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| How far through the Korean education system did/will/would you put your children? |
| No formal education in Korea for my children |
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19% |
[ 16 ] |
| Part way through or up to the end of kindergarten |
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13% |
[ 11 ] |
| Part way through or up to the end of elementary school |
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24% |
[ 20 ] |
| Part way through or up to the end of middle school |
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6% |
[ 5 ] |
| Part way through or up to the end of high school |
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3% |
[ 3 ] |
| All the way through, including graduating a Korean university |
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6% |
[ 5 ] |
| Depends heavily on personal circumstances |
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9% |
[ 8 ] |
| International schools only |
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13% |
[ 11 ] |
| Other (Please specify) |
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2% |
[ 2 ] |
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| Total Votes : 81 |
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ABC KID
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
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 Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:09 am Post subject: Foreign Children In The Korean Education System |
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This is a topic that comes up once in a while so I thought it would be useful and interesting to gather some statistics and share some thoughts, views, experiences and preconceptions about foreign children in the Korean education system.
Please cast a vote and share your thoughts and opinions. If you don't have any children think about what you would be most likely to do and why... |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:11 am Post subject: |
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For now, through elementary school and possibly middle school as we have no plans to move.
When my son reaches middle school...we will look at what the field has to offer. International schools will be on the top of our list as I have options there. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: |
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I am debating.
My friend, whose son is now in Grade 4 elementary school, will go to an international school next year or the year after.
I was actually going to put Letty in an international school next year but here's what this friend said that is making me wonder...
He said that basically if Letty goes straight to an international school, she won't know any Korean. She will still be able to speak it, but she won't be able to read or write in it because she won't have formal training... and that the best time for her to start at an IS would be at around grade 4 or 5.
So.. I don't really want her not to be able to read or write in Korean because she is half Korean... but on the other hand, I am really unsure of the Korean education system... so that's why I am still in 2 minds about it.
My husband doesn't care one way or another. |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 6:27 am Post subject: |
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I love my daughter too much to subject her to what I have seen in public schools here.
Maybe others have seen favourable things, but I have not. |
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Homer
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:29 am Post subject: |
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It does boil down to personal choice.
I have visited 10 Public Schools down here in Busan and worked in a couple of others. I found, for the most part, that these were decent places to study for elementary school kids. When middle-high school rolls around we will see what the options are. I already have scouted a few international schools in Korea (Busan and Seoul). We will decide then.
For now, I have no problem sending my son to a local public elementary school because I firmly believe that the parents are the key factor in a kids learning and happiness...not the school. |
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cazador83
Joined: 28 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 11:50 am Post subject: |
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| i'm not married nor have kids, but if and when i ever do, i wouldn't mind putting them through pre-K and kindergarten here, but not much else i don't think. i'd want them to go to formal school in america to learn proper english, etc. but we certainly don't have as good pre-k and kindergarten programs like they do in korea. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject: |
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End of elementary school here. My daughter will start elementary school in March 2009 and then we'll see how she get's along. No problems at Kindergarten or daycare so we're not too concerned.
International schools would be great, but at a 1,000,000 or more per month it's not going to happen. |
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Scotticus
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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| tzechuk wrote: |
He said that basically if Letty goes straight to an international school, she won't know any Korean. She will still be able to speak it, but she won't be able to read or write in it because she won't have formal training... and that the best time for her to start at an IS would be at around grade 4 or 5.
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So? If you find her writing/reading Korean to be important, I assume one (or both) of you know how to do it, right? Who better to teach her than her parents? Kindergarten here is nothing more than glorified daycare... you're better off filling in the gaps that international schools leave in the comfort of your own home. |
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bellum99
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: don't need to know
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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| My son went through kindergarten in Korea. It was okay. My friends son had huge trouble in grade one...teacher rode him everyday because he wasn't perfect in math (in grade one). Then they started to teach the pure blood crap in the school and things got worse...if the Koreans are running from the public schools to other countries..it makes you think. |
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Scott in Incheon
Joined: 30 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Kindergarten here is nothing more than glorified daycare... |
I don't think this is always true. Our daughters go to a great Montessori kindergarten. They learn all sort of things. Math skills...art..and the oldest reads and writes Korean already. The classrooms are filled with hands on activities about basic shapes, science and pretty much mirror kindie classrooms back home.
And it is a Catholic school which makes both sets of grandparents happy as they are both Catholic...and doesn't bother me as they don't seem to have much religious instruction (I am a very lapsed Catholic). |
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Scotticus
Joined: 18 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Scott in Incheon wrote: |
I don't think this is always true. Our daughters go to a great Montessori kindergarten. They learn all sort of things. Math skills...art..and the oldest reads and writes Korean already. The classrooms are filled with hands on activities about basic shapes, science and pretty much mirror kindie classrooms back home. |
Of course it's not "always true." I never said it was. Are all Korean kindies Montessori? Of course not. The vast majority are children running around in circles with little to no supervision or guidance from the "teachers." Good job for sending your child to a Montessori school, but that doesn't make my previous point any less valid. |
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tzechuk
Joined: 20 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Just out of interest, Scotticus - do you have children? |
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Ilsanman
Joined: 15 Aug 2003
Location: Bucheon, Korea
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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Funny thing, the word 'Montessori' has become fashionable here with kindergartens. All of the ones I saw were Montessori in name only. I wonder if the owner even knew what Montessori means.
Scott, I hope your daughters are getting a nice education.
| Scott in Incheon wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Kindergarten here is nothing more than glorified daycare... |
I don't think this is always true. Our daughters go to a great Montessori kindergarten. They learn all sort of things. Math skills...art..and the oldest reads and writes Korean already. The classrooms are filled with hands on activities about basic shapes, science and pretty much mirror kindie classrooms back home.
And it is a Catholic school which makes both sets of grandparents happy as they are both Catholic...and doesn't bother me as they don't seem to have much religious instruction (I am a very lapsed Catholic). |
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shaunew
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Calgary
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| Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| We will put my son in public elementary school and see how it is. This is not for many years. But middle and high school will be International school because he will be going to University in Canada. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:40 am Post subject: |
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| shaunew wrote: |
| We will put my son in public elementary school and see how it is. This is not for many years. But middle and high school will be International school because he will be going to University in Canada. |
My daughter (toddler now) will not be doing any formal schooling here. I can see NO advantage for her to begin and since she has no Korean roots (other than being born here) there is no reason to subject her to it.
There are excellent correspondence programs offered by each province from home. She can begin on those so she will be ready to enter a western school system (at least academically) when we do move home.
I don't need to have the creative thinking and natural inquisitiveness of her youth squashed by some stick toting sadistic grade 1 teacher looking to put in his time until he can gain his promotion to VP.
Oh, and before anyone jumps on me, I do have experience raising kids. I have 4 others who are all happy, well adjusted, well educated and "all growed up."
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