Are You Asking The Right School Choice Questions?

For some people (like myself), going up to a complete stranger and starting up a conversation isn’t only difficult, it’s downright nerve-wracking. “What do I say? Am I being awkward? Oh gosh, I’m being awkward… Now I can’t stop blurting out random things… Shit!” Every time I attend any kind of fair I never really know what to say when I walk up to a booth. Sometimes I’ll be greeted by a skilled conversationalist who’ll break down my walls in seconds; other times, it’s one-on-one with someone equally uncomfortable talking to strangers and we stand there in utter awkward silence.

The first time I attended a school choice fair I didn’t know what questions to ask, and to make matters worse, the first booth I walked up to was that of a cold school rep who kept on saying “well, as you know… “. But I didn’t know… I didn’t know what she was talking about and at that moment, I was too embarrassed to admit it so I just nodded along.

So, this year, to save my fellow new parents and introverts the awkward silence at this year’s Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) on Apr 17, I’ve turned the tables around and asked a few of Beijing’s international schools who’ll be exhibiting at JISE to give some pointers on what type of questions parents should ask at these events. Claire Deng, Admissions Manager of YueCheng Kindergartens, and Jonathan Augat, Head of Admissions and Marketing at Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) gave us some advice.

“Before asking anything else, ask if your child is eligible to attend the school,” Augat suggests. The reason for this is that not every international school in Beijing can accept students from every country. Schools like International School of Beijing (ISB) do not accept local passport holders, for instance.

Ask what kind of curriculum the school follows. If you already know what type of curriculum your child needs, then this will help weed out the schools that won’t apply to your family. For first-time parents, the curriculums can get a bit confusing, and choosing the right one is tough. Before JISE on Apr 17, learn a bit about all the curriculums available in Beijing by reading our Beijing Curriculum Guide.

Finally, a good ice breaker if you’re ever met with an awkward school rep at the school choice fair is to ask them about some unique aspects of their school. For CISB specifically, Augat recommends parents ask what the difference between the IB diploma and the Canadian New Brunswick diploma offered by CISB. Get specific. CISB is located downtown. Ask what kind of facilities does a downtown campus has. This can be a determining factor in whether you choose a school downtown or out in Shunyi. Finally, ask what type of extracurricular and after-school activities CISB offers. Learning doesn’t just happen in the classrooms and one of the perks of attending an international school like CISB is taking advantage of a wide variety of after-school programs for your kids to discover their passion.

But what about parents of youngsters looking for their first kindergarten? Deng also recommends starting by finding out what type of curriculum the kindergarten offers. For parents who are planning on sending their kids to local schools when they’re older, find out if the international kindergarten’s curriculum will allow you to make a smooth transition.

What language is used in the classrooms? Some third culture kids growing up in Beijing with grandparents and ayis primarily speak Chinese. If they don’t speak English or have a very limited understanding of English, will it become an issue? And if it is, how does the kindergarten plan on accommodating it?

There are plenty of kindergartens in Beijing. Deng suggests parents ask what makes that particular kindergarten special. Ask what facilities are available on campus. And finally, as your kids get attached to their favorite teachers at school, what’s the kindergarten’s plan on retaining their staff so that your kids don’t end up having to get to know a new teacher every few months.

Got more questions about international education? Good! JISE is the perfect place to meet all of the city’s top international schools and get all your questions answered in one afternoon.

Images: Jingkids, YueCheng Kindergartens, Canadian International School of Beijing

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