Path to ESF

Flower-kid

My son is 14 months old now, and I want him to enter ESF.
To plan his path to ESF, I have two options of nursery/kindergarten: 1. Victoria Int’l Kindergarten (Tin Hou).
2. Tutor Time 多多.
My catchment of ESF is most likely QBS.

Which kinder I should choose?
Please share.
Thank you.

JYW

I want my son to enter ESF kinder, Popo would you share which ESF kinder that you kid is in at this moment? is there any specific nursery that I need to place my son to, in order to get into ESP kinder?

My son is 11 months now and I need to start applying Nursery for him now.

More info would be apprecited. Thank you!

popolung

原帖由 269103 於 09-2-18 22:13 發表
Hi, parents.  Can anyone tell me whether the chance of getting in esf primary is the same in the folowing scenerios, that is, both falls in cat 2 and make no diference?
1. a child with sibling studyin ...

should be the same, but make it clear, it is the chance of interview only. After the interview it will be depends on the result then.

269103

Hi, parents.  Can anyone tell me whether the chance of getting in esf primary is the same in the folowing scenerios, that is, both falls in cat 2 and make no diference?
1. a child with sibling studying in esf primary & himself also studies in esf kinder
2. a child with sibling studying in esf primary but himself does not study in esf kinder

Thanks for your help...

[ 本帖最後由 269103 於 09-2-18 22:15 編輯 ]

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.

We use English as an only language in all reading, verbal, listening.
No chinese and chinese teaching at all.
Even though some of my friends and collegues, and my sisters are Hong-Kongers, they talk to her in english.

However, my parents-in-law are pure cantonese speakers.
They use cantonese to communicate to her since birth.
Now She thinks in English so her Chinese expressions to her grand-parents are not logical and pronounciation is kind of non-cantonese accent.
(her chinese level is only survival level - like saying morning, uncle. Saying I eat and I run is the best already)

I do not regret as English to her is a native language. It is our original purpose.

We will let her learn Chinese just like learing French and German, Japanese and italian. Not make her learn Chinese as her must language.

Kind regards,
Maria

原帖由 Flower-kid 於 09-2-18 13:16 發表
Thank you all for sharing.

I understand some of your kids are already in ESF kinder or IS kinder.  What is your language policy at home?  If your kids speak in English at school, do you speak to them ...

oooray

原帖由 popolung 於 09-2-18 12:39 發表


1. With ESF interview priority is the value for money already

2. Don't expect the kinder will teach your kid a lot of thing, as said before, what your kid need by most in age 3 - 4 is love and slee ...

agree with point 1 if anybody is target for ESF schools as 1st choice. When your kid (from a non-ESF kinda) is on the waiting list of ESF Year 1, you may regret why u gave up the offer from ESF kinda and now u have no chance to interview, even though your kid is so smart and brilliant for interview...I foresee less interview chance (as least in first round) for non-ESF kinda child in the coming years as more ESF kinda from 4 schools (instead of 3 now).
Of course, there are many other good IS in Hong Kong....ESF is never the one and only one choice.

Flower-kid

Thank you all for sharing.

I understand some of your kids are already in ESF kinder or IS kinder.  What is your language policy at home?  If your kids speak in English at school, do you speak to them in mother tongue (Cantonese) at home?

popolung

原帖由 502 於 09-2-18 12:31 發表
Honesting speaking, except for the interview priority, I don't think ESF kinder is value for money.  

1. With ESF interview priority is the value for money already

2. Don't expect the kinder will teach your kid a lot of thing, as said before, what your kid need by most in age 3 - 4 is love and sleep.

3. I love the ESF kinder that my daughter is studying now, no pressure, big natural garden. In local kinder (or IS Kinder but run by local people), even in PN class we have at least 1 page of homework per day. What's that for a age 2 baby?

Anyway, just my 2 cents. I know there are lot other IS kinder which are good too, but in case you are looking for ESF primiary school, then ESF kinder is one of your priority!

