hi all:
i need some advice from any parents here. i m a native hong kong and my wife is a non Cantonese speaker (Vietnamese). Also we have a son just turned 2 years old. Even english isn't our mother tongue, English becomes our main language of communicating between me, my wife, and my son. The only chance my son can hear Cantonese are perhaps on tv, playing in the playground or visiting my mother. Right now i need to look for kindergarten for my son next year when he is 3 years old. I know some kinder gardens offer both normal or intl path for their parents to choose. Now my question is... should i admit my son to attend the normal path or intl path? if i admit my son to the intel path, does it mean he can only enter the intl school next time? (eg pri school) however if he enters the normal path, i m worry that he may be isolated by other students because he can't talk to them. In addition, he may not able to pick up the school materials as fast as compare to the other students? Entering the intl school is a long term commitment and i don't want to see my son can't continue his study when i can't support him next time. It will be difficult for him if he needs to go back the local school later. So i need to plan carefully for him now.
Any advices are welcome
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08-10-2009, 12:39 AM #1
Is Int'l school the only way out for non catontese speaking children in hk?
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08-10-2009, 12:47 AM #2
I think you would be better asking this question on the forums at Hong Kong Baby, Pregnancy and Parenting Community - For Parents and Hong Kong Babies which is a sister site to this one, dedicated to parenting in Hong Kong.
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08-10-2009, 12:48 AM #3
i see. i don't know there is a such forum.
thanks
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08-10-2009, 02:01 PM #4
Just a thought, as I know nothing about the education system in HK, but if I had a young child growing up in HK I'd do everything in my power for them to become fluent in at least Cantonese and English, if his mother speaks Vietnamese then that language too, and Mandarin if he has a chance to learn it.
I wouldn't worry about him being isolated at a local school because he doesn't speak Cantonese - children at that age absorb language like a sponge and he'd probably pick it up incredibly quickly. You could always send him to an international school at a later stage if you wanted too.
If he grows up only speaking English it will seriously limit his career choices in HK as an adult, and he'll be in no better position than a lot of the expats here who can't get a job in the career of their choice because they don't speak Cantonese. I'd love to be bilingual!
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08-10-2009, 02:16 PM #5
i m totally agree with u that bilingual is definitely an advantage to be advanced in their career when they grow up.
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08-10-2009, 03:52 PM #6
My daughter did not speak Cantonese, English is her native tongue. She attended a local government school here in Hong Kong for 3 years (from 6 to 9 years old) and now speaks, reads and writes Cantonese.
Due to the rote learning style of teaching at her school, I moved her to an international school. No problem at all.
Personally I would recommend putting your child into a local school, the earlier the better. Yes, the first few weeks were a bit daunting for my daughter but kids pick up languages incredibly quickly. It would be such a bonus for your child to be fluent in chinese as a life skill.
You can always move your child to an international school when they are a bit older. That is not a problem.
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08-10-2009, 04:37 PM #7
Would second the idea of going for a local kindergarten/primary school initially especially if you are planning to stay a long time in HK.
You can always change to an international school later ( I hope to do that when we change the kids to secondary school but may chnage mind) but if you start international you will not be able to go back later.
Kids do pick up cantonese a lot quicker than adults it seems and once they got over shyness issues then seem to cope fine.
We do struggle sometimes with written homework in Chinese(my wife speaks some but cannot read or write it) but have managed to find people to help there.
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08-10-2009, 04:44 PM #8
We had a discussion on this a few weeks ago. For those of us who have mixed kids we all share the issues with the rote learning styles of local schools but understand that it will be in the early years where they will be most able to learn more than one language as well as read and write.
So for me, at this moment in time, our plan is local kindie and primary and then international for secondary. This may change but for now is our way of thinking.Last edited by jaykay; 08-10-2009 at 04:46 PM. Reason: Spelling or more accurately crap typing
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08-10-2009, 04:53 PM #9
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08-10-2009, 05:21 PM #10
Well obviously what I wrote in in regard to those who have a Chinese parent but I understand where you are coming from.
From what I have heard, through friends who have chosen local stream and are not Chinese, the biggest issue is with things like homework and school notices. They tend to use friends, etc to help them. Communication itself with the schools seems to not be one of the main problems.
One funny little story is from a friend who is married to a Filipina and has a daughter who they placed into local school. She learned both English and, I assume, Tagalog as she grew up and was able to communicate in both. One day she was in the back of the car and said something in Cantonese to which her parents looked at each other and at her and the daughter immediately realised they couldn't understand what she was saying. A smile crept across her face and off she went in Cantonese!
Anyway the choices are difficult and I imagine it really depends on whether you are staying in HK for the long term among other things.
Originally Posted by jaykay:
