any advice?

[a]

My son has been attending one of the local pre-schools for almost a year now. I can say that I am quite satisfied except that I have noticed that he has been getting used to the expression "Is it?"

Most of the time, it is wrongly used. One example is: "Is it we're going to the zoo ?" instead of "Are we going to the zoo?" My husband says this is obviously very Singaporean.  I am now thinking of transferring him to an International School.
However, I am told that most of the international schools put emphasis on the social development rather than the academic dev't of the children. This puts me in a dilemma. We would eventually be going back to our own country where the schools' emphasis is usually on the academic dev't of the kids, I am afraid my son would not be able to cope if he studies in an international school. On the other hand, listening to his wrong grammar pains me. Any advice?

[Mumof2]

my kids are at international school and I have to say that I'm very happy with it.  they are both learning quickly and the school seems to be on a par with the school they were at back home.  I don't think international schools place emphasis on social rather than academic learning at all (who told you that?).  They have a mixture of kids of all nationalities and they still pick up accents and phrases, but not to the extent they probably would at a mainly Singaporean school.  I think if your child stays at the school, it is inevitable that he'll pick up the accent and the sayings, just as he would if he was at a school in the middle of New York or London or somewhere

[i agree]

with a.....  

My daughter 2 yrs old attends the local childcare and has started to speak like the locals!

She starts the sentence "cannot cry" and says "I finished drinking water already"!

[also can!]

My kids have attended 2 different international schools here and I too am a bit confused when you say that the int. schools focus on social rather than academic dev.  Sure in the very early nursery years they learn more about sharing and following routines than algebra, but surely that is age appropriate.  The teaching methods at international schools for the early   years may be play based but they are learning their basics along the way.  No reason phonics and numeracy can't be fun.  I personally think that if early learning is fun and accessable then you're fostering a love for learning that worksheets and rote learning will never achieve.

2 cents please!!

[kathvit]

My son also attends a local nursery, and has a local accent.

I'm not too worried about it, I figure if he were in Australia he'd pick up an Australian accent, and if in America an American etc etc.

When we go back to our home country (if we ever figure out what that is!!) I'm sure he'll pick up the "correct way" to speak.

As for the difference between social and academic:  I think a lot of local nurserys focus on writing and reading skills:  worksheets, tracing etc.  International kindergartens focus on play, sand play water play story time etc.  While there is this element in local schools as well (especially the private ones) it is less than in the international schools

good luck

[localmum]

We do not say "Is it we are going to the zoo?"

I know what you mean. My colleagues and I faced similar problems. The only difference is, as locals, we cannot and can't afford to send our children to pre-schools meant for the expats.

The local pre-school teachers are not well-educated. If you take a look at Singapore's education system, the best do not become teachers (except the minority on teaching scolarship). Graduates who decided to join the teaching profession, are usually those who are unable to get jobs after graduation. These graduates after their training in NIE, are posted to primary schools, secondary schools and those who graduated with honours are posted to junior colleges.

Minimum qualification for pre-school teachers are GCE N'levels. In other words, most graduate parents speak and write better English than these pre-school teachers.

Sigh! We wonder if it is worth sending our children to these people at all!

[kathvit]

To local mum

It's not only the locals that can't afford these pre-schools, there are a lot of foreigners here that can't either.  Consequently, we send our kids to the local pre-school.   There are some good ones!