Job Discussion Forums

Noelle · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 361 Location: USA

Hi

I know the question sounds stupid but for those of you who've worked in mainland China and in Korea, you must know what I'm talking about.

I'm about to consider taking a job working in a school with kindergarten children but I am concerned that these kids are actually more like 4 years old. I've already been through this once in Asia...

Any feedback?

anninhk · Joined: 08 Oct 2005 Posts: 284

As I haven't worked in either place perhaps I'm not sure either!
Here in Hong Kong the children seem to be the age they say they are. Kindergarten seems to start as young as 2 though so you might be taking different ages and not just 4 yr olds. They move to Primary school at 5 years old.

Noelle · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 361 Location: USA

Yikes.
Can't do 2 yr olds...

Horizontal Hero · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:37 am Post subject:

I know many mainland Chinese count the age of the child from Chinese new year. So if you are born the day before Chinese NY you turn one after a day! This might have something to do with it. And many ARE rather small compared to Western kids.

Noelle · Joined: 26 Mar 2005 Posts: 361 Location: USA

thanks for the info!

I can't work with "kindergarteners" in H.K. Just can't do it!

11:59 · Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:38 am Post subject:

Unlike in many parts of mainland China (and, as I understand it, Korea) Hong Kongers are 'zero years old' when born and do not become one till their first birthday, so yes, six-year-olds are six years of age, and nine-year-olds are nine, etc.

On the mainland (again, as I understand it) traditionally kids are one year old when born (due to the nine months in the womb!) and then age another year when they encounter their first Spring Festival (or some such nonsense). Thus, in theory (and this seems in keeping with mainland 'logic'), an infant of one month (or even just one day) can be referred to as being two years of age. But then again most if not everything is 'plastic' (if not stochastic) on the mainland: their 'age' will simply be what they want it to be, viz., whatever age they think they will benefit from saying they are will suddenly be their 'age'.

It is different here in HK where the 'Weltanshauung' is that age is not so 'verstellbar'.