ISF or CDNIS?

liu_cmc

Hi,
ISF or CDNIS? which one will you chose?

Both are great school but I couldn't decide.  Please help.  

My priority is 1)Chinese/Mandarin   2) IB  3) Good teacher   4) discipline  5) sports

I have a feeling kids has less pressure and are happier in CDNIS and they have decent chinese too, can read and write chinese character but not so much in speaking Mandarin.  Strong in sports which is important for boys.

I know chinese so I can help with is homework, and ISF seems to be strong in Mandarin program and good discipline.  But I am worry the homework will put too much pressure for my boy and cause a lot of tension at home when I have to discipline him every night, not mention the dictations and tests every week/month.

My boy got offer from both school and I couldn't decide.  pls help.

Thx!!

Atticus

So your boy received an offer from CDNIS for Preparatory?  When did you receive it?  Thanks.

mrshoho

What made you say ISF is better disciplined than CDNIS??  I personally know someone studying at ISF, I wouldn't say they are well disciplined at all... I guess parents play a stronger role than the school in terms of disciplining the child.

Atticus

Further to my question above, may I also ask when did you receive the offer (for Foundation Year I presume) from ISF? As I understand, the deadline for accepting the first batch of offers from ISF was last Friday (20 April 2011)...

liu_cmc

I received both offer about 2-3 days ago.  have you apply for 2012/13 as well?

cowmoon

Chinese standard in ISF may be higher than CDNIS (understandable because ISF has 70% curriculum in Chinese while CDNIS has around 30%; on the other hand, the English standard of CDNIS should be higher than ISF due to the same reason). Quite some students in CDNIS need extra Chinese tutorials after school.
The workload of ISF is probably heavier than CDNIS.
I do not think that the discipline of CDNIS is worse than ISF. Most students I know in CDNIS are very well behaved.

ramen

liu_cmc 發表於 12-4-26 21:46
I received both offer about 2-3 days ago.  have you apply for 2012/13 as well?

May I know if CDNIS called you or send you the oofer letter?  Thanks.

liu_cmc

Thanks for your advice cowmoon, would you happen to know which school have better teacher? which school will you pick?


CDNIS call us first and then send us a letter which was received today.  My boy 5 yr old is applying Prep yr 2012/13 which is not the major intake - Reception yr.

Which one will you chose? ISF or CDNIS?  Have you apply any?

annie40

回復 liu_cmc 的帖子

I think your son should have visited both schools.  In case you're still in dieimma, you can ask your little boy's opinion.  It's important to respect his viewpoint and choice.  Kids are crystal clear on pretense and more wise and brave than us sometimes.

annie

cowmoon

Personally I have close friends and relatives' kids in both schools. So from what I observed and heard, both schools are good.
You may also consider that the student mix in ISF will have more Chinese (HK, Taiwanese, Mainland Chinese) than CDNIS. And in CDNIS they have Canadian culture included in the curriculum while in ISF they teach quite a lot about Chinese culture (e.g. Chinese Kungfu / Chinese dance and 背誦唐詩). Say for Canadian passport holders CDNIS may be a preferable choice.

Atticus

liu_cmc:

If establishing a sound foundation in Mandarin/Chinese is important to you and your child, then go for ISF

Atticus

liu_cmc:

Just out of curiosity, which school's offer did you decide to accept in the end?

qq638

My son is in ISF. There are 3-5 homeworks everyday, more on weekend.

Birkin

qq638 發表於 12-5-16 15:09
My son is in ISF. There are 3-5 homeworks everyday, more on weekend.

Hi!  Is your son in the Foundation Year?  Are you and your son happy with ISF in general?  Thanks.

nintendo

isf 小學主要用中文教，然後每年漸進將英文加多
咁樣學中文，梗好過 cdnis

Birkin

nintendo 發表於 12-5-16 15:19
isf 小學主要用中文教，然後每年漸進將英文加多
咁樣學中文，梗好過 cdnis
...

Yes, but the downside is the English standard (reading and writing) of ISF's lower school students may lag behind that of other international school's students...

type409

but as what their principal said - their chinese standard is above those study in IS and english is above those in local.

every coin has 2 sides.

nintendo

type409 發表於 12-5-18 10:35
but as what their principal said - their chinese standard is above those study in IS and english is  ...

個校長要搵 pr 教教佢講野
國際學校中文水皮，本地學校英文水皮
(水皮之意，水平都只係 second language level)
搵個水皮的比，比你比嬴又點

bobbycheung

回復 nintendo 的帖子

大哥, 如果講 "their english standard is below those study in IS and chinese is below those in local",  咁又係死喎! 真係唔知點講先啱.

type409

He didn't say that in a public event (and i bet he won't say that in a public event) but just to a few parents while chatting about our concerns in our kids' language level. Having said that, i'm happy with the school in general.