Entry Guide: Educating Children Abroad
One of the many challenges of living overseas is how to educate your children. In the modern era, we have many more choices available to us than ever before: international schools, boarding schools, local national schools, online virtual schools and homeschools. How do we decide what is best? Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
International schools are usually located in big cities and provide an all around American school experience in English with in-person classes, certified teachers, grades, team sports, and even extracurricular activities. Advanced placement (AP) classes and testing, along with the certification to give PSAT/SAT tests, are also usually offered. Socrates claimed, “I can not teach anyone anything. I can only make them think.” Discuss and decide your family’s education goals beforehand and investigate to see if the goals of the international school in your host city match yours. Tuition rates can be expensive, although if multiple children from the same family attend discounted rates might apply. Often these schools entrench a family strongly in that one city and friendships are strengthened among the expat community.
International School Options:
https://world-schools.com/the-best-international-schools-in-the-world/
Accreditation Resource for International Schools:
https://www.cois.org/for-schools/international-accreditation
BOARDING SCHOOLS
Boarding schools still exist in parts of Asia and Africa. Boarding schools offer all the amenities of an international school except the student also resides at the school, often in a different country than the one the parents are living in. This is usually considered the most expensive option.
Boarding School List:
https://world-schools.com/the-best-boarding-schools-in-asia/
LOCAL SCHOOLS
Local schools allow for children to learn first-hand your host country’s national language and culture and make friends with locals. It is good to remember that children observe much and understanding happens quicker than the production of sounds. As a Chinese proverb states: “Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid of only standing still.” Together you and your child will have a unique inside perspective on your host country and their education system, teacher-student relationship, discipline, nutrition/health, and childhood hopes. However, due to different cultural values, they may be exposed to: communist ideology, public shaming as a basis to motivate learning, historical prejudices, feigned threats to maintain classroom order, extra expectations due to being a foreigner, or the value of memorization/copying over creative/independent thinking. Also, if your child exhibits bad behavior, the teacher may not inform you. Being aware of these issues and observant of your child will help you in navigating the unfamiliar and unknown.
ONLINE SCHOOLS
Online schools vary in cost and scope. There are fully online virtual schools, pay per class, self-paced learning, and live class options. Internet reliability varies in the places adventurers dare to go, so check out your destination’s internet options. As long as you have good internet access, a reliable computer, printer/scanner and in some cases a VPN, these schools can be accessed. The child or the parent should be a proficient typist and able to problem solve technical computer issues. For each class, the parent is responsible for purchasing and acquiring all the required textbooks, books, materials and equipment. Whether traveling or freely moving locations, school can go where you go. More and more e-textbooks and e-books are available to rent or purchase online for a truly mobile experience! Other benefits include: accredited teachers, advanced schooling, such as AP classes and high school/college dual credit courses, due-dates, grading and sometimes accredited transcripts. Higher level science lab classes are less than optimal, if done virtually. If you are American, investigate to see if your state has a free virtual school available for residents. Some high-schoolers flourish in this drama-free, quiet atmosphere, finding ample space to explore creative pursuits and varied interests. Others struggle with loneliness, isolation, or staying alert, especially if there is little to no teacher/student interaction. Once again, knowing your child is key.
List of accredited online schools: https://www.state.gov/family-liaison-office/education-and-youth/homeschooling-and-online-education/ and scroll down to the accredited distance learning programs.
HOME EDUCATION
Home educating requires a parent to be hands-on, choose appropriate curriculum, purchase and pack books before leaving the home country. You are “not a teacher, but an awakener,” so strive to “awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Robert Frost, Albert Einstein. In this joyous endeavor, there is a wide range of excellent materials, including books about different homeschooling philosophies. As the principal of your own home-run school, you set the desired goals, expectations, daily schedule, and learning atmosphere. Know and comply with your country or state’s legal homeschooling laws. Don’t overlook imparting needed high school skills: note-taking, timed test taking, time management (through assignment due-dates), typing/computer coding and study methods. Again, higher level science lab classes are less than optimal if done only with basic kitchen materials. Annual standardized test are a great way to access your child’s progress and to reveal problem areas. For a fee, some international schools administer AP and PSAT/SAT tests to homeschoolers. Homeschooling allows for great flexibility but requires copious amounts of time, patience, and planning.
Be willing to be flexible and adjust. You might find yourself choosing different options for different children during different years. Also, depending on the willingness of the school, you can combine multiple options: In the younger years, many families negotiate half-day local school, half-day homeschool. In middle school, some homeschool but add a few online subjects—classes that are especially challenging to teach or that the student finds particularly fascinating.
Note: Check legal requirements for your state of residency. (hslda.org/legal)
Whatever your educational decision may be, you and your family have embarked on a remarkable journey together to explore the varied pages of this incredible world! In the words of Augustine of Hippo: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” No matter what situation you find yourself in—the unique people you meet, the new foods you try, the colorful religious festivities you observe—be fully present. Join in the wonder of the moment as learners and prepare to experience the amazing. Therein lies the most valuable life lessons, which no classroom can teach.