RTHK 19/Feb 鏗鏘集 - 國際學校誰讀?

CSJ安樂窩

FattyDaddy 發表於 12-2-24 04:06
Actually this is not true, although they cannot speak Cantonese, but they can read/write Chinese cha ...

The fact is that it is true.  Those of them who went to IS kindy, they cannot read/write Chinese.  Being a non-Cantonese speaker, they are just the same as the foreign kids and classified as Cat. 1.

FattyDaddy

CSJ安樂窩 發表於 12-2-24 08:36
The fact is that it is true.  Those of them who went to IS kindy, they cannot read/write Chinese.   ...

Yes, if the kid was purposely raised to be Cat 1. If Hongkongers can do it, mainland Chinese can also do it {:1_1:}

CSJ安樂窩

FattyDaddy 發表於 12-2-24 09:05
Yes, if the kid was purposely raised to be Cat 1. If Hongkongers can do it, mainland Chinese can als ...

I guess for Mainlanders, they don't really need to purposely raised their kids to become Cat. 1 as they can still keep their mother tongue but for Hongkongers, they need to do a lot more to be classified as Cat. 1

FattyDaddy

CSJ安樂窩 發表於 12-2-24 09:24
I guess for Mainlanders, they don't really need to purposely raised their kids to become Cat. 1 as  ...

Well, mainland Chinese kids still have to purposely not learn how to read/write Chinese in order to be classified as Cat 1 {:1_1:}

So far I think only a small minority of mainland immigrants are targeting international schools, if we browse the local school forums here we read a lot more about them.

bbirene

As I know, the mainland kids are regarded as cat 1 as they don't know Cantonese.

mikeivybb

Totally correct, they are cat 1 bec they can't speak cantonese, but in fact, our kid can do it too bec we can talk eng with them from they born.

But although we did this, we still cat 2.

Not fair!!!!!!!!!!

Mighty

..... ......

highfive

I think the way ESF classifies applicants into the 2 categories isn't very accurate, at all. A couple of years ago our son were offered an interview and eventually offered a place (after being on the waitlist for a couple of months) even though that year the principal of CWBS (in our catchment zone) said that they were oversubscribed by CAT1 applicants, let alone CAT2's.

In our application we indicated that our son was most fluent with English, but we also clearly indicated that both parents spoke Cantonese and the child knew Cantonese too (though not very well). I suspect we were still being categorized as CAT1, hence the interview opportunity. We were definitely very happy for the opportunity but at the same time felt puzzled and kind of sorry for the "real" CAT1 applicants. In the end we didn't accept the offer though as our child was already studying at another IS when the offer was made.

josechan

madscientist 發表於 12-2-25 12:17
ESF is only a number of schools in Hong Kong.  There are other ISes and DSS, etc.  Not qualifying f ...

Very true. I prefer paying effort to apply for IS with a good balance of Chinese and English, rather than forcing my kid into Cat 1.

FattyDaddy

josechan 發表於 12-2-26 01:10
Very true. I prefer paying effort to apply for IS with a good balance of Chinese and English, rather ...

That is why ESF created 2 PIS, Renaissance College and Discovery College, they have 4 selling points:-

(1) They don't categorize and prioritize students into Cat 1 and 2 so no need to refrain from Cantonese

(2) They don't have catchment areas so anyone living anywhere can apply

(3) Their curriculum have more Chinese contents than the regular ESF schools

(4) They still have the ESF brand name

I do think ESF is very clever, at least they have done some serious market research {:1_1:}

FattyDaddy

madscientist 發表於 12-2-26 02:08
ESF does not need market research to conclude the importance of Chinese.  BTW, Chinese is not a co ...

Hahahaha, no, I don't think they need market research for something so obvious.

What I meant was they researched into what some Hongkong parents' inclinations are, e.g. some may not want to refrain from Cantonese etc.

FattyDaddy

madscientist 發表於 12-2-26 02:17
The 2 PIS schools are PIS because they have no chance of getting more funding from the government f ...

Hehe, I doubt if ESF's reasoning is as complicated as what you've described.

Allow me to quote your words ...

I am against Hong Kong parents shielding children from Cantonese simply because they want to be cat 1.  I think it does not make sense.

If I were ESF management and I want your business, wouldn't I remove the categorization (i.e. the "no Cantonese" restriction) in some schools to attract parents like you? {:1_1:}