GSIS

muji

Any comments about this I/S?

Chess

Hi Ruby

Thanks for your reply.  You are very helpful indeed.
I have a few more points to seek your comments.  Can you please check PM?

Cheers
Chess

原帖由 Ruby1219 於 11-6-8 23:45 發表
Chess,

I checked but haven't got your message in PM.

Ruby

Chess

Ruby

Oh my inadvertence!  Please check PM again.

Chess

原帖由 Ruby1219 於 11-6-8 23:45 發表
Chess,

I checked but haven't got your message in PM.

Ruby

Ruby1219

Suzan,

Sent you pm. Please check.

Ruby

Ruby1219

Chess,

I checked but haven't got your message in PM.

Ruby

Chess

Hi Ruby

Please check PM.

原帖由 Ruby1219 於 11-6-8 21:15 發表
Hi Chess,

Find my answers below :

1. how's school in GSIS? Your kid mix well with his schoolmates?

>>Yes, he enjoys school a lot. So far he loves GSIS and he said he would like to study there as ...

Ruby1219

Hi Chess,

Find my answers below :

1. how's school in GSIS? Your kid mix well with his schoolmates?

>>Yes, he enjoys school a lot. So far he loves GSIS and he said he would like to study there as long as he can i.e. till Year 13

2. is it difficult to get in at Year 8?
>> sorry I don't know about secondary. only thing I can tell you is the turnover rate of GSIS is very high, as many kids have to relocate for studying abroad or their parents have to relocate for jobs. So, do keep yourself in the waiting list and keep track to see when the vacancy arise.

3. how's entrance exam for primary level like? Written test plus interview?

When my son took the assessment in Year 3, he was given a math written test, had to write an English story and read a story with the teacher. It took about 1 hour time.

Chess

Ruby,

I got your point.  Will you kindly share:-

1. how's school in GSIS? Your kid mix well with his schoolmates?
2. is it difficult to get in at Year 8?
3. how's entrance exam for primary level like? Written test plus interview?

Thanks.

Chess

原帖由 Ruby1219 於 11-6-8 13:59 發表
Chess,

It's true that in int'l schools, the kids do not need to 背書 and answer the questions in model answers. No offense, but isn't it a 'con' for local schools?

In int'l schools, kids finally w ...

suzanlai

oh ruby, do you mind PM me the kindergarten your kid went for PN, K1 and K2? so is your son with GSIS since P1?
thanks!!
suzan

Ruby1219

Suzan,

This is exactly NOT my case! Cos I speak in Cantonese with my son since he was 3, when he got accepted by the international kindergarten and we confirmed to put him in international from kindergarten to secondary). Before 3, we spoke to him in English to ensure he can pass the interview.

Now, my son talks to me in Cantonese over 90% of time, he only speaks in English when he cannot find the Chinese words.
Actually, he speaks almost the best Cantonese at school, and he's the top student in Chinese subject at school (but you know, the Chinese level of GSIS is pretty low).

suzanlai

hi ruby & yumom,

do you think kids from IS will less likely to communicate cantonese with parents if i start placing her at IS in kindergarten?

suzan

Ruby1219

Chess,

It's true that in int'l schools, the kids do not need to 背書 and answer the questions in model answers. No offense, but isn't it a 'con' for local schools?

In int'l schools, kids finally would 'memorize' a lot of things, becos they found it interesting. My son loves retelling me the fun facts he found in books, but exactly he remembers them becos he was not forced to!
And in this new 'online' era, all sorts of information is available. I think 'memorization' is of less and less importance. While, the ability to seek knowledge and information is much more crucial. Don't you agree?
One more thing. The int'l school kids still need to 背 things like Chinese characters, English spelling, multiplication table, basic math formulas etc. But they don't need to 背 the textbooks (actually they don't have textbooks except Chinese and German) .

Yumom

Hi Suzanlai,

I would say that  for  Elite International Schools like the one you long for, it's not quite likely that they would accept those kids who do not do well in local schools! I can tell you that the competition for a place in GSIS is very strong.  I am surprised to see so many students attending exams in such a big hall.
For me, the reason I choose international school for my kid is because I've been a fans for international schools and don't quite like spoon-feeding of local schools. I changed for my kid at a time when she also thinks she prefers international school. She has friends attending international schools and she can compare herself.

