International schools are a popular choice for parents who live and work abroad, or those who want their child to have that option in the future. However, for children entering an international classroom for the first time, there’s a lot to get used to. There’s a new curriculum to learn, and classmates from different backgrounds who may speak different languages. It can be overwhelming, so here are some practical steps you can take to help your child settle in.
Research the Curriculum Carefully
If you’re looking for an international school in Bangkok or another global city with many expats, you’ll likely find that there are a lot of different options available when it comes to curricula. The school systems of the US, UK, Canada, and Singapore are popular all around the world, but each has a slightly different focus. The dates of the school year also vary, and the materials for some curricula may be less available than others in your location.
The curriculum and school you choose will also affect the amount of homework your child gets and how much language support is available if needed. School websites and brochures often provide a lot of information about this, but there are also parent forums which can be very useful for finding unbiased takes and real experiences.
Discuss Cultural Differences Openly
With good teachers and support from you, your child should be able to overcome the challenge of learning new subjects. What can be overwhelming, however, is the cultural diversity in an international classroom. Your child may encounter behaviours they’ve never seen before, for example if someone from another country greets them in a different way. They may also learn from their peers about different religions and holidays.
It’s important that they respond to these respectfully and learn from them without forming stereotypes. As a parent, you can help with this by discussing what they’ve observed with them, encouraging them to write down what they’ve learned about other cultures, and pointing them towards age-appropriate materials where they could learn more about them.
Strengthen Language Skills Early
If your child only partially understands the language that the school teaches in, they could end up behind in their subjects because they have to learn the language well enough first. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start working on their language skills early. If it’s a language that you speak, you could set up a productive home-school environment and teach them a little each day. You could also hire a tutor or send them to a language camp.
You should make sure that they learn vocabulary that relates to the subjects they will be learning in school. For example, a typical English course won’t feature much scientific terminology, but they will need to know it to study science in school.
Visit the School Together
There are always going to be a few first-day jitters, but a lot of this is caused by not knowing what to expect and worrying about getting lost, especially if it is their first time at a large school. Taking them to see the school can remove much of this stress. You can do this in-person at an open day or by booking a tour, or by taking a look at videos and photo galleries on the school’s website.
As you look around, test your child’s knowledge of the school’s geography. For example, you could ask them to describe where the science department is, or how to get there from the main entrance. This will then be one less thing for them to remember on their first day, making the transition easier.
Get Them Into a Routine
International schools often have longer school days than local schools, either because they follow another country’s system or because they provide extra classes for language support.
It’s sensible to start getting your child into a routine before they attend the school, especially if their current wake-up time is much later than they will need to be up if they’re going to get to school on time.
Conclusion
When it comes to international schools in Thailand and other countries, there’s a lot of variety in terms of their focus, subjects, and teaching methods. However, these tips can help your child smoothly transition into international education, no matter which school you choose.
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