International school vs. CKY(蔡繼有學校)

BeBeJ

Is CKY(保良局蔡繼有學校) run like an international school, but has more exposure to Chinese language?  
Thanks!

hoeve

you can go to 小學雜談 to talk about this
Some 蔡繼有 Parents may answer your question
I've read about 蔡繼有 in 小學雜談
I also like this school very much

BeBeJ

Thanks for your reply.   I am hoping to hear from parents who chose international school over 蔡繼有.   I would like to learn from their experience.

freedom

CKY(蔡繼有學校)  has kingdergaren or not??

hksarah

Dear BeBeJ,

My colleague's son was studied in CKY in Sep 2004. His son was changed to CAIS in Sep 2005. He has some comment on this school. I try to quote some for your reference :-

Good :

1.        All the teachers and staff including the cleaner are very polite and respect to the students and parents.

2.  Teachers are very willing to answer your questions.

3.        The annual report is very very details. This report assesses your kids in very aspect and has over ten pages.


Adverse :

1.  Very ineffecient and confuse administration.

2.  Rules and requirements are always changed. ( maybe it is a new school )

3.   This school would like to copy the teaching model of ESF but unsuccessful. The experience of the teacher and school cannot handle and conduct the teaching model of ESF.

4.  The English of the Chinese teacher is rather weak. They are forced to speak English in the classroom and speak a lot Chinlish or Hong Kong English. One typical example is they called jellyfish as “water mother”. – ??! !

5.  The English standard of the student cannot allow the foreigner teacher to conduct the class totally in English without the help or translation of Chinese teacher. (If there is a lesson of English teacher, a Chinese teacher will attend the class as well.)  Since the Chinese teacher in the class will translate in simple English and repeat the content in Chinese, some students may not pay attention to the English teacher. A very very big different with other International School.

6. The teacher would never scold the student. The most or only one punishment is – “ stand in front of the wall “


Sarah

Vrindavan

>>The English of the Chinese teacher is rather weak

What subjects ?
Chinese language classes ?   

WYmom

"5. The English standard of the student cannot allow the foreigner teacher to conduct the class totally in English without the help or translation of Chinese teacher. (If there is a lesson of English teacher, a Chinese teacher will attend the class as well.) Since the Chinese teacher in the class will translate in simple English and repeat the content in Chinese, some students may not pay attention to the English teacher. A very very big different with other International School."

This is a problem seen in bilingual classes, if most kids are Chinese, and if there are an English and a Chinese teacher together, they will very naturally rely on the Chinese teacher to translate for them, and ultimately they can never learn good English properly.  So it is better to use native English teacher only to lead the class.

hksarah

Vrindavan 寫道:
>>The English of the Chinese teacher is rather weak

What subjects ?
Chinese language classes ?   

This school has both foreigner and local ( i.e. Chinese) teacher. The English standard of the Chinese or local teacher is rather weak. The local teachers will teach all subjects exept English lesson. The local teacher will teacher English accompany with a foreigner teacher.


Sarah

  

BeBeJ

My kid is in an international kindergarten right now, he is quite happy there, and can go on to it's primary school.  But it bothers me somewhat that his exposure to Chinese will be quite limited if he stays on. I attended CKY's open day, and the principal seemed quite confident that, after a while, their students will be fluent in both English and Mandarin.  I thought this is perfect, a school runs like an international school, yet has a lot of exposre to Chinese.  Or, maybe it's just too good to be true.

BeBeJ

freedom:

CKY does not have kindergarten.

hoeve

BeBeJ 寫道:
My kid is in an international kindergarten right now, he is quite happy there, and can go on to it's primary school.  But it bothers me somewhat that his exposure to Chinese will be quite limited if he stays on. I attended CKY's open day, and the principal seemed quite confident that, after a while, their students will be fluent in both English and Mandarin.  I thought this is perfect, a school runs like an international school, yet has a lot of exposre to Chinese.  Or, maybe it's just too good to be true.

Hi, BeBeJ,
I got the same idea as yours. I'll enroll International Kinder for my girl and would like to let her to go to local primary to enrich her Chinese standard. That's why I've read alot about CKY. I also thought this school can provide good English as well as Chinese environment for their students! Is CKY your choice? May I know any other choices you are considering?
I'm really worry after reading comment from hksarah

WYmom

hoeve,

How about the new ESF private school at Ma On Shan (Phoenix now)?  It offers 20% time in Chinese, with Chinese lessons everyday.  Facilities of new campus are excellent.  Will you consider this?

