English speaking primary schools - NOT international schools??

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ctrbabe1

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Hi Everyone.

My dd will be 4 in may, and though she still has another year before primary school, I was wondering if there are any English speaking schools that are NOT international schools?

We currently have her in a local Cantonese preschool to try to prepare her for going to a local school (can't afford the international schools), but as dh won't be around much to help her with her Chinese homework, I'm really concerned with how well she will do.

What other options do we have?
 
if you want pure english, no chinese classes? or as kashimum said, local but english as teaching medium school?
 
kashismum said:
I suppose you mean EMI (English as a medium of instruction) schools. There are plenty - some government schools, some aided schools and many DSS schools, not to mention independent/private schools.

To narrow down the selection to the ones in your locale, check with the EMB at http://www.emb.gov.hk/index.aspx?langno=1&nodeid=480

It's a complex system - good luck!
Click to expand...

But don't expect the students will speak English during the recess and lunch hour. Cantonese is the main language outside the classroom.
 
Katie,

There are plenty of EMI schools, but most are quite hard to get into, because they are "big name" schools - like St. Stephen's Girl School, DGS, DPS, DBS, St. Paul's Convent, Maryknoll, etc.

Please also be aware that although they are English medium, most have quite high and heavy expectations of Chinese homework - so she will be expected to perform at native Cantonese-speaking level, usually there is no option for a language other than Chinese until secondary.

I have a friend who sent her kids to this school and she was very happy with it.

The Po Leung Kuk Camoes Tan Siu Lin Primary school (formerly known as the Portuguese Community School). Unfortunately, by the time she told me about it, it was too late for me to apply my kids there. They *do* have the French option from P1.

http://210.0.207.198/index.htm
 
Honestly speaking, even if the school is English medium, they do not used it often except in lessons of English.Some of the other schools, i heard, even use Cantonese to teach English!!!!I got a cultural shock myself when i started to teach on one of the Primary schools here.

I had to struggle to improve the standard of English and sometimes even to convey the meaning of English words to the class as I did not speak any Cantonese when i first arrive in HK. But i am pleased to say that all hard work is paid off. The class definitely has improved in their spoken English after being around me for so long and the students do try to string together a proper question / conversation. I believe as long as other teachers advocate strictly using of English during lesson time, improvements will be seen in time to come.

Elaine
 
I've never seen a St Margaret's student who wasn't Chinese: from where did you get that information, GanbrielMa?

Like all DSS/Private local curriculum schools, they probably won;t accept students unless they are (a) academically bright and (b) Chinese speaking, as they want to get good results in the compulsary Chinese History/Language subjects at HKCE etc
 
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