Path to ESF

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.
Certainly Tutor Time, if you are very determined about ESF.
If your still struggling, probably Victoria.
Regards,
Maria

原帖由 Flower-kid 於 09-2-16 19:18 發表
My son is 14 months old now, and I want him to enter ESF.
To plan his path to ESF, I have two options of nursery/kindergarten: 1. Victoria Int’l Kindergarten (Tin Hou).
2. Tutor Time 多多.
My catchme ...

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.

TT & Victoria - my explanation
As of my experience in talking with a lot of parents in HK, they say they decide to pick international schools but along the road, they are indecisive. This leads to children - morning in IS kindergarten, afternoon local school. Rationale of theirs are to have an alternative in picking up local cirriculum eventually (if finally not choosing ESF/ other IS), and in learning Chinese (cantonese basically in kindergartens).
Victoria probably may get you (not the parents BUT the children also) to the normal track easily.
(When I say struggling that means you may switch and not yet decide the path.)
(Proabaly other parents can help you to learn more about V in specific ways)
Of course if you are very determined, go to TT. TT is really considered as an international kindergarten, and ESF would believe the child can hardly follow local school system.

ESF kindergarment - admission:
ESF kindergarten have their admission criteria as per their native language (say it in simple way).
Website to view in details -
http://www.esf.org.hk/esf_kindergarten/admissions/application.htm

......The ESF International Kindergartens are established to provide an enquiry- and play -based education for 3-5 year old boys and girls in the medium of English.
First priority for places will go to those who are from English speaking families or other families whose native language is not Cantonese (category One). Children of families where Cantonese is spoken will be regarded as category Two, and places can be offered to such children should places be available after the category One applicants have been admitted.
Within categories, priority is given to:

• Siblings of children attending an ESF school, including the ESF Private Independent Schools (Renaissance College and Discovery College) Siblings of children attending an ESF International Kindergarten or returning students of an ESF International Kindergarten
• Children with a parent who is a full-time employee of ESF or ESF Educational Services Limited
• Children of former ESF students ......

Starters:
The cirriculum of Starters School has no Chinese element. However they have afternoon class in Mandarin as kind of extra-cirr activity.  It is optional for the children to enroll at a reasonable fee.
$1300 - 2 days a week
$1800 - 3 days a week
The school said some of the children from Small World also attend their Mandarin class.
http://www.starters.edu.hk/admission.htm

ADDITIONAL AFTERNOON CLASSES

(Three and Four years old)

a) Learn Through Play	- Mon./ Wed./ Fri./ afternoons HK$1800 including stationery/ refreshments
b) Phonics Class	- Tuesday/ Thursday afternoons HK$1300 including stationery/ refreshments
c) Mandarin Class	- Monday to Friday afternoons	$1800 for 3 afternoons
		$1300 for 2 afternoons

Kind regards,
Maria

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原帖由 Flower-kid 於 09-2-17 17:48 發表
Thanks meipo28.  Oh, I didn't realize that Starters does not have Chinese, then it may not fit my expectation.

What is SWCK?  I can't find them from internet.

Maria, you said if I'm struggling, I ma ...

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.
I agree to 502's opinion in both questions.

Especially in question 2, SWCK is a child-oriented school. We visited and had talked to the principal.
We eventually not accepting the offer because of the difficulty in going there from our homes.
They start to include Mandarin element in the cirriculum.
You may consider it.

Kind regards,
Maria

原帖由 502 於 09-2-18 09:39 發表
1) Of course you can apply DBSPD, SP Co-ed, etc, at P1 if you choose TT or ESF.  The only concern is whether your child's Chinese level is up to their standard. I would not say impossible but just dif ...

YYFUNG

Dear Flower-kid.

We use English as an only language in all reading, verbal, listening.
No chinese and chinese teaching at all.
Even though some of my friends and collegues, and my sisters are Hong-Kongers, they talk to her in english.

However, my parents-in-law are pure cantonese speakers.
They use cantonese to communicate to her since birth.
Now She thinks in English so her Chinese expressions to her grand-parents are not logical and pronounciation is kind of non-cantonese accent.
(her chinese level is only survival level - like saying morning, uncle. Saying I eat and I run is the best already)

I do not regret as English to her is a native language. It is our original purpose.

We will let her learn Chinese just like learing French and German, Japanese and italian. Not make her learn Chinese as her must language.

Kind regards,
Maria

原帖由 Flower-kid 於 09-2-18 13:16 發表
Thank you all for sharing.

I understand some of your kids are already in ESF kinder or IS kinder.  What is your language policy at home?  If your kids speak in English at school, do you speak to them ...