BeBeJ

Hi hoeve:

hksarah's comment also makes me worry a little bit. I also attended St. Margaret's open day.  I don't think I'll put it on top of my list right now.

WYmom

BeBeJ 寫道:
Hi hoeve:

hksarah's comment also makes me worry a little bit. I also attended St. Margaret's open day.  I don't think I'll put it on top of my list right now.

BeBeJ,

Just wonder which school you will consider now, do you like St. Margaret then?  Will you apply for Renaissance (Phoenix)?

I also consider CKY previously for my younger daughter, but now may need to reconsider as you said.

hoeve

WYmom 寫道:
hoeve,

How about the new ESF private school at Ma On Shan (Phoenix now)?  It offers 20% time in Chinese, with Chinese lessons everyday.  Facilities of new campus are excellent.  Will you consider this?

Hi WYmon,
I didn't consider this school right now since I'm still prefer to let my girl to go to local primary ( I hope she can have very good Chinese skill ). I'm not sure the Chinese skill of student in Phoenix. If its student have excellent Chinese skill, I'll surely consider it. Do u know any information about this? I know this school have many positive comment.  

hoeve

BeBeJ 寫道:
Hi hoeve:

hksarah's comment also makes me worry a little bit. I also attended St. Margaret's open day.  I don't think I'll put it on top of my list right now.

Hi BeBeJ,
I didn't know about St. Margaret, where is it? Is it international or local school?

WYmom

hoeve,

I have visited Phoenix sometimes before, and have seen the Chinese writings of the students.  They will separate kids into local Chinese and western kids for teaching Chinese, so that the Chinese standard of locals will not be too low.  Their standard is OK, of course a bit lower than traditional Chinese local schools, but their English standard is higher then, so it is really give and take and need to strike a balance.

I like their program very much, as they use IB since primary schools.  They use native English teachers to teach all subjects except Chinese. They also have ESL class for those who need help in English. The new campus will open in 2006, which seems to be very nice, so it will be better for you to visit it later and see if it is good.  For me, Ma On Shan is too far from my home, so need to look for alternatives.

hoeve

Thanks for your information. Its sound really good. I'll go to have a look. Ma On Shan is also too far for me. However, if the school is really good, I may consider to move. which school are u considering right now?  

WYmom 寫道:
hoeve,

I have visited Phoenix sometimes before, and have seen the Chinese writings of the students.  They will separate kids into local Chinese and western kids for teaching Chinese, so that the Chinese standard of locals will not be too low.  Their standard is OK, of course a bit lower than traditional Chinese local schools, but their English standard is higher then, so it is really give and take and need to strike a balance.

I like their program very much, as they use IB since primary schools.  They use native English teachers to teach all subjects except Chinese. They also have ESL class for those who need help in English. The new campus will open in 2006, which seems to be very nice, so it will be better for you to visit it later and see if it is good.  For me, Ma On Shan is too far from my home, so need to look for alternatives.

BeBeJ

Hi hoeve and WYmom:

I am also quite interested in Phoenix, but it is just too far away.

St.  Margaret is a DS(直資) school situated next to Yin Wah Primary School near the Nan Cheong West Rail station.  You may want to take a look at their website:

http://www.smcesps.edu.hk

All subjects will be taught in English, except Chinese, and   mandarin.  Chinese will be taught in Cantonese in P1, and in Mandarin starting from P2.

What bothers me, after attending their open day, is that
they will have about 40 kids in one class starting from P3, therefore, the teaching method will change from project oriented to more traditional way, because there is just too many kids in one class.  That's why it's not on top of my list right now.

EdT

I am not sure if hksarah has confused CKY with other PLK schools.  As far as I know, in English class, the local/Chinese teachers will not accompany the students, so there is no translation available at all.

Also the English teacher (which is always a NET) will conduct other classes like Maths.

By the way the English standard of the new students are quite good as some are from ESF and international kindergartens.  CKY also has means to encourage local students to gradually pick up English skills to catch up with the better ones.

On the other hand, I heard some conversation among the NETs and Chinese teachers, the English standard of the local teachers are pretty good too, not exactly NET accent but very fluent and by no means Chinglish.  The "water mother" thing is probably a joke as even a lot of local school P1 students know what jellyfish is.

I had heard of cases of teachers major in English was not assigned to teach Englsih in CKY simply because they are not NET.

CKY, as far as I can see, is able to keep its promise of language ability in English and Chinese.  Mandarin of the students are not bad at all.

And yes, the school administration is still messy at times.