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教育王國 › 討論區 › 國際學校 › International schools = Better Learning Environment?
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International schools = Better Learning Environment? [複製鏈接]

jonny1

Rank: 1


7
1#
發表於 05-6-20 11:41 |只看該作者

International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Hi there,

We have been trying to decide between traditional and international school for the children.  Being Chinese, there is a part of me that wants my kids to preserve the Chinese values and to know the Chinese language.

On the other hand, I am under the impression that international schools provide better learning environment for children.  My children (twins) have very different characters.  My elder child is very shy but learns very well.  My younger child is somewhat slow in his speech, and seems to be very interested in mathematics and music.  I feel that my younger child will need more assistance and caring in order to learn.  So far, based on my younger son's speech delay, we have been communicating with them in Engllish mainly.

Can children truly get better attention from the teachers at international schools?  I have been told that for children to learn well in schools like HKIS, the children have to be very independent.  One example is, if a child falls asleep in class, the teacher would not wake the student.  Rather, when the child wakes up, the teacher would say "Welcome back".  I am not sure my younger son can benefit in this environment...

Would parents who have children attending international schools be kind enough to share your experience with me???  

Thanks very much!!

Puzzled mom

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WYmom

Rank: 5Rank: 5


4747
2#
發表於 05-6-20 14:53 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Previously, there is a topic discussing why choose international schools.

For me, apart from the English learning environment, the best thing I like and look for from IS is that the school can train the kids to be independent, gaining self-confidence, knowing how to search for more information and learn by themselves.  Only with these, the kids can learn by themselves for life-long, no need to be spoon-fed as in local schools.

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jonny1

Rank: 1


7
3#
發表於 05-6-20 15:28 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Thank you WYmom.  I'll look up the old topic later on.  Looks like you are quite happy with international school.  

I think in the recent years, more international schools have appeared.  I get the impression that some of the schools may have trouble keeping up with the standard (e.g., ESF primary school - another topic posted earlier on).  I hope to find the right school for my kids, which can be a real headache.  

Thanks again.

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alexlui

Rank: 4


753
4#
發表於 05-6-21 03:51 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Hi jonny1,

Some Local Schools Vs International Schools Links for you:
www.hkcampus.net/webforum/read.php?num=4&id=636&thread=607&
www.hkcampus.net/webforum/read.php?num=4&id=694&thread=694&
www.baby-kingdom.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=279851&forum=43&36

Regards.

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MountainView

Rank: 5Rank: 5


2708
5#
發表於 05-6-21 11:09 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

I think local school is better for academic areas like Math and Chinese, etc. No homework and no exam in Int school is just not a good learning environment. Of course, too many homeworks/exams in local school is not good neither. So, try to find one which can be in balance!

You are right that kids will be more independent and creative in Intl school as they encourage children to think more. However, you can join many other activities after school or during weekend that can do the same training anyway.

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WYmom

Rank: 5Rank: 5


4747
6#
發表於 05-6-21 11:21 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

MountainView 寫道:
I think local school is better for academic areas like Math and Chinese, etc. No homework and no exam in Int school is just not a good learning environment. Of course, too many homeworks/exams in local school is not good neither. So, try to find one which can be in balance!

You are right that kids will be more independent and creative in Intl school as they encourage children to think more. However, you can join many other activities after school or during weekend that can do the same training anyway.


Agree with you.  Yet it is really headache to find a school with good balance and good English learning environment.  Do you have any suggestions?

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yyyy

Rank: 4


910
7#
發表於 05-6-21 12:03 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

I like my child to study in IS as:
1. Native speaking teachers: children have more chance to speak Engish and Mandarin with teachers and classmates, say 7 hours a day, much more than local school (save at least $2000 a month to learn after school and the results are much better)
2. Less pressure: just count the final exam's marks that they can enjoy the whole school year but June each year. Children can have more time to read books.
3. More funds to employ better teachers and professional teaching support that provide better service to children and parents.
4. More functions rooms that children have more chance to use the computer rooms or others to learn better IT technic.
5. Better English / Mandarin classmates that can learn faster English and Mandarin.
6. More creative and independant. (My child can finish her homework and prepare exam by herslef most of the time. She can also pack all her stuff by herself when we moved home, she is 8 yrs).
7. More confident - more chance to present in front of classmates and talk to teachers.
8. One more foreign language, ie. French.


The only disadvantage is needed to pay money.  I don't agree the math standard is lower but they are using different method, ie. problem solving approach.  I agree the Chinese standard is lower than local schools, but for me, a P3 child can write over 200 words Chinese composition is acceptable already.

However, I have one very headache problem is that my child is very difficult to be top in the class for English subject as we are Hong Kong people. I am afraid this will be decreased her self-confidence. Can anyone share how to help those who are Hong Kong children to learn better english in IS? Thanks.

