Seoul, South Korea Report of what it's like to live there - 05/03/15
Personal Experiences from Seoul, South Korea
School Name:
Starters Preschool
Background Information:
1. Are you the parent of a child(ren) attending this school? A teacher at the school? Or both?
Parent
2. What grade or grades do/did your children attend at the school? During what year(s) did they attend the school?
Pre-K, though this private kindergarten goes up to age 6 or 7, typical in Korean schooling.
3. During what years were you affiliated with this school?
2014-2015
4. What was your reason for living in the city where the school is located (e.g., government, military, corporate, NGO, retired)?
Military
5. Are other schools available to expatriates in this city? Why did you choose this particular school?
Good reputation and curriculum in Korean language was desirable for child to learn a second language.
Admissions & Welcome:
1. Are the admissions and placement procedures clearly stated to prospective families, either on the school website or through other means of communication?
Relatively standard. Kindergarten in Korea is pretty competitive, so it really depends if the school has availability when you arrive or are ready for school. School year starts in January, but I was able to start my child in October since there was an opening.
2. How would you rate the school's support and welcome/integration of new students and their families, and why?
B/C- The staff is great and nice, but only a few of the teachers speak English, so it is very difficult to maneuver when most of the monthly newsletter with the schedule and activities are all in Korean. Currently, there are a handful of American families, and sometimes we get together to translate the newsletter, which really helps. Again, teachers are nice, but due to language barrier, assistance might not be provided immediately.
Administration & School Procedures:
1. Describe the general climate of the grade level that you teach or your child attends:
Similar to Pre-K and Kinder levels of American schools.
2. For the following attributes, down to the next blank box, grade your experience at the school on a scale of A (excellent) to F (unacceptable/terrible) and provide comments:<br><br>Overall fair and equitable treatment of all students and families:
A- great
3. How is the overall communication between teachers and parents, and the administration and parents? How is communication facilitated?
Weekly notebook where parents and teachers can write to each other. Proves difficult if main teacher only writes in Korean. You can set up a parent-teacher meeting face-to-face if desired.
4. Aside from school fees, are there required expenses such as uniforms, laptops/tablets, musical instruments, or field trips that parents are expected to cover? What are the approximate costs?
Compared to other kindergartens I interviewed, most of the cost is included in the monthly fee. There is a yearly registration fee, and additional fees that can come up are uniform, school photos, or costume rental for yearly recital. Some things are mandatory and some are optional.
5. Services for gifted students who need academic challenge and students with learning difficulties:
Unsure, but if Korean is not a native language, it will probably be very challenging.
6. Availability and variety of after-school activities for various ages:
There are few activities after school, such as Ballet or Taekwondo once or twice a week.
7. Maintenance of appropriately high standards for all students:
Comparable to America.
8. Homework assigned (quality, quantity):
Once a week - a Korean book.
9. Administration-parent communication:
Monthly newsletter for parent and case-by-case basis.
10. Teacher-student communication:
Fine.
11. Academics, answer the following questions "yes" or "no" with an explanation if appropriate:<br><br>Are there any classes or subjects where students are not appropriately challenged?
No. Physical education might not seem adequate compared to American sports, but it is fine for younger children; they learn to play together, take turns, and patience. If children were older, I would prefer to add an extra-curricular sport activity just for socialization and more teamwork experience.
12. Does your child receive any special-needs assistance or instruction at this school? If yes, what types? Who provides services and where:
Not really, though I think sometimes the teacher gives my child a little more time to understand Korean. More of as necessary rather than a regular meeting.
13. Do you believe the special-needs assistance is appropriate and fills your needs? Explain:
As for my child with language, it is fine for class, but we try to practice more Korean at home. Outside tutoring would help, but I feel that is too much work for my child at this time. As for other special-needs, I am not sure.
14. Does the gifted and talented program meet the needs of students? Please explain:
15. Does the school offer a wide variety of elective or non-core classes such as art, music, and drama?
No, just one curriculum that includes a variety of set activities. There are a few after-school classes kids may take for additional charge.
16. Please describe any classes or programs that you believe are missing:
None.
17. Are there academic requirements such as trips or other activities that cost money in addition to school fees?
Yes, uniform, school photos, costume rental for the yearly dance recital.
18. What activities do you feel are missing?
None.
19. Have your children participated in the activities offered? If no, please indicate why:
Yes.
20. Does the school provide appropriate assistance to new students?
Not really any extra assistance, but will give when needed.
21. Please describe any problem areas or challenges in social interaction at the school:
None.
Academics & Resources:
1. What personal or academic counseling resources are available at this school? Is there a dedicated college counselor at the school? Is he/she familiar with universities worldwide?
Teacher lets parents know of any issues, ie. behavior in class. Hopefully that communications proves sufficient to correct or minimize behavior in class.
2. Does the school have a library? How large is it? How updated are the books? Can students borrow books to read at home?
No, though the 5-year-old class has a Korean book homework every weekend, borrowed from their "class library."
3. How are information technology resources at the school. Are they up-to-date? Is there a computer lab?
I believe a little bit, but it is not the focus.
4. Describe the physical education resources at the school. Is there a gym? A swimming pool? Are there playing fields or tennis courts available?
B- They have a good range of activities that introduce them to new sports. However, most of these are done in a small indoor location. Not comparable to large fields and courts in America.
5. What is the approximate teacher-to-student ratio in the grades that your child attended?
Depends on class. About 1 teacher for 10-15 children. Sometimes they split up a class and do two activities, then switch, so the ratio is cut in half.
6. Are Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses available in upper grades? If this is an IB school, is the full diploma required of all students?
No
7. Is the amount and type of homework generally appropriate for the age and grade of the students?
Yes.
8. What fine arts electives are available (music, drama, visual arts)?
A- They love to vary activities, including cooking once a month, various sports or dance every day, art, and at least a monthly field trip to an off-school activity, should the weather allow. They also have big school activities that invite families a few times a year.
9. Are the teachers at the school required to speak English as a first language--or at least fluently?
Depends. Age 3-4 class is 90% Korean and an English teacher comes in for about 45 minutes a day to teach some basic English. Age 5 class is 50% Korean, 50% English. Age 6-7 I think has even more English. Usually there is a separate teacher that teaches English apart from the main Korean classroom teacher.
10. What services are available for gifted/advanced students at the school? Please describe your experience with these services, if applicable.
No.
11. What extra-curricular activities (including sports) are available at this school? Have your children participated in these activities? What activities do you feel are missing at the school?
Not much.
Social & Emotional Well-Being:
1. Do expatriate students socialize with local students at the school? Are both groups successfully integrated into the school culture?
No, unless there is an out-of-school field trip or activity.
2. Are there are any problems with exclusionary behavior, cliques, or bullying at this school? Please describe any problems your children may have experienced in this area.
It does get challenging for my child not knowing Korean, but she has learned a lot of phrases and has made friends. She is also very outgoing, but I can see this being a large issue with more introverted American children who do not speak Korean. I think it can still work, but will require a lot of patience, emotional support, and language learning.
Overall Impressions:
1. What is the greatest strength of this school?
Introduction of many activities to the children. Things we may not focus on or have a chance at in America, such as instrument hour with local Korean drums, TaeKwonDo classes for everyone, and cooking Kimchi. School is also very safe, and the staff cares very much.
2. Greatest challenge?
Language barrier.
3. Would you choose this school again? Why?
Yes, it has been a rewarding challenge both for my child and for me as the non Korean-speaking parent to have to learn some Korean to interact with my child's teachers. My child enjoys it and gets excited by all the activities they do. My child has learned a lot from hands-on activities, which in my opinion is the best way my child learns.
