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True Samurai
Joined: 07 Feb 2007
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 Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:13 am Post subject: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| I've been considering eventually moving my family to the Korean town that I now live in. Can American children (citizens of that country) be enrolled in regular Korean Elementary and/or junior high schools - either public or private (Catholic)? If yes, what would it cost? Would the spouse and children have to be sponsored by my company? Anyone know anything about this? Has anyone tried or considered trying it? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| True Samurai wrote: |
| I've been considering eventually moving my family to the Korean town that I now live in. Can American children (citizens of that country) be enrolled in regular Korean Elementary and/or junior high schools - either public or private (Catholic)? If yes, what would it cost? Would the spouse and children have to be sponsored by my company? Anyone know anything about this? Has anyone tried or considered trying it? |
Yes, they can be enrolled in a public school as long as they are REGISTERED foreigners (they have a visa and an ARC).
The costs are the same as a Korean child. (Pay for lunches, some books, etc). Pay for extra curricular activities. Just about the same as a US public school.
We have 2 Canadian kids in our public school. One in grade 3 and her brother in grade 1.
My child is still too young for school.
Your wife and children would be sponsored by YOU.
You have a work visa and they get F3 (dependant family) visas. |
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VirginIslander
Joined: 24 May 2006
Location: Busan
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: |
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| I cant answer your question. I can say, however, if you have teacher certification, you could work at an International school here in Korea, where the 10 million tuition per year would be free for your children. |
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True Samurai
Joined: 07 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:21 am Post subject: |
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 Good to know ttompatz. Thank you. Anyone else? |
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krats1976
Joined: 14 May 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:26 am Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| True Samurai wrote: |
| I've been considering eventually moving my family to the Korean town that I now live in. Can American children (citizens of that country) be enrolled in regular Korean Elementary and/or junior high schools - either public or private (Catholic)? If yes, what would it cost? Would the spouse and children have to be sponsored by my company? Anyone know anything about this? Has anyone tried or considered trying it? |
Off the top of my head, I'd say yes, they can. But that's from my experience of Korean-American kids whose parents (who were Korean nationals) wanted them to stay in Korea. I don't know about ethnicly non-Korean kids.
But, are you sure that's what you want to do? Korean education has some serious problems; #1 being that it's based on rote memorization. It in no way prepares kids for Western Uni (should that be what you want for them). Also, it's tough for them to adjust if they go back to Western schools for middle or high school & they will have missed out on a lot of subjects (especially social studies) that will give them background knowledge they'll need to do well in HS or university down the road.
Not to mention that they'd lose 1/2 a year with each switch since Korean & American schools are 1/2 a year off from each other and neither Korean nor American (or international) schools are likely to recognize the 1/2 year they've already done. So, if you have a kid that's in grade 3 in January and switches to Korean school at the beginning of their year in February/March, they'd have to start back at the beginning of grade 3. Then, say you want them to switch back to American school in grade 6 or something. When American schools start up in August and your kid is 1/2 way through Korean grade 6, he or she has to start that year over again too, and now he or she is a year behind.
I hope I don't seem judgemental... you've probably thought this through. But I've worked with kids who've gone between Korean & American schools and they have a tough time.
Korean kindy is one thing (to help kids learn the language), but I would simply never consider sending an older child to Korean school. |
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True Samurai
Joined: 07 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 6:36 am Post subject: |
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| Wel, I'll think it all over. Can't and don't have to decide immediately. I will consult the children before making any 'unilateral' decision. |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 7:07 am Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| krats1976 wrote: |
Not to mention that they'd lose 1/2 a year with each switch since Korean & American schools are 1/2 a year off from each other and neither Korean nor American (or international) schools are likely to recognize the 1/2 year they've already done. So, if you have a kid that's in grade 3 in January and switches to Korean school at the beginning of their year in February/March, they'd have to start back at the beginning of grade 3. Then, say you want them to switch back to American school in grade 6 or something. When American schools start up in August and your kid is 1/2 way through Korean grade 6, he or she has to start that year over again too, and now he or she is a year behind.
[/color] |
Aren't Korean schools supposedly making the switch to the Western-style semester system (September-May), within the next couple of years? |
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krats1976
Joined: 14 May 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 1:47 pm Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| Corporal wrote: |
| krats1976 wrote: |
Not to mention that they'd lose 1/2 a year with each switch since Korean & American schools are 1/2 a year off from each other and neither Korean nor American (or international) schools are likely to recognize the 1/2 year they've already done. So, if you have a kid that's in grade 3 in January and switches to Korean school at the beginning of their year in February/March, they'd have to start back at the beginning of grade 3. Then, say you want them to switch back to American school in grade 6 or something. When American schools start up in August and your kid is 1/2 way through Korean grade 6, he or she has to start that year over again too, and now he or she is a year behind.
[/color] |
Aren't Korean schools supposedly making the switch to the Western-style semester system (September-May), within the next couple of years? |
I know there's been talk about it, but I haven't heard anything difinitive. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Location: 서울
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:34 pm Post subject: |
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i'm sorry to say this but i think it is really not a good idea. unless your kid is ethnic korean, they will be in for, at the least, a bizarre time, and at worst, an awful time. maybe you could send them to an international school in seoul, but that would be quite expensive i'm sure.
also you are citizens of a country that has a good standard of education. korea on the other hand, does not- after all, korean parents with money love sending their kids to the usa to be educated.
i'm sure you want this new job and you want to keep your family together, of course; but i think sending your kid to korean school would not be good for him. anyway good luck in whatever you do. |
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matthews_world
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 8:56 pm Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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Aren't Korean schools supposedly making the switch to the Western-style semester system (September-May), within the next couple of years?[/quote]
Perosnally, the 3 month vacation is a bit outdated and hope American schools change their calendars to full-year schedules.
The Korean school year seems much better suited for working families. |
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Wrench
Joined: 07 Apr 2005
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| Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| matthews_world wrote: |
| Aren't Korean schools supposedly making the switch to the Western-style semester system (September-May), within the next couple of years? |
Perosnally, the 3 month vacation is a bit outdated and hope American schools change their calendars to full-year schedules.
The Korean school year seems much better suited for working families.[/quote] Are you kiding between January and February they go to school for like 10 days total.. If the same goes for summer they have 4 months worth of vacation here. |
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Corporal
Joined: 25 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:03 am Post subject: Re: Can American Children Go To School In Korea? |
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| matthews_world wrote: |
Perosnally, the 3 month vacation is a bit outdated and hope American schools change their calendars to full-year schedules.
The Korean school year seems much better suited for working families. |
From whatever or wherever it was that I read, I understood that the switch is so that the university system will follow suit and so that students who want to apply to Western universities will be set in terms of timing.
As regards the summer vacation being outdated, not so much. Sure, Dad no longer needs help on the farm, but summers are hot and energy-sapping, and it's hard to concentrate--kids should be outside getting sunshine. JMO though. |
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