777lf wrote:SSIS is a good option if your childs English is reasonable, and you aren't interested in your child learning Chinese.
Heh, this is where the Senior Head of SSIS XH Campus comes in. Yes, that's me.
You seem very familiar with the school, and I think I know who your colleague is. Tell him that Michael says hi, and that one day my blog will be back publicly.
Their Chinese program isn't very good
May I know the basis and comparison for saying that our Chinese program is not very good? I'd love to know your sources.
It's compulsory in Singapore for all children to learn another language besides English, normally the one considered "native" to their ethnic group. Now, while Singaporeans aren't well known for Chinese proficiency, the educational system does require us to achieve a near-native level of proficiency in it. Why do I say near-native? Well, while we can hold our own in conversation, we really pale when you put us next to the Chinese and Taiwanese. That I have to agree.
But even then, we're changing. This coming academic year will see us creating another stream besides our existing three (Singapore syllabus Chinese, Basic Chinese Level 1 and 2). We will use the local Chinese syllabus for our final stream of Chinese.
and they dont stream classes.
May I correct it to they
didn't stream classes. I'm sure you write based on limited knowledge, so I won't blame you for that statement. Our IEP Coordinator (a newly created post) has indicated the need for a Learning Support and Bridging Class at all levels. We'd stream our weaker pupils there and set an ESL-trained teacher to help out in the class. Unfortunately (fortunately?) we still do not stream the rest of the pupils. We'd prefer a good mix for the pupils with stronger language ability.
They have a very limited program that gets kids to a vey basic level of English, and then dumps them into classes with native speakers.
Are there other schools that has programmes for kids without a basic level of English? Our Intensive English Programme produces kids who struggle, and produces kids who do well later. Just like any educational programme. Would it be a bad idea not to put the children into classes where they can gain an immersion effect and pick up on their learning curve? Two kids that transferred to my class this year (the last year I'm being assigned to teach...sob) improved greatly in their grades and their parents were very happy.
SSIS saps kids confidence by giving all kids the same standard tests.
At the same time it provides challenges to those kids who are motivated by challenges, like two pupils who have just graduated from our IEP class, to be "dumped" into a class with native speakers. Let us not, to quote a Chinese proverb 一枝竹竿打翻一条船 (to flip a boat with a bamboo stick), and see only one angle of the story.
I have one parent who spoke to me recently precisely of this "sapping" effect on her girl. I recommended some good international schools that I felt would perhaps help her adjust better, and she'd be transferring her daughter to Rego the next academic year. My pupils' welfare comes first. I'd answer to management for enrolment later.
You must also realise that the Singaporean curriculum is perhaps one of the most rigorous in the English-speaking world. Think of us as English-speaking Japanese and you'd get what I mean. We do not apologise for that. It's our brand, and the reason why some schools in the States are adopting "Singapore Math" for their texts.
It also provides no additional support for kids struggling with English.
Again I must correct you - it
provided no additional support. And you might want to know that we do have teachers who have taken on additional time beyond the lessons to coach weaker pupils. This coming academic year, teachers will be given additional periods to give support to kids needing that.
Unfortunately (I'm being frank and open here, there's no need to hide anything), this normally means the kids may need to have part of their lunch hour taken away, or their Art or Music lessons taken away for the additional coaching. I'm going to implement the system such that parents may indicate if they do not want their kids to be taken away from these lessons, and to have the teacher let it be if this is so.
So why accept kids with low English levels?
Have you ever been a parent of a child who's bright but who simply have very basic level of English due to your country of origin? You'd be very glad that there is an international school willing to provide an Intensive English Programme for your child, and put them in with native speakers after that.
SSIS is also very regimented, compared to most other international schools I've heard of in Shanghai. The kids have very limted free time, and go from class to class with no break. It's a very rigid system.
Your observation is very correct. I dare say, we are very regimented, compared to ALL other international schools in Shanghai. We're popular with Asian parents for that reason, and it's also our marketing niche.
SSIS also seems to be struggling with its identity. It doesn't seem to know if it's a "Singaporean school" in Shanghai, or if it really is an international school.
Same could be said of other international schools with a strong home branding, like Dulwich (UK) or the SAS (US). How many "real" international school (as in international outlook and curriculum) are there around? Perhaps the only one I can think of right now is the Western International School of Shanghai.
I've also heard its very authoritarian in managment style, and it doesn't use the talents of it's teachers to improve the place, which is also a worry.
Authoritarian? Trust me on this - no. Democratic? Most definitely not. Consultative? Definitely. We do hear the voices of our teachers before we make our decision. Unfortunately, we make decisions many times that are unpopular with teachers. And we do not back down over that.
May I understand what you mean by "doesn't use the talents of its teachers to improve the place"? I'm really wondering if we're hearing from the views only of certain parties right now, or if it's a balanced view.
Again, it depends on your child and what you want from the school. If you are Singaporean, its probably a great choice. If you aren't, I'm not sure I'd recommend it.
I agree very whole-heartedly that it's really what the parents want from the school. We're not popular with western parents for the same reasons why we're popular with Asian parents. Nothing to do with being Singaporean (which is only 25% of our cohort anyway).
From my contact with various schools and teachers in Shanghai, amongst the lower fee schools in Shanghai, I think SMIC, SHSID and Xiehe are really good choices. These schools aren't perfect by any means, but they seem to have a few strong points that would make them worth a look. As terrible as this sounds (why should money be messed upp with schools?), these schools are also pretty reasonable "value for money".
I know of SMIC and SHSID (they are good schools) but I do not know much about Xiehe. What do you know about this school?
