ISF Academy Comments?

[HKfornow]

Went to attend the ISF open house this past weekend, and both my husband and I were quite impressed with what they had to say. They were also displaying their confidence in their students by having their students act as tour guides and speaking only in Putonghua & English. They also had their Primary 1 kids in class that day and encouraged prospective parents to interact with them and ask questions ie: what's a typical day in class like, how many students in your class, etc. Overall, it was hard not to be impressed. However, the comment I keep hearing is that since it is a relatively new school, that there is no tract record for them.

Do we have any moms here that have their kids in ISF? Would you recommend this school to others? All comments would be appreciated as we are seriously looking into this school. Thanks.

 

[pianokc]

I have three students (I am their piano teacher) who attends this school. They are all new students to this school that started in Aug this year. So far, I hear good things and bad things. Yes, it's a new school, so there is a little dis-organization... but they are working on it. A lot of homework. Doesn't seem like your typical international school, strong putonghua level, and new campus has a really kid unfriendly playground/open area for kids to run around.

I have one more student going next year, accepted this year, and a friend's child is going next year. I also have three other families who have applied, accepted, but declined the admission and chose to go elsewhere like CDNIS, ICS...etc.

So far, I think this school had more positive comments than negative.

 

[pattyt]

The school is definitely committed to teaching kids Putonghua and Chinese culture. My son goes there and his Mandarin is now very good. He willingly speaks it unlike many kids at international schools where it still feels like a foreign language. The administration is very responsive and open and the Principal is outstanding.

 

[Russel]

i had a good look at this school.
it is now 2 years on since the new campus.
their mandarin is impressive at the expense of english.
it is catering mostly for chinese mainland students,and has very little to offer a western child to be honest.
the english standards are very poor.
if you listen to the school,you will hear that they are told to speak english or mandarin at the school.
everybody speaks cantonese,so the whole thing is a bit of a joke.

 

[chubbysan]

Russel
If any parent has went for a school tour at ISF, it is stated very clearly that 70% in putonghua and 30% in English in the early years. For parents whose aim is for the child to learn & grow in a chinese enivronment, ISF will be the choice. Of course if you want to build strong English instead of Putonghua, you will prob consider other schools.
And when you mentioned that 'everybody speaks cantonese'....i not sure if you referring to the parents, staffs or student. At least, being a parent in ISF, i know that my child only speak putonghua and english to her friends and teachers in school.

 

[Russel]

the principal made an interesting comment on orientation.
he said ''this is a chinese school NOT an international school''.he emphasised this point.
he was quite correct.
i spent 2 afternoons checking the school out.
the children,the non teaching staff,even the bus mums,all speak Cantonese.the only ones speaking English were the Fillipino maids and a mere handful of Western children.
i heard no kids speaking Putonghua in the playground.
the other impression i got,is that the Principal and the school,is targeting mainland students.
this is my personal opinion only, (and English is not my native language by the way),but English is and will remain the dominant world language for the next 50 years.
a child that is not trained well in English,will be at a disadvantage.
Will knowing Chinese be an advantage?
Absolutely,but it will never replace English in our children's lifetime.
my other worry the school does not have a track record with Colleges in the U.S or U.K.would anyone know this school since it is so new?
another worry is the founder is some educational Professor,but he has ?withdrawn from the School.
all this made me a bit uneasy.
i mean no offence.
just my personal observations.

 

[chubbysan]

The Principal is right when he said that ISF is not an international school. ISF Academy is a non profit, private independent school. If you surf the school website, it is stated very clearly under the school description.

 

[Russel]

absolutely.
i agree.
this is why i did not find it to be the right school for my kids for the reasons i pointed out above.
i was expecting something different when i went to ISF,something similar to an International School,with an international viewpoint and ideas, and International School standards for English.
I sweated blood to learn English as a kid (being from a European country) and if i am earning a living today it is because i can speak the English language.My own ability in my native tongue is irrelevant.
I am not criticizing the school or people who send their kids to this school.
I merely want my children proficient in English at the highest standard and Chinese (putonghua) added but not at the expense of English.
Cantonese is not and never will be an International language,so having my kids listening to Cantonese at the school by all the HK children in the playground,staff,bus mums,drivers,guards,cleaners,is not good enough for me,since i have to pay so much money for the school fees.
it just wasn't the right school for me,but,may well be the right school for many others who are seeking what it offers.