Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parents wait to pick up their children after school.
Before you enroll your child into any school—local or international—make at least two
visits to the school to get a clear feeling of what it will be like. Ask to be given a tour of the
entire school (not just the highlights) and observe a class each visit to note the consistencies
or inconsistencies. Watch how the teacher and students interact with each other, and ask to
be put in touch with another foreign parent for their personal input. The big international
schools are familiar with this process. The local Chinese schools, however, might be more
guarded. They don't typically have the same kind of interactive relationship with parents
that Western schools have, and information can be a like a stream, trickling in one direction.
They may not be too willing to let you sit in on classes or talk to people independently. If
the school isn't cooperative with your requests you'll have a good indication of how things
will be once your child is enrolled.
The Chinese school system is often characterized as being inflexible and extremely stressful
for children. From the time they wake up in the morning till the time they go to sleep at
night, a Chinese-school child's day is filled with classes, exams, and preparation for ex-
ams. If your child plans to sit the
g
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ok
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(the local equivalent of the SAT or university