Yumom

原帖由 suzanlai 於 11-6-7 19:52 發表
thanks a lot ! u r right! i am always confused and struggling! local vs international!  it is really too early to decide whether my 20months old baby suits what! but as it is becoming more and more co ...

Chess

Ruby,

Thank you very much for your reply.

I quite appreciate your comments.  I know the pros of IS. One more point I want to raise, being my major concern, I heard that IS students do not need to memorize a lot. Is it true?  If yes, will their foundation be not solid enough?

原帖由 Ruby1219 於 11-6-8 11:01 發表
Hi Chess,

My 'cons' of international schools :
1. Expensive
2. Lower Chinese level
3. Lower knowledge/appreciation of Chinese culture
4. As local parents, we won't mindle very well with other pa ...

Ruby1219

Hi Chess,

My 'cons' of international schools :
1. Expensive
2. Lower Chinese level
3. Lower knowledge/appreciation of Chinese culture
4. As local parents, we won't mindle very well with other parents (mostly foreigners)

To me, point 2 & 3 are more of concern than point 1 & 4.

Ruby

Chess

Hi Ruby,

What do you think are the deficiencies (if any) of the international school path?

Ruby1219

Suzan,
Another way to approach the issue is decide what kind of education do you want for your kid.
My son, similar to Yumom's daughter, can fit in both local and int'l schools (i think). But I decided to enroll him into int'l schools since he was 2.5yrs old  becos I buy the teaching and learning approach of int'l schools. And simply, I knew I would be too busy at work to be qualified as a local school parent. And more importantly, I don't want to waste all my leisure, family time on doing homework and revising for tests/exams with my son.
Now, he's already 11 (P.6), looking at his school life versus my friends' kids' (who are studying at local schools), I confirm that I was right. I'm horrified knowing my friends are now (June-final exam season) locking themselves and their kids at home studying days and nights, can't even go out for a  lunch or dinner!

That's my two cents, hope it helps.

suzanlai

thanks a lot ! u r right! i am always confused and struggling! local vs international!  it is really too early to decide whether my 20months old baby suits what! but as it is becoming more and more competitive to get in elite international school, i doubt if i first put my girl to a local then discover she cannot perform well, and if its too late to transfer her to an elite international school. do you mind telling me your experience? which local did your kid attend before and how she get into GSIS, such an elite school!  

thank you!!

suzan

原帖由 Yumom 於 11-6-7 14:21 發表
Hi Suzanlai,

I dare not offer advice. But maybe I just share with you my experience. I was like you when my girl was small. I had a struggle to get her into an International School or a local one whe ...

Yumom

Hi Suzanlai,

I dare not offer advice. But maybe I just share with you my experience. I was like you when my girl was small. I had a struggle to get her into an International School or a local one when she was offered choices from both types of schools. You may ask the advice of the kindergraten teachers of your kid whether local school and international school suits your kid more. For me, my daughter's teachers said both streams are suitable for her. We finally choose an elite school, attracted by its reputation.  All the years through, while I get my girl into a local school, I am of the opinion that international school is better for my kid's development. Besides, she is that sort of person who likes to think rather than memorise.

As your kid is still small, you can observe more and ask the advice of her teachers whe the time comes for the decision. Frankly speaking, it's difficult for a layman to tell whether a small child below 5 or 6 is suitable for which type of school. For me, I only know international school suits my kid more when she was around 8.

Yumom

Yumom

原帖由 suzanlai 於 11-6-4 13:02 發表
hi yumom ,
i longed for GSIS too, although it may be too early for my daughter who is not even 2 years old.  but i would like to know why you change from local to international? i am still struggling  ...

Ruby1219

suzanlai,

Sorry I don't quite get your question.
What do you mean by"what will be an advantage if i were planning to enroll my daughter to GSIS?"

"i always heard from others that GSIS is a very tough school which focus on adcadamic, do you agree?"

I feel that GSIS is 'more academic' than the other international schools. It's kind of like an in-between of local and int'l schools. But the teaching style and enviroment are still free and motivating. Hope I'm answering your question.

Best,
Ruby