ISF Academy
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VanillaCafe
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Thanks everyone for the information! Very helpful.
My daughter is applying for ISF 2010 foundation class. We picked ISF because (1) we had the impression that it's an IS with strong Chinese program, and (2) it's very close to where we live.
My outtake from the posts is that the English exposure may not be enough at ISF, if the student's family speak Chinese at home. If the student is from a native English-speaking family, I suppose it will be less of a concern. I'm wondering if we survey Chinese-speaking parents and English-speaking parents separately we may hear different comments?
We are native-Mandarin speakers who've lived in the U.S. for 15 years, and plan to move back to the States in a few years. To keep our kid immersed in both languages, we are now sending her to an IS preschool and speak to her in Mandarin at home.
If our goal is to have our daughter fluent in both English and Chinese (speaking, reading and writing), what other schools can we consider?
I've researched the following schools:
- Canadian International - happy with it overall but the students are not required to learn how to write Chinese
- HKIS - not sufficient Chinese for us
- SIS - seems to be quite balanced between Chinese and English. BTW, what does the Singlish issue exactly mean?
- CIS - will try but not sure if we'll get in. Plus it's a bit far from where we live.
- KCS - good Putonghua program but may be a bit too rigid, and not sure how good is their English program
- KCSI - similar to an IS, doesn't require students to learn to write Chinese
- ESF - too little Chinese
- American International - it has terrible reputation. Is it really that bad?
- International Montessori - a new school without track record, not sure how easily the students can transfer to other school systems
I'd love to hear your recommendation! Raising a bilingual kid is not as easy as I've imagined.
My daughter is applying for ISF 2010 foundation class. We picked ISF because (1) we had the impression that it's an IS with strong Chinese program, and (2) it's very close to where we live.
My outtake from the posts is that the English exposure may not be enough at ISF, if the student's family speak Chinese at home. If the student is from a native English-speaking family, I suppose it will be less of a concern. I'm wondering if we survey Chinese-speaking parents and English-speaking parents separately we may hear different comments?
We are native-Mandarin speakers who've lived in the U.S. for 15 years, and plan to move back to the States in a few years. To keep our kid immersed in both languages, we are now sending her to an IS preschool and speak to her in Mandarin at home.
If our goal is to have our daughter fluent in both English and Chinese (speaking, reading and writing), what other schools can we consider?
I've researched the following schools:
- Canadian International - happy with it overall but the students are not required to learn how to write Chinese
- HKIS - not sufficient Chinese for us
- SIS - seems to be quite balanced between Chinese and English. BTW, what does the Singlish issue exactly mean?
- CIS - will try but not sure if we'll get in. Plus it's a bit far from where we live.
- KCS - good Putonghua program but may be a bit too rigid, and not sure how good is their English program
- KCSI - similar to an IS, doesn't require students to learn to write Chinese
- ESF - too little Chinese
- American International - it has terrible reputation. Is it really that bad?
- International Montessori - a new school without track record, not sure how easily the students can transfer to other school systems
I'd love to hear your recommendation! Raising a bilingual kid is not as easy as I've imagined.
Unlike other typical international schools which share a somewhat less diverse "clients base", you will find at ISF parents from completely different planets - there are parents who speak not a single Chinese word but want their kids to learn more Chinese, and there are parents who are looking forward to a 100% western learning environment; there are parents who fancy their children studying in an international but are scared of seeing them appearing in bikinis, and there are parents who cannot take the pressure of local schools but at the same time have difficulty in giving up Kumon. There is no way to please them all. Ask 10 ISF parents and you will get 11 different opinions. My short advice is - take a very good look of the school and see whether it fits your bill.
VanillaCafe
Registered User
That's a good point dede. In the marketing world we always ask a brand to decide who is the target it's trying to appeal, because if you are trying to please everyone, you will end up pleasing no one. I'm wondering what's the "ideal customer" in the mind of ISF founders.
They have a very good and established program of financial aid to students. To respect the privacy of the children and parents and to prevent embarrassment that is not always made obvious.
There are many wealthy parents, but I've heard it is not as extreme as CIS. There are also many 'normal' middle class parents
There are many wealthy parents, but I've heard it is not as extreme as CIS. There are also many 'normal' middle class parents
For those in the past who heard ISF's past iterations that they are not an International School (but a private independent school steeped in Chinese culture) may be a bit side swiped by their application and initial acceptance to The Council of International Schools (CIS). Interesting.
Come'n, can't you read? What does application to the CIS has anything to do with ISF not being one of the international school as they as they are known in Hong Kong. Take a look of Cap.279 of the Laws of Hong Kong (and its schedules). Read also the accreditation documents of CIS and the memo issued by EMPB. Any schools in Hong Kong (so-called local, international, specified, non-specified or PIM) are entitled to apply for accreditation under the CIS's scheme. Take a look of the above documents. They are not that difficult to find and read (it took me less than 10 mins to google them and read them). I am sorry to say so but your post makes me doubt your integrity and ability. I hope you are not (or no longer is) an ISF parent.
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