502

Honesting speaking, except for the interview priority, I don't think ESF kinder is value for money.  

原帖由 popolung 於 09-2-18 12:27 發表


ESF Kinder only has 1 hour Mandarin Class weekly....

popolung

原帖由 502 於 09-2-18 10:57 發表
Really minimal Chinese is taught in SWCK.  Frankly speaking, it is not realistic to expect Chinese teaching from an IS.  The so-called daily Mandarin lessons offered by some IS kinder may be good enou ...

ESF Kinder only has 1 hour Mandarin Class weekly....

502

Really minimal Chinese is taught in SWCK.  Frankly speaking, it is not realistic to expect Chinese teaching from an IS.  The so-called daily Mandarin lessons offered by some IS kinder may be good enough for "gwei-lo" but sure not for Chinese families.

I have no idea of SWCK admission policy.  We just applied and got accepted.  Better call them to have further details.

原帖由 meipo28 於 09-2-18 10:10 發表
502, I heard a lot of good words about SWCK.  May I know what is their admission policy?  Would it be similar to ESF kinder?  Would it give priority to non Chinese speaking kids?  And do you know is C ...

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.
I agree to 502's opinion in both questions.

Especially in question 2, SWCK is a child-oriented school. We visited and had talked to the principal.
We eventually not accepting the offer because of the difficulty in going there from our homes.
They start to include Mandarin element in the cirriculum.
You may consider it.

Kind regards,
Maria

原帖由 502 於 09-2-18 09:39 發表
1) Of course you can apply DBSPD, SP Co-ed, etc, at P1 if you choose TT or ESF.  The only concern is whether your child's Chinese level is up to their standard. I would not say impossible but just dif ...

meipo28

502, I heard a lot of good words about SWCK.  May I know what is their admission policy?  Would it be similar to ESF kinder?  Would it give priority to non Chinese speaking kids?  And do you know is Chinese being taught at school?  How many sessions per week?  Many tks.

原帖由 502 於 09-2-18 09:39 發表
1) Of course you can apply DBSPD, SP Co-ed, etc, at P1 if you choose TT or ESF.  The only concern is whether your child's Chinese level is up to their standard. I would not say impossible but just dif ...

502

1) Of course you can apply DBSPD, SP Co-ed, etc, at P1 if you choose TT or ESF.  The only concern is whether your child's Chinese level is up to their standard. I would not say impossible but just difficult.

2) I strongly recommend Small World Christian Kindergarten as it is a great  kinder with passionate teachers and staff.  Most (of course not all!) kids go to IS afterwards, namely ESF primary schools, FIS, GSIS, HKIS.

Flower-kid

Maria, thanks a lot.  Looks it is extremely difficult for our non-English families to enter ESF.  After all these priorities, it's almost mission-impossible......

Am I determined on IS?  I would say 80%.  The 20% is worrying my son's Chinese language.  I don't want him to become a single language speaker (English), Chinese language and appreciation of Chinese culture are also important for him.  Afterall, we are Chinese.

But it doesn't mean I've ruled out all local schools.  I have my favourable local schools, like DBS, St Paul co-ed.  

May I ask for your opinions.  If we choose TT Kindergarten (or if so lucky ESF Kindergarten), we should be able to switch to local stream and apply DBS, SP Co-ed, etc, at P1?

Thank you and have a good day!

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.

TT & Victoria - my explanation
As of my experience in talking with a lot of parents in HK, they say they decide to pick international schools but along the road, they are indecisive. This leads to children - morning in IS kindergarten, afternoon local school. Rationale of theirs are to have an alternative in picking up local cirriculum eventually (if finally not choosing ESF/ other IS), and in learning Chinese (cantonese basically in kindergartens).
Victoria probably may get you (not the parents BUT the children also) to the normal track easily.
(When I say struggling that means you may switch and not yet decide the path.)
(Proabaly other parents can help you to learn more about V in specific ways)
Of course if you are very determined, go to TT. TT is really considered as an international kindergarten, and ESF would believe the child can hardly follow local school system.

