Want help? Not being accepted by ESF?

King'sMom

My son's now studying K2 in ESF Kinder and had passed his interview. However, he has been placed on the waitlist.... Does any parent have the same case with me? I haven't applied for other IS yet, any good suggestion? Am I too late to apply for the others? Please help!!! Thanks.


King'sMom

popolung

原帖由 mother30 於 09-3-27 22:57 發表
popolung,
Thanks for your sharing.

welcome!

mother30

popolung,
Thanks for your sharing.

popolung

原帖由 mother30 於 09-3-25 15:22 發表
while I understand the ESF category system does bother some parents...... I just want to share that even those in Cat 1 would worry about their kids not being admitted.... she is my Indian friend from ...

To be fair, normal ESF school (excluding RC & DC), received subsidy from HKSAR Gov't to educate kid who can't fit in local education system (since they can't speak cantonese), so parents should not blame the ESF system for Cat 2. For keen competition in Cat 1, it is because of the overwhelming demand this year, and also mean ESF doesn't take every Cat 1 they interviewed, so that at least standard is maintained (up to the level they require is good English skill as this is their medium of teaching in school)

popolung

原帖由 mother30 於 09-3-25 14:45 發表
popolung,
pls can you share how you promote your daughter's English language proficiency apart from the 3-hr kindy life?
My son is one of the youngest in class and his language skills (whether Cantone ...

As said before, there is no shortcuts. You need to spend more time with your daughter, read more storys, watch more English DVD, movie (with her not she watches alone), go to more English playgroup. On holiday go to some English speaking countries like UK, Australia or even Singapore. Soak her in complete English environment.

Parents need to sacrifice a lot. For example, can you give up what you like after your office hour, for example, not watching "Laughing Kor" at TVB and watch Playhouse Disney channel with your kids, or read story book with her? Ask yourselves. The more time you can be with her, the better future she will be. Good Luck.

mother30

while I understand the ESF category system does bother some parents...... I just want to share that even those in Cat 1 would worry about their kids not being admitted.... she is my Indian friend from ESF whose 1st language is English...... of course she got admitted at last...... the main point is competition is just too keen, so better focus on improving your child's English proficiency -- good spoken English is the key to admission, I supppose...

mother30

popolung,
pls can you share how you promote your daughter's English language proficiency apart from the 3-hr kindy life?
My son is one of the youngest in class and his language skills (whether Cantonese or English) slacks slightly behind his age group. Therefore, I want to know how I can prepare him better for the interview. Grateful if you can share your experience. Thanks.

popolung

原帖由 Mornington 於 09-3-19 20:57 發表
Hi Popolung

Great to see from other threads that ESF CWB offered a place to your daughter.  Congratulations!

It surprised to me when saying that there was Cat 3 about two years ago.  Now that non-na ...

Thanks a lot. That really bother me for quite a while until she got admitted. Too bad there are some classmates failed in interviews though...

I am quite sure that the Cat system depends on if you hold an overseas passport, then what you wrote about the language proficiency of your kid.

If one want to hide about the kid's Cantonese speaking capability, either you have to train your kid not to speak Chinese at all time, or take your own risk. Some ESF may not test, but some does.. good luck.

mirimiri

my case is my husband is foreigner and english is not his first language, my kid can speak both cantonese and other language, english is 2nd language, she also holds foreign ppt, but she was in waitlist at first when applied K1, so she's definitely in cat 2.

原帖由 Mornington 於 09-3-19 20:57 發表
Hi Popolung

Great to see from other threads that ESF CWB offered a place to your daughter.  Congratulations!

It surprised to me when saying that there was Cat 3 about two years ago.  Now that non-na ...

[ 本帖最後由 mirimiri 於 09-3-19 21:37 編輯 ]

Mornington

Hi Popolung

Great to see from other threads that ESF CWB offered a place to your daughter.  Congratulations!

It surprised to me when saying that there was Cat 3 about two years ago.  Now that non-native English speakers such as Japanese/Korean/Indian are classified as Cat 1 and they have higher priority of interview over the ones under Cat 2.

For those local HK kids who hold foreign plus local passport, it is saying here that their parents were born but raised, worked & lived in English-speaking country for a long period of time.  It is pretty sad to hear that the kids are still be treated as Cat 2.  

I know a mixed kid who can speak fluent Cantonese and English.  The kid's mum is a local HK lady whereas daddy is Malayasian.  The kid holds local & foreign passport.  Is she treated as Cat 1 or Cat 2?   

I am puzzled by the categorization as ESF set out.   I however trust that ESF would review the Cat system and those kids who are 'Dual National'.  

BR

popolung

原帖由 cchan0311 於 09-3-19 14:06 發表


It's really hard for my son to speak English only as his grandma and grandpa speak Cantonese.  Although my son can speak fluent English, he can also speak fluent Cantonese (but cannot read or write) ...

