During the summer vacation, I met many parents whose children are about to go to fifth grade and asked, " Should I start preparing for overseas education in fifth grade? In my opinion, it is ideal for their children to continue their studies only after they finish junior high school. To be too young for self-care and independence may not be enough to cope with the challenges brought by overseas study, but I have see many parents start from the fifth year and successfully admitted to the most famous schools overseas schools in junior high school. Small five deployment, not only the time is more abundant, but also can give their children a comprehensive consideration and preparation. Here are five preparations that parents should pay attention to for overseas education.
1. Choose a school
Arrange children to go to school abroad, by ideological preparation to put into practice, often need careful planning. Parents should do their homework at least two years before their children leave, such as understanding the education systems of different countries, and studying the characteristics of each school after selecting areas. At the same time, more to the relevant people and admission consultants, as well as more participation in the exhibition, have certain help.
2. The best time to study abroad
The peak of boarding schools in Britain and the United States is mainly from middle one to middle three. Generally speaking, the best time to enter a popular private boarding school is ninth grade (middle grade 3), because this is the first year of high school, the whole class is new, meaning the largest enrollment space. In grade 10, the school has to prepare the students to deal with the public examination, the number of students will be greatly reduced, and the difficulty is naturally higher.
3. Strengthen the ability to write and listen in English
In addition to strengthening their children's English writing, conversation and listening skills, many overseas schools pay more attention to students' performance in music, sports and other extracurricular activities, so parents can start from childhood five and six stages to improve their English level and enrich their resume.
4. Understand the connection between the education system and the Hong Kong school system
The international curriculum system mainly includes IBDP international diploma program for high school, IGCSE and A-Level High School curriculum, SAT in American curriculum, AP University Advanced Study curriculum and Canadian high school curriculum. Parents should be aware that these school systems are different from those in Hong Kong and may not be seamless.
5. Independence and maturity of the children
People's psychological age and physical age is coordinated synchronous development, teenage children, in physiological not mature at the same time, its psychological endurance, experience, way of thinking, mind is not mature, thus will not adapt to the environment change, especially in foreign countries, culture, language, customs, etc are very big differences, children's psychological ability need to accept a stronger test. In addition, because far away from the familiar places and relatives, will often feel lonely, lonely and helpless, and then produce anxiety, depression and other psychological states. Therefore, parents should be careful deployment before their children go abroad, so as to avoid the gap between expectations and reality.
Of course, every family's background, expectations for their children are different from those and interests in their children's abilities. In the near future, considering the international turmoil and inflation, the cost of overseas tuition will increase the burden on parents, and everyone must make multiple and detailed measures for the well-being of their children.