Shifting to Hong Kong soon, need info on admission into primary

[Vino]

Hi,
we are moving to Hong Kong soon, any recommend good primary school for my kid at year 2008 please? We prefer Kowloon or shatin, we need English, putonghua, Cantonese government school. Looking for school and place to stay is a big headache, your suggestion is appreciated, thank you.

 

[granola]

I know more about the international schools on HK side. I have private students attending AIS, ICA and ISF. AIS, Australia International School, is fine but their Mandarin program is weak, to be honest. ICA, Island Christian Academy, gives good attention to each student in class, 2 teachers to 14 students. They put kids in two different group in Mandarin class, depending on their language background. ISF, Independent Schools Foundations Academy, focused on Chinese in lower primary classes, about 70% Chinese and 30% English. When students get promoted to secondary school, the ratio is 50% Chinese and 50% English.

 

[Vino]

Thank you.

 

[Gabriel ma]

Hi,
we are moving to Hong Kong soon, any recommend good primary school for my kid at year 2008 please? We prefer Kowloon or shatin, we need English, putonghua, Cantonese government school. Looking for school and place to stay is a big headache, your suggestion is appreciated, thank you.

Examples of local English Government Schools:
KLN - DPS, St.Mary & Maryknoll convent (both are girl's schools, all are very competitive)

Examples of local English DSS/ private Schools:
KLN - DGS, DBS (both are top primary schools in HK), TSL (offer both local stream and French stream, around HKD 2000 per month), CKY (offer IBPD, around HKD 6000 per month), Creative Primary school (it is a Chinese school but running IB, around HKD 9000 per month), Tsung Tsin Primary school (local stream or international junior school section, around HKD 4000-6000 per month)
Shatin - WKF, PKC (school fee is around HKD 3000 per month)

Above schools are teaching in English and offer Chinese lessons (usually in Mandarin)

 

[iohk]

Granola, can you please elaborate on how Mandarin is taught in ICA? Is the aim for children to be fluent, be able to write, well versed in classics...? How does it compare to other international schools?
many thanks.

 

[Jomama1]

I know more about the international schools on HK side... ICA, Island Christian Academy, gives good attention to each student in class, 2 teachers to 14 students. They put kids in two different group in Mandarin class, depending on their language background.

I have the same question as iohk: "Granola, can you please elaborate on how Mandarin is taught in ICA? Is the aim for children to be fluent, be able to write, well versed in classics...? How does it compare to other international schools? many thanks."

For my family we do not insist on our child be able to recite ancient poetry, but is happy if he is able to read the newspaper in Chinese and write in comprehensible paragraphs by the end of primary school. Is ICA up to par under this standard? (currently my 3 year old son is an native English speaker with daily school Mandarin and family Cantonese exposure). Thanks for your input in advance!!