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Lorry

Rank: 3Rank: 3


137
8#
發表於 05-6-21 16:36 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

yyyy
is it possible for me to know which school your son is studying?
also, does your son learn all the chinese characters from school?  or, you hire private tutor for him?
how much should i estimate his expenses each month?
sorry for asking so many questions.
if you wish, you may pm me?
many thanks.

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Alam

Rank: 2


55
9#
發表於 05-6-21 18:06 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Dear Jonny,

I share your anxiety towards choosing what education for our children today and would like to share with you my experience.

My boy studies at P2 in an international school.  The school doesn't teach him anything new or "difficult".  The maths standard is quite simple compare to local school stanards.  At this stage, it emphasizes on understanding rather than any problem application.  It drills on two-digit addition and substraction, simple multiplication (times table for 2, 4, 5, 6, 10) and starts talking about division this month.  For English, lots of class shared reading (Roald Dahl) and writing: newspaper report, narration, summary etc.  No homework except 3 pages over weekend.

The school leaves lots of room for the children to learn at home.  They have time to read AND PLAY (which I think is very important to young children) after school.  My boy has recently finished series of Magic Tree House, Andrew Lost, Roald Dahl and classic books like Tom Sawyer, Sherlock Holmes, The Three Musketeers, The Hutchback of Notre Dame etc.  He has different encyclopedia on insects, nature, 1000 questions and answers, and books about mummy, Eygptology, twisters, and lots of science and nature subjects he wants to explore.  I didn't ask him to read but he has a habit of reading for 1 to 2 books after school everyday.

To me, a difference between the children from international and local schools is that the former read a lot.  Not that the latter have no interest in reading.  I believe all the children love reading.  But the pressure of local school has deprived them of any time or joy to do anything "irrelevant".  The higher grade you go, the greater the pressure of homework, assessments, tests, so much so that the children have no motivation on learning any more.  All they want is to play or watch TV, which is a break they really need.

I believe schools should play a role in preparing us for the world tomorrow.  Is there any difference between the world today (or even 30 years later) and that at our days?   But is there any difference between the schools nowaday and those at our days?  I am not saying that international schools could give us an answer, but that FAMILY education is very important to guide our next generation.  I think international school at least give us room to education our kids but not suffocating them with something that we once learnt but soon forgot.

I 'm glad to have your view or any other parents' opinion.

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Cayenne

Rank: 5Rank: 5


1184
10#
發表於 05-6-21 19:18 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

小兒曾就讀 HKIS , 已畢業往美國昇學.
十分讚同 Alam君 的見解 , 尤其是關於「家教」的重要性. 事實上 , 很久之前我也曾在這裏談及國際學校和家教. 可惜當時有部份父母認為學校影嚮大於「家教」, 以為國際學校 => sex , drugs and academic sloppiness.   

我只能就 HKIS 而論.
打個「為食」的比喻, ( 因為我為食 ), 我覺得傳統學校, 有點似一間只有幾款套餐 的飯店. 它可以煮得很好, 但無論它煮得好不好, 你的選擇有限. 它甚至迫你一定要食 A 餐, 不歡迎你揀低鹽 / 低糖/ . . . 之類.

國際學校有點似 5星級酒店的自助餐, 甚麼也有. 和食自助餐一樣 , 你甚至可以挑選自已的課程 / 深淺 / 進度. 還有大量課外活動 , 令孩子眼界大開 . 較容易適應日後多變的世界.

不過, 太多選擇和誘惑, 有人會吃壞肚子. 愚見認為 , 只有高度自主但又高度自制的小朋友 , 去吃自助餐 (和讀國際學校)才能獲得最佳效益. :

這些性格 , 就要從少靠家庭培育了.

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melisa

Rank: 5Rank: 5

醒目開學勳章


1152
11#
發表於 05-6-21 19:39 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Totally agree with you!

「家教」is very important!

Cayenne 寫道:

十分讚同 Alam君 的見解 , 尤其是關於「家教」的重要性.

國際學校有點似 5星級酒店的自助餐, 甚麼也有. 和食自助餐一樣 , 你甚至可以挑選自已的課程 / 深淺 / 進度. 還有大量課外活動 , 令孩子眼界大開 . 較容易適應日後多變的世界.

不過, 太多選擇和誘惑, 有人會吃壞肚子. 愚見認為 , 只有高度自主但又高度自制的小朋友 , 去吃自助餐 (和讀國際學校)才能獲得最佳效益. :

這些性格 , 就要從少靠家庭培育了.

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alexlui

Rank: 4


753
12#
發表於 05-6-22 00:18 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

According to the recent ESF's Parental Survey, most parents are happy with the ESF's schools.  I am one of them.

ESF's parental survey

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WYmom

Rank: 5Rank: 5


4747
13#
發表於 05-6-22 07:57 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

In the survey, seems that class size is not very satisfactory to more parents.  I also think that 30 students per class is more than classes in other IS.  If this can be reduced to say, 22 to 25, it would be much better.

