Any good English/Mandarin kindergarten in HK side?

critic

We have lived 2 years in Shanghai and thinking to move back to HK in coming summer.  My son is 4 in April. I would like to know if there's any good kindergarten on HK island (Tai Hang/Causeway Bay/Wanchai).  His first language is English, 2nd language is Mandarin.   He can read Grade 1 story books, but nothing in Chinese - only a very few characters.

I prefer to find a school offering bilingual education, but in Mandarin, not Cantonese.  

Besides 蘇浙, any recommendation?  Thank you.

CherylMum

Re: Any good English/Mandarin kindergarten in HK side?

[ 本帖最後由 CherylMum 於 09-11-16 08:40 編輯 ]

catnips

KCIS - Kiangsu and Chekiang International School.

It's very strong in Mandarin/ Chinese.  

Blythe_miki

critic ,

you can think about Starters School, my son is attending this school now and he loves it very much, it is an English speaking kindergarten. They have 2 campus, one is located at Wanchai Queen's Rd. East, which is the one my son is going now and the other one is located at Tai Hang Road.

hoeve

Besides, KCIS, Tutor time and Victoria also have Mandarin + English as language of instruction. I know some children that study in KCIS and they have really good oral English and Mandarin skill. That's why I'll let my girl go to KCIS+KCS.  

mrs_ho

I think Starters School doesn't use Mandarin at all.

wlk168win

Of course, KCS/KCIS. They have strongest Mandarin.

critic

Thanks for all moms info. My husband studied in 蘇浙 kindergarten & primary, he hates it and won't consider to send our son there.  I will investigate more from Victoria, as I got some good comment from friends.

I am quite happy with the kindergarten education in Shanghai.  They focus more on physical &  outdoor activities. Seems HK is more on academic.

Blythe_miki

mrs_ho 寫道:
I think Starters School doesn't use Mandarin at all.

They start to have Mandarin lesson now. (PM class)

tpoon

critic,

My kid is studying in Victoria playgroup now but I don't think this school is good.  It's too commercial, caring more on parents rather than on the kids.  This is my own personal comment.

kakiki

Hi Blythe_miki,

sorry, 想問下你係咪有2個小朋友??? 因我見你小朋友03年7月出世, 應該還未讀k1??
我上2星期到過starters 參觀, 我很喜歡佢地係全英文教學, 但佢地個校舍真的好小和很舊, 活動空間比較小, 所以呢個真係要考慮因素.
想請問你starters 多活動嗎?? 例如birthday party, christmas party.....etc. 老師質素ok嗎??小朋友畢業考int'l school or efs 有困難嗎?? 小朋友英文會話是否有很進步呢?? thanks !!!!

MayMayFan

My son is now studying in KCIS intl stream and I plan to let him study in Canadian Intl school next year. The reason is that I find the school cannot provide a wide variety of activities to the children (as compared to other IS) and in fact I don't know much what they are doing in school because they have no clear teaching schedule for me to follow. Their communication w/ parents as per my opinion is "bad".
The only thing I worry about is that his mandarin learning will be affected. Although CDNIS have also mandarin class daily, I believe their standard may not be as good as KCIS.

critic - may I know why yr husband doesn't like KCIS? did he study in the intl stream? (I don't know how long the intl school has been established.)

Also, I would recommend Tutor Time rather than Victoria to u. I find the student mix in Tutor time is more international.

critic

MayMayFan,

My husband studied in local stream (I don't think they have international stream back to 196X era!) I did not ask him in details but he said, it is true that most students can speak fluent Mandarin but accent is wrong (but still better than Cantonese Mandarin). Academic  was poor etc..  

My friend's son is studying in KCIS, she does not like it, her comment is same as yours. I did not chat with her for long time but she said most gweloi will send the kids to local stream because of cheaper school fee. International classes are more for local HK kids. Is that the case?

MayMayFan 寫道:
My son is now studying in KCIS intl stream and I plan to let him study in Canadian Intl school next year. The reason is that I find the school cannot provide a wide variety of activities to the children (as compared to other IS) and in fact I don't know much what they are doing in school because they have no clear teaching schedule for me to follow. Their communication w/ parents as per my opinion is "bad".
The only thing I worry about is that his mandarin learning will be affected. Although CDNIS have also mandarin class daily, I believe their standard may not be as good as KCIS.

critic - may I know why yr husband doesn't like KCIS? did he study in the intl stream? (I don't know how long the intl school has been established.)

Also, I would recommend Tutor Time rather than Victoria to u. I find the student mix in Tutor time is more international.

polarbear22bear

Hi critic,

I disagree. From what I've seen, many of the students are foreign-Chinese,  they are only suitable to go into KCIS because they have not learned much in Chinese before.  In our class, there are Chinese kids from New York, Japan, Canada, Australia & UK.  And some gwailos let their children to study in main stream as they wanted them to mingle with HK Chinese and to learn proper & strong Mandarin.
I am very glad my child can get along well with them happily.

critic 寫道:
she said most gweloi will send the kids to local stream because of cheaper school fee. International classes are more for local HK kids. Is that the case?[quote]

[/quote]

RTSMOM

Hi Polarbear22bear
May I know which section your child is studying? KCS or KCIS or both?  You know the school quite well.  TY  

polarbear22bear

RTSMOM,

Are you interested in applying your child at KCS or KCIS?  Both sections are of high standard.

You may find the other threads on KCS or KCIS, as you may get some ideas about this school.

My child is now at KCIS upper school, Braemar Hill campus.

RTSMOM

Hi Polarbear22bear

My son will be joining  KCIS K1 in Sept.  I believe the most useful information should be sought from parents of the KCIS student.  I chose this school because I met the students in a museum some times ago, and they are cheerful and discipline.  Teachers are nice as well.  Agree with you, I could hear that some students are not local chinese and are talking to each other in fluent English.

polarbear22bear

Hi RTSMOM,

Welcome!  
Another KCIS parent.  You may go to KCIS thread to communicate with us.  See you!  

Amosmother

My boy is now studying in Starters (Main school), too.  I'm concerned about their admission rate to ESF primaries.  Can anyone advise on it?  However, I heard that their admission rate to ESF is impressingly high.

After attending Starters, my son's English progesses a lot.  He now can use a complete sentence in English to express himself.  I heard from him there would sometimes be birthday parties on Fridays.  And there will be school outings in April/May, depending on the weather.  But I'm very much impressed by the experienced and kind teachers there.