As told, take your own risk if you want to say he is English Speaking only.  Still have time for you to turnaround this (not impossible), and train him as speaking english only. But then there are a lot of things to change, like how he said going to "VV", the name of the helper, Daddy but not baba, etc. As simple as these pharses. Good Luck.

cchan0311

原帖由 popolung 於 09-3-19 13:44 發表


Well, you can do that. But there are some ESF schools I heard that will try to test Cat 1 students if they can speak Cantonese. If yes, failed. So take your own risk if you do that. Of course someho ...

It's really hard for my son to speak English only as his grandma and grandpa speak Cantonese.  Although my son can speak fluent English, he can also speak fluent Cantonese (but cannot read or write).  So I guess my son will probably in Cat 2 even though holding an overseas passport.

popolung

原帖由 kcpapa 於 09-3-19 13:29 發表
Be smart in filling the form.  Some foreign passport "local HKG" holder speak only English.  So Cat 1.

Well, you can do that. But there are some ESF schools I heard that will try to test Cat 1 students if they can speak Cantonese. If yes, failed. So take your own risk if you do that. Of course somehow it is very hard this year to "be honest"!

Also, if we start to tell lies in the form since they are only 4, what are we supposed to do in the future? What if our kid tell lies to us?

kcpapa

I know a Cat 1 student in Abacus who is holding CHINESE passport, but he can only speak English and Mandarin.  The key point is whether the kid can speak Cantonese, but not the nationality.  ESF supposed kids can speak Cantonese are able to fit into local stream, so they are not necessarily having IS education, then no pirority will be given.  About 2 years ago when we applied ESF KG, in fact, there was Cat 3 who are not Local Chinese nor Native English Speakers as Japanese, Korean....  But Cat 3 has been cancelled and Kids in Cat 3 will be regarded as Cat 1.  Admission will be give if the English level can satify the ESF requirement.

Be smart in filling the form.  Some foreign passport "local HKG" holder speak only English.  So Cat 1.

popolung

原帖由 sillybabyq 於 09-3-19 01:03 發表
If my son is chinese but he can speak English only, Will he classify as Cat 1?

Does he has an overseas passport? Can he speak Cantonese?

With oversea passport can prove your kid to be Cat 1, but if he can speak Cantonese then most likely will be put into Cat 2.

sillybabyq

If my son is chinese but he can speak English only, Will he classify as Cat 1?

popolung

原帖由 hkufrankie 於 09-3-18 18:51 發表
Cat 1: Native English Speaker (children can't speak in Chinese)
Cat 2: Fluent Eng speaker who can also speak Chinese.]原帖由 avalyl 於 09-3-18 15:58 發表 http://forum.edu-kingdom.com/images/common/bac ...

sound like we need to put a FAQ here for the Cat 1 / 2 thing:

http://www.esf.edu.hk/index.aspx?nodeID=1039&langNo=1

Admissions criteria

Places will be offered to successful applicants subject to availability.

Only one application may be submitted per student.
Students can only apply to the school in their zone (except Year One and Seven students applying during central applications).

Students must be able to cope with an English-medium curriculum. Please see language requirements

We prioritise applications by category (see below) and by date of application.

Applicants in category one will be invited for interview before those in category two, regardless of the date of application.

Category One

Children who speak English as a first or alternative language but do not speak Cantonese and/or read and write Chinese characters.

Category Two

Children who can access the local system but who also meet ESF's entrance requirements.

Within each category priority will be given to students who:

are siblings of children already attending an ESF school;
are attending an ESF Educational Services Ltd Kindergarten (for Year One only);
are former students returning from a period overseas;
have a parent who is a full-time employee of ESF;
are the children of former ESF students.

[ 本帖最後由 popolung 於 09-3-18 21:15 編輯 ]

hkufrankie

Cat 1: Native English Speaker (children can't speak in Chinese)
Cat 2: Fluent Eng speaker who can also speak Chinese.]原帖由 avalyl 於 09-3-18 15:58 發表
What is the different between Cat 1 and Cat 2?  



[/quote]

Onsen

Did you talk to your ESF Kg teacher about RC?  I heard that all children at YMCA International who applied to RC got admitted this year, a 100% success rate.  That would be unfair to ESF kindergarten's applicants if they are in the equal footing.  Approach RC again, if you already did, and asked them why?

原帖由 King'sMom 於 09-3-12 12:26 發表
Have chat with my child's class teacher today and she says my child is at the bottom of the waitlist. She has also mentioned that one of their students with 2 years at SW Kinder is also on the waitlis ...

avalyl

What is the different between Cat 1 and Cat 2?  

原帖由 cchan0311 於 09-3-18 15:22 發表


My son now is in ESF TY K1 and should be in Cat 2 although we hold canadian passport.