactly where your child stands.
The consultation is 20 minutes. A Navigator — not a sales call. We estimate where your child's reading sits and show you what the ELA Program looks like for a student exactly like yours.
The 20-minute consultation is free and gives a first read of your child’s reading. No obligation.