Coming back to HK from USA

pinkrose

Hi Yoshashto,

Thanks for giving me a deeper insights between the US and UK teaching styles !

Can you please tell me more about the differences of the two teaching styles in the international schools  ?  
My daughter is in lower elementary.  Academically, she's very strong.  She is very playful  and creative. She has an independent mind as well .  

However, she is shy when it comes to  new people and environment.   She is not that outspoken in the class as well.  That's why I like the schools here that they have "Show & Tell" since pre-school.  The kids got a chance to do a short presentation in front of their classmates.  Also, I'd prefer the schools which provide a positive, warm  and open-minded enviroment, so my daughter will eventually becomes more open up.

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googagi

HKIS starts "Show & Tell" since R1. Even the very shy kid got to present in front of the entire class. Gradually the presentation scope will be to the cluster and the teacher. And from G2, to parents as well. The British system is more strict. French International School in in the British system. They made the kids walk with the arms in the back. And bow to teachers. When sitting, the hands have to be placed on the lap. For kids who are used to the US system, they would find this kind of discipline a bit too much.

pinkrose

Hi Googagi,

Woh !  The Bristish and French schools' discipline sound like local schools.  I, myself really felt suffocated when I was in HK with local schools.  For my shy daughter, I think the British style will only suppress her more.  In that case, I think US style suit her more. Thanks again for the additional information !

googagi

Hi Pinkrose,

Believe it or not, going to local schools in our era should be a lot more relaxed than nowadays. Some schools require 100% accuracy in all tests/dictations. Since the whole class score 100, the teacher sets out bonus questions for kids to differentiate who is actually better. Not just the kids suffer, Mom do too. Kids returning from US should feel more comfortable staying in the US system. Good luck... :

annie40

My girl studied in French Interantional School last year.  It is a quite academic school, but also has a very kind head tteacher and some excellent class teachers.  I had never seen or heard that the kids walking with arms in the back and bowing to teachers.  What I saw was the kids always played high-five with the head teacher, Mr Chadwich, while seeing each other at the corridor.  My girl's class teacher let every birthday child stood on the desk while the whole class sang her/him a birthday song in whatever music she/he likes.  

Anyway, I let my girl moved back to the Peak School this year due to some personal reasons.  But frankly both ESF and FIS are very good schools under British curriculum.  My family are American.  My husband and I feel happy that my girl and her school mates are always show their 'coutesy and kindness to friends, teachers and parents.  That's very important for me.

I hope my sharing is useful.

Annie

原文章由 googagi 於 07-9-15 09:43 硐表
HKIS starts "Show & Tell" since R1. Even the very shy kid got to present in front of the entire class. Gradually the presentation scope will be to the cluster and the teacher. And from G2, to parents  ...

YOSASHTO

Hi pinkrose,

I think googagi gave a good explanation on the differences.  I grew up with the American system, so I would be quite biased toward it, and would not be a good person to be making the comparisons.  When I was choosing a school for my son, I visited quite a few schools.  My son was accepted to all those that we applied, but at the end we decided to go with HKIS.

Some of my deciding factors were:
1. Class size
ESF classes are quite large (I think 30 kids) in one class, and with only one teacher.  If they let give the kids as much freedom as what the principal told me during the tour, I cannot imagine how the teacher can manage the class alone, especially if there are two rowdy kids.
2. Character development
I feel that academics can be taught to children at any age, but character must be molded from a young age.  By character, I mean, kindness, fairness, respect to love people and things, etc.  I am quite sure all international schools will develop the children academically.  Afterall, that's why they are going to school everyday.  However, I did not find explicit evidence of character developments in most schools, except for HKIS and ICS.  So far, I am very happy with how HKIS teachers children about handling emotions, bullying, growing up, etc.  These are things that children need to learn even more than the academics.
3. Traditional vs. Simplified Chinese characters
Since Chinese learning at international schools are at a much lesser level than local schools, they might as well be learning the traditional characters.  Switching from the more complicated set to the simplified set when they get older must certainly be easier than switching the other way around.  HKIS is one of the few international schools that used traditional characters, although they do have the option for the child to use simplified characters if the parents so request.
4. Ease of transfer back to North America
With the world shrinking in terms of travel and workplace, we want to be prepared just in case we are to move back to North America.  Therefore, a North American curriculum would suit us much better than the British system.

I didn't really answer your question, but I hope this helps in your decision process.

[ 本文章最後由 YOSASHTO 於 07-9-17 15:21 編輯 ]

googagi

Hi Annie40,

Your daughter must be the lucky ones. My nephpew is still in FIS, and he has been there for quite a few years. He's been taught with tough discipline.

Googagi

pinkrose

Hi Annie40 &  Googari,

Thanks for you guys' sharings on FIS !

pinkrose

Thanks for your sharings and I fully agreed to all 4 points you mentioned !
For Simplified vs Traditional Chinese Characters.  I think the situation for kids in IS in HK is similar to the Chinese kids in the US.  
However, there is a trend here that kids learn to recognize both Simplified & Traditional Chinese Characters, but only need to write Simplified Characters.

courtbas

annie40,

I sent you a PM.  Please check.  Thank you.

原文章由 annie40 於 07-9-17 14:24 發表
My girl studied in French Interantional School last year.  It is a quite academic school, but also has a very kind head tteacher and some excellent class teachers.  I had never seen or heard that the  ...