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該用戶已被刪除

14#
發表於 05-6-22 09:17 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

提示: 作者被禁止或刪除 內容自動屏蔽

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jonny1

Rank: 1


7
15#
發表於 05-6-22 10:36 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

Thanks to all the caring parents for sharing your views and experience with me and others on BK.

Alex, I will look up the links you posted.  Looks like you are quite happy with ESF.  My husnabd is a ESF alumni and he is a strong proponent of the system.  We are still considering it for our kids.

Cayenne, I love your analogy as I love food as well.  

ALam, I would be very proud of your child if I were you.  I think traditional schools do a mildly better job in drilling children on math.  And this is simply by practice after practice.  When students from traditional schools move on to universities abroad, they often excel in math (at least for courses like calculus 101), because of all their practices in secondary school.  But whether they continue to perform well is another story.  

I can see clearly that those of us going for IS want our children to develop greater independence, better language skills (multi-language), and less passive but more active, self-initiated learning attitude.  Has anyone thought about the issue of "identity"?  I sometimes wonder if students going to IS would face the problem of "identity" as they may not mingle well or really blend in with the local Chinese, and yet, they truly are Chinese.  I wonder if they would end up having a somewhat limited social circle.

We kind of have to make up our minds as it seems in Hong Kong, the kind of kindergartens your children attend will greatly determine whether they move on to traditional or IS schools.  

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Cayenne

Rank: 5Rank: 5


1184
16#
發表於 05-6-22 15:24 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

jonny1 寫道:
Has anyone thought about the issue of "identity"?  I sometimes wonder if students going to IS would face the problem of "identity" as they may not mingle well or really blend in with the local Chinese, and yet, they truly are Chinese.  I wonder if they would end up having a somewhat limited social circle.


很對不起 , 我又要三幅被, 祭起「家教」大旗
如果父母在家中 , 能保留和尊重一些中國固有的優良文化 , 用中文和子女溝通 ,  有和子女討論各地人民族性的優點和缺點 , . . . .子女自小耳濡目染 , 就算去到國際學校 , 也仍然會以身為中國人為榮 , 不會想將自己變做外國人. 在他眼中 , 無論同學是金髮碧眼或其黑如炭 , 也是和自己一樣 , 人一個吧了.

至於讀國際學校的子女 , 會否和香港其他中國藉的同輩疏離 ?

所謂「物以類聚 , 人以群分」, 不錯 , 他多半會和喜愛聽「穿屎」看「匪脆劇場」的親戚朋友有點格格不入 , 但卻可以去新移民佔多的學校做義工教英文 , 和剛從大陸來的同學們打成一片 . 我不會覺得國際學校的學生是活在象牙塔或金絲鳥籠中.

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Annie123


3367
17#
發表於 05-6-22 16:59 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

提示: 作者被禁止或刪除 內容自動屏蔽

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ashleymama

Rank: 2


87
18#
發表於 05-6-24 15:42 |只看該作者

Re: International schools = Better Learning Environment?

本人亦非常讚同Cayenne的意見。我由女兒在肚中的時候,已打算為她鋪排入IS的路.其實自己是過來人,在傳統的Band 1小中學成長,問心一句,都唔知学過些什麼.英文程度也只停留在"Chin-glish"階段,遇見老外也口窒窒,數学那些什麼formula,我個人認為長大後對工作毫無幫助,還不及一部計算机及电腦來得重要.至於中文/中國文学最大得益是學懂中文字可以看報紙和雜誌,寫下信咁,但又遠遠不及國內同胞們能寫出流暢好文章,其它科目如中西史,死背爛背下,轉幾年已拋諸腦後,全靠看电視劇/电影才喚起些記憶....總結來說,對於我這种不突出的學生,我真的不覺得學到些什麼.後來出國留學,才突然發覺外國的教育模式很特別,師生間比較"有傾有講",好多projects同埋presentations,而且學的topics都比較生活化,能應用於現實社會中的,最大得着是見識多咗,英文好咗,令我回流HK時,自信好,找到好工作.而我覺得IS就像外國留學, more independent, 見識多, 英文好, 較啓發性的教学方法,我認為對下一代會更好,現在傳統学校也正朝此方向改革,但非一朝一夕,自己試過填鴨式,何必讓子女重x覆x(sorry 浪費他們的時間呢? 也許傳統"名校"出來的也很傑出,可是當你看到那些小朋友堆積如山的功課(at least 8-10 homeworks daily), 應接不暇的默書測驗孝試,放学放假沒有机會玩或親子活動,看到那張不開心的臉也令人心痛.最嚴重的是, 這种教育制度由小便train小朋友一种很失敗的概念:只看分數.一不小心考得失手,由A班跌落B班,立即被"定形"為失敗,這种打擊對小朋友的自信,人生可謂影响極深遠, 這又何苦呢? 以上乃本人的愚見,請多包容!(看過查小欣一本親子小說,說及於IS和傳統名校的取捨,她的意見很有見地,值得一看)

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