Paving from St. Catherine to ESF Primary School

Red_Rose

Dear members,

Can anyone let me know whether SC (K2) kids are capable to handle the English interview for ESF/ESL primary school?  Thx.

CherylMum

Re: Paving from St. Catherine to ESF Primary School

[ 本帖最後由 CherylMum 於 09-11-4 16:53 編輯 ]

Red_Rose

CherylMum,

Thanks for your response and the useful information.  

For the path from SC to ESF, I think that SC's kids may need to take extra English courses to secure their fluency for the ESF's interview because, in fact, SC's curriculum is not for this path.

Do you have any idea about the fluency of English of normal SC K2 kids?

:  :

CherylMum

Re: Paving from St. Catherine to ESF Primary School

[ 本帖最後由 CherylMum 於 09-11-4 16:53 編輯 ]

WYmom

CherylMum,

SC students normally target to join local famous primary schools like DBSPD.  For paving to ESF, you have to go to International School.  As I know, almost all of International class students from Think International are accepted by ESF Primary.  Maybe you can check with the school for more details.

Red_Rose

..

juke5301

I have an idea...my little sister went to CCKG  before interviewing for KJS.

she told me her interview was to recite a passage in which she already read once whilst she was in CCKG.
So ifyour child's levels are up to CCKG K3, then he/she will succeed.
maybe starters or woodland will suit them better because the environment is similar to ESF  schooling conditions

fannychoi

好簡單....你個囝囝/囡囡可以用英文溝通咪可以通過interview lor(ESF),  如果唔入ESF 入其它int. schl 的話用錢都可以"答"夠的

gab

Hi WYmom:

May I know where is "Think International" school located?  Thanks.

WYmom 寫道:
CherylMum,

SC students normally target to join local famous primary schools like DBSPD.  For paving to ESF, you have to go to International School.  As I know, almost all of International class students from Think International are accepted by ESF Primary.  Maybe you can check with the school for more details.

Hilary

"Think International" school係九龍塘界限街，即前青揚，明愛賓館對面或方方隔離呀

WYmom

Hilary 寫道:
"Think International" school係九龍塘界限街，即前青揚，明愛賓館對面或方方隔離呀

Think International has 4 branches, the above address is their Kowloon Tong branch, there are also one large branch in Laguna City (the oldest one opened for 10 years), and 2 newer branches in Mei Foo and Ma On Shan.  At Kowloon Tong, they have primary school too.

RachelNgMaMa

juke5301

I agree. Starter and woodland will be the suitable kinder. to ESF Junior. Of course, ESF kinder will even better.

alexlui

Courses organised by ESF may help, you can get more information from the web site below.

www.edservices.org.hk/english_language/index.htm

Regards.

aling

Red Rose,

My daughter (now ESF P2) attended K1 & K2 at St Catherine more than 2 years ago.   In order to strength her confidence and fluency in oral English, we enrolled her for 3 ESD Saturday courses for almost a year.   This really helped her to build up the confidence.   At ESF interview, they are expected to be able to respond in English only.   If they are afraid to speak to westerners in English, they will probably fail in the interview.

Rgds,
Aling

hart

Aling,

My daughter (now ESF P2) attended K1 & K2 at St Catherine more than 2 years ago. In order to strength her confidence and fluency in oral English, we enrolled her for 3 ESD Saturday courses for almost a year.

We wanted to send our girl to international school but have also applied for St. Catherine’s as back up.  Now my husband wants to send her to St. Catherine’s so that she can learn Chinese.  His argument is, our girl is fluent in English (she speaks English because we speak English to her) and if she goes to an international kindy now, she will never learn Chinese.  He believes that after the 2 or 3 years, we can still apply for an international primary school (haven’t decided which one).  I doubt whether it is possible.

Is it true that at St. Cat’s all lessons are conducted in Cantonese except English?  So the child will only have 20 min. English a day?  I heard that the English standard at St. Cat’s is high but when compared with international kindies, there should be a gap. Although my girl speaks English now, it is likely that once she starts school and when her classmates all speak Cantonese, she’ll prefer Cantonese and lose the English? Or will she be able to speak fluent Cantonese in addition to English?  It’s hard to say.  Let’s say she can maintain her spoken English, but what about her reading and writing skills? I’m not sure if she’d be ready for an international primary then.

I heard that if a child speaks English only, she will have higher priority for admission to ESF schools? During the interview for ESF P1, is the child’s reading and writing skills also tested? Do you think that your child’s taking 3 ESD Saturday courses (to show your interest in ESF) increases her chance for admission?  Now with ESF, have you done anything to upkeep her Chinese standard?  

If my girl didn’t learn Chinese in an international kindy, will she still be considered for international primary that offers Chinese like Phoenix?  

Any parents here whose child went to St. Cat’s and got admitted to international primary please share your experience.

I’m so confused now.  Need your advice.

alexlui

Hart,

According to the staff working in SJS:
studying in ESD won't be counted.  

My experience: studying in the same campus of your target ESF school does help.  
- Some teachers may come from the same ESF school.
- Your child will get used to the enviroment and she will like it
- You can get more insider information

You better pick her up as often as you can, find chance to talk to the teachers.

CherylMum

Re: Paving from St. Catherine to ESF Primary School

[ 本帖最後由 CherylMum 於 09-11-6 09:33 編輯 ]

aling

Hart,

Pls check PM.

Aling

Anpanboy

CherylMum, aling

Can you PM me the advice too? Many thanks!

Ruby1219

Hart,

My case is quite similar to yours.
Two years ago when my son was 3 and was applying for kindergarten, I did apply for St. Catherine for him. At that time, he could only speak English as we only talked to him in English.
But, once I decided to put him in int'l schools, I was determined to put him in a truly int'l kindergarten to pave way for int'l primary and secondary schools.
Then, once he started in int'l kindy, we changed our channel to him, from totally English to totally Cantonese. Now, he can speak in both English and Cantonese. Although sometimes uses English terms to compliment his fair Cantonese.

My viewpoint is the vice versa to your husband's. I think you should let the native English speakers (i.e. teachers in int'l kindy) to teach your daughter English, then you teach her Cantonese. Then, she will be able to speak really natively (ideally)  in both language.

And, I do think int'l kindy will better equipped your daughter for int'l primary, which St. Catherine should not be able to achieve.

That's my two cents.

Ruby

Ruby