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PAL Workshop: How to Best Support Your Child in an International Education

Different School Systems

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To understand and support your child, it is essential to understand the goals of an International system vs. the Chinese education system (or another national system)

Goals in China:•Achieve highest level of knowledge•Focus on technical knowledge•Tries to filter different levels of certain kinds of talent

Creates professionals: engineers, doctors, etc.

International School Goals

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Student Goals that are valued in international schools:•Well-rounded•Self-motivated•Passionate•Life-long learners•Leadership/Collaboration•Positively impact the world

Creates thinkers and leaders

How do western style schools help students reach these goals?

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Well-rounded students:•Extracurricular activities•Sports•Wide range of elective classes

Self-motivation:•Students can select topics for essays/projects•Required self-reflection in long-term Personal Projects•Free time to choose what to do•Flexible requirements

How do international schools help students reach these goals?

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Passionate:•Wide range of extracurricular activities•Freedom to establish clubs and pursue outside activities with school support

Life-long learners:•Focus on critical thinking and learning skills in addition to knowledge accumulation•Integrated curriculum that requires students to apply what they learn in other classes

How do International Schools help students reach these goals?

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Leadership/Collaboration:•In-class group work•Sports teams/clubs•Student-elected government

Positively impact the world:•Community service

Challenges

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What are some of the challenges students from Chinese school backgrounds face?

Students have trouble utilizing free time provided by school

Three levels of time-use:1.Wasting time (e.g., playing video games)2.Engaged in informal activities (e.g., playing basketball with friends)3.Activities that utilize school resources (e.g., joining the basketball team or starting a club sponsored by a teacher)

Challenges

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Recognizing the resources the school offers

•Students must take responsibility for their own development

Finding the multiple layers of purpose in every activity

•Difficult because curriculum is integrated and every activity develops multiple skills simultaneously

•Even in activities that seem easy or in which the child does not have interest, there is still much value to be gained

Challenges

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Mix of factors determine grades

•Not just a test score; a variety of measurement tools

•Subjective factors also determine grade; “Life is like this”

Difficulty balancing academic, social and extracurricular life

•Hardest for older students because they have more requirements in these areas

•Greatest difficulty for Chinese students when they go to university

How parents can better support their children to succeed

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1. Understand the education system your child is going into

• You must understand the system in order to give your child the best advice and support

• You also must understand the different university expectations

2. Consistent communication with the school

• Consider more carefully what the school says more than what other parents and friends say

How parents can better support their children to succeed

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3. Allow your child to make decisions

•The school gives students free time to explore; do not force or decide for your child what to do with it

•Encourage child to be active, but allow them to decide what to do

•Help your child find area of passion and begin to tell a story.

How parents can better support their children to succeed

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4. Support non-required school activities

•Sports, community service, field trips, social activities

•They play a role in developing your child’s skills

5. For college preparation, listen to the school

•Talk about college admissions; BCIS knows what your child needs to succeed.

•Avoid sacrificing other things for standardized tests: SAT and TOEFL

How parents can better support their children to succeed

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6. Recognize this education system is just as hard as the Chinese one

•Student has many other challenges to overcome, not just test scores

How parents can better support their children to succeed

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7. Spend time listening and talking to your child and their teachers

8. Set goals

•Make sure goals are realistic, measureable and have a time frame

Supporting your child Abroad.

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Recognizing the additional challenges

The first step to supporting your child is again understanding the issues

•Time zone changes

•Food and nutritional challenges

•Different cultural expectations (parents)•Dorm•Phones•Driver’s license

•Loneliness, fear, homesickness

•Language challenges

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Phases of adjustment

General honeymoon phase

Culture Shock can set in –

Support but don’t push – encourage independence

Expect times of frustration

Expect changes: dress, food, political perspectives

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Safety Issues

1. Health – take complete medical record and all prescriptions.

2. Insurance

3. Cell phones

4. Travel documents

5. Finances

6. Emergencies – natural, crimes, street-smarts, dress, who can be trusted, what to do…..

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Any Questions?

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