ESF kindergarment - admission:
ESF kindergarten have their admission criteria as per their native language (say it in simple way).
Website to view in details -
http://www.esf.org.hk/esf_kindergarten/admissions/application.htm

......The ESF International Kindergartens are established to provide an enquiry- and play -based education for 3-5 year old boys and girls in the medium of English.
First priority for places will go to those who are from English speaking families or other families whose native language is not Cantonese (category One). Children of families where Cantonese is spoken will be regarded as category Two, and places can be offered to such children should places be available after the category One applicants have been admitted.
Within categories, priority is given to:

• Siblings of children attending an ESF school, including the ESF Private Independent Schools (Renaissance College and Discovery College) Siblings of children attending an ESF International Kindergarten or returning students of an ESF International Kindergarten
• Children with a parent who is a full-time employee of ESF or ESF Educational Services Limited
• Children of former ESF students ......

Starters:
The cirriculum of Starters School has no Chinese element. However they have afternoon class in Mandarin as kind of extra-cirr activity.  It is optional for the children to enroll at a reasonable fee.
$1300 - 2 days a week
$1800 - 3 days a week
The school said some of the children from Small World also attend their Mandarin class.
http://www.starters.edu.hk/admission.htm

ADDITIONAL AFTERNOON CLASSES

(Three and Four years old)

a) Learn Through Play	- Mon./ Wed./ Fri./ afternoons HK$1800 including stationery/ refreshments
b) Phonics Class	- Tuesday/ Thursday afternoons HK$1300 including stationery/ refreshments
c) Mandarin Class	- Monday to Friday afternoons	$1800 for 3 afternoons
		$1300 for 2 afternoons

Kind regards,
Maria

----------------------------------------------------------

原帖由 Flower-kid 於 09-2-17 17:48 發表
Thanks meipo28.  Oh, I didn't realize that Starters does not have Chinese, then it may not fit my expectation.

What is SWCK?  I can't find them from internet.

Maria, you said if I'm struggling, I ma ...

bohemian

Here is Small World's website:

http://www.swck.edu.hk/

Small World only has two Mandarin lessons per week and has daily bible teaching.  

Most of the kids in the morning classes go to either international schools or ESF.    I haven't come across any kid that is unable to get ESF interview, but maybe because most of the kids are from HK side.

Flower-kid

Thanks meipo28.  Oh, I didn't realize that Starters does not have Chinese, then it may not fit my expectation.

What is SWCK?  I can't find them from internet.

Maria, you said if I'm struggling, I may go for Victoria.  What are Victoria good at?

Popolung, the statistics were given by respective kindergarten (from their website).

ESF Kindergarten Sheung Wan, does it require interview for K1?  If no interview for K1, based on what they accept new students?

Thanks a lot....

meipo28

I don't know, I guess may be TT has a bigger campus, more qualified teachers (both English and mandarin) and therefore it is more expensive.
But then, I did not rule out Starters.  I've called the school and the lady said I should file my registration in year end.  However, my major concern is that they don't teach Chinese.  So I am still 50/50.  
My son is a quiet boy and he needs a lot of time to warm up.  I found the teachers there are very kind and patient.  The classroom is spacious and he can explore around. And my son enjoys a lot playing at the outdoor playground.  So far, I am very pleased with the school.  But actually this is the first playgroup I have joined.  I don't have other comparison.  May be other playgroups are equally good.

Flower-kid

Thank you all for your kind advice.  You are all experienced and knowledgeable.

Meipo, is your son going to TT Braemar Hill playgroup now?  How do you find the program there?  Does your son like it?  Are the teachers good?

ESF is our target, but we need to think of "plan B".  Other than ESF, which one should I also consider?

I've also checked out Starters, their fees are much more reasonable than TT's (sorry to say).  Why is TT so expensive (double the Starters')?  Any idea?  

Woodland is out of my choice, because of location.

Thanks again!