jenniferlam
Registered User
i think it's always good to learn more than 1 language. if you speak english to your child at home already, maybe you should get them to attend chinese language schools.
local or international?? hurry!!
- Thread starter shaz
- Start date
Hi everyone. I'm going through the same headache about whether to go local or international. I'm a BBC and hubbie is HK chinese. I can speak Cantonese but can't read chinese that well so v.reluctant to put my son (2 years and 8 months in nursery at a local nursery/kindergarten) into a local school (because of chinese homework) though hubbie thinks there's nothing wrong with local schools as he went to one! I'm living in Yuen Long at the moment and I don't think there are any international schools here. I think the good schools are in the Kowloon area and wonder is it necessary to move in closer to the schools to avoid my son travelling such a long time? My friend's daughter is living in the same area as I am and goes to a kindergarten in Kowloon Tong and she takes the school bus which takes about an hour to get there which to me is a long time for a child.
I have thought about the kindergarten in Tsing Yi ESF - does anyone have any info about this kindergarten and the primary school options available post-kindergarten?
Any advice is great!
I have thought about the kindergarten in Tsing Yi ESF - does anyone have any info about this kindergarten and the primary school options available post-kindergarten?
Any advice is great!
It's the headache of a livetime - I have found that out.
My son who goes to an english speaking kinddie has almost lost his chinese now. I think he remembers it though because i'll speak chinese to him and he'll reply to me in english. He just prefers to speak english. i am trying to enourage his chinese in other ways and may put him in whole day school at this current kinddie - where he'll do local stream in the am and international stream in the pm. Then i can have him sound in both languages before deciding where to put him for primary. I live in Sheung shui and understand your concerns about travelling and stuff like that, its not good for such small kids to travel so far. There are some good kinddies in Tai Wai area. My son goes to Anchors in Tai Wai and so far i am pleased with it.
The Tsing Yi ESF kinddie is expensive and does not give you automatic entry to esf schools, please remember that. But i think overall it is a pretty good kinddie.
Yes, its good that our kids speak both languages and finding the 'right' school is a tough decision. Don't rule out the DSS schools - i beleive there is one in Tin Shui Wai, they are not too expensive but focus more on creative learning and languages and are more preferred than local schools.
My son who goes to an english speaking kinddie has almost lost his chinese now. I think he remembers it though because i'll speak chinese to him and he'll reply to me in english. He just prefers to speak english. i am trying to enourage his chinese in other ways and may put him in whole day school at this current kinddie - where he'll do local stream in the am and international stream in the pm. Then i can have him sound in both languages before deciding where to put him for primary. I live in Sheung shui and understand your concerns about travelling and stuff like that, its not good for such small kids to travel so far. There are some good kinddies in Tai Wai area. My son goes to Anchors in Tai Wai and so far i am pleased with it.
The Tsing Yi ESF kinddie is expensive and does not give you automatic entry to esf schools, please remember that. But i think overall it is a pretty good kinddie.
Yes, its good that our kids speak both languages and finding the 'right' school is a tough decision. Don't rule out the DSS schools - i beleive there is one in Tin Shui Wai, they are not too expensive but focus more on creative learning and languages and are more preferred than local schools.
Like everyone here, i am torn b/w the International and local school option.
Since I grew up on overseas and did not learn Chinese, i am very keen for my child to be fluent in both written & spoken chinese. Does this mean i need to send him to local school, as i have heard the Chinese being taught at I/N school are inadequate????
Also any comment on attending a I/N kindergarten and then switching to a local chinese school??? (Since i am keen on the Montessori teaching methods, but it does not seem to be available pass primary level.....?)
Since I grew up on overseas and did not learn Chinese, i am very keen for my child to be fluent in both written & spoken chinese. Does this mean i need to send him to local school, as i have heard the Chinese being taught at I/N school are inadequate????
Also any comment on attending a I/N kindergarten and then switching to a local chinese school??? (Since i am keen on the Montessori teaching methods, but it does not seem to be available pass primary level.....?)
Maybe its worth visiting different schools (international and local) and compare teaching methods, school ethos, homework policy, breadth of curriculum, opportunities to shine in other areas as well as academics, music, sport, etc and see which one suits your child. You may need to decide which of these things are important, then choose a school that meets your requirements. Different children thrive in different types of school - there's no hard and fast rules. A friend of mine has a child in a local school and has another in an international school because that works best for her children. They are both thriving in their own way and the main thing is that they are happy. Of course, the older child is completely bi-lingual in every sense but the younger perfers to use English more.
I think if you send your child to a international school, a couple of hours of mandarin/cantonese is not enough for them to grasp hold of the language adequately (so that they are at completely fluent level), especially if this is not backed up at home. Of course, you could get a chinese tutor to help with language if that is important to you.
These are just some thoughts......
I think if you send your child to a international school, a couple of hours of mandarin/cantonese is not enough for them to grasp hold of the language adequately (so that they are at completely fluent level), especially if this is not backed up at home. Of course, you could get a chinese tutor to help with language if that is important to you.
These are just some thoughts......
About switching from Int'l to local. Forget it. It's possible the other way 'round, but most kids in "typical" local kindie have already been trained in writing characters, writing English words, and start having graded dictations in the second week of school. If your child has been in a much "freer" environment, he will have a hard time getting used to the regimentation.
If you're interested in alternatives in Cantonese medium - you might want to check out Yew Cheung (warning, $$$$) or Logos Academy in Tseung Kwan O. There's also the Hong Kong International Institute of Music, a new school that is said to have a more active learning approach and spend extra time on music education. It's in Diamond Hill. The website is here, but if you can'tread Chinese, will do you little good.
http://www.hkiim.edu.hk/main.html
If you're interested in alternatives in Cantonese medium - you might want to check out Yew Cheung (warning, $$$$) or Logos Academy in Tseung Kwan O. There's also the Hong Kong International Institute of Music, a new school that is said to have a more active learning approach and spend extra time on music education. It's in Diamond Hill. The website is here, but if you can'tread Chinese, will do you little good.
http://www.hkiim.edu.hk/main.html
Dear loupou,
This might seem stupid, but what do you mean " alternatives in Cantonese medium"?
As for Yew Chung i heard it's meant to be English & Mandarin, but b/c most kids are from HK family, they end up speaking more Cantonese than Mandarin anyway. *sign*...... i am still undecided, asking around & collecting everyone's opinion.
This might seem stupid, but what do you mean " alternatives in Cantonese medium"?
As for Yew Chung i heard it's meant to be English & Mandarin, but b/c most kids are from HK family, they end up speaking more Cantonese than Mandarin anyway. *sign*...... i am still undecided, asking around & collecting everyone's opinion.
My son goes to a local KG (in Sheung Shui) but does not have endless tests and dictations, however, he does have a little homework. His Cantonese is now good now, having regained it in 3 months after an 8 month break in the UK. He also enjoys reading both English and Chinese. We also get a rebate from the government as we are on a low income. I understand there are a couple of good schools in the area. There is also an international (American) school in Fanling for around $3-4000 a month.
If you want your children to learn Chinese, then local is best, but choose carefully.
If you want your children to learn Chinese, then local is best, but choose carefully.