About Canadian International School Admissions Assessment...

Anyone have experience with Canadian International School? Is it very difficult to get in? Does someone know what will the admission assessment doing?

My son just 3 and I want to send him to their Reception class next year.

Appreciate your comments. :thanks

Is the kid native english speaker ?

My son (now 5) has studied in CDNIS since Reception. As far as I know, the interview for Reception level is just an observation session in which children are engaged in free play and some structured activities. Teachers (probably 1 English-speaking and 1 Mandarin-speaking) will observe the children's interaction with them as well as their peers. If the child doesn't perform well in the first interview, a second chance will usually be given if (s)he is considered to have potential (judged by language ability and personality). Hope this helps.

Linda

Linda
thanks for the reply. I am so worry about the interview because my son is a very shy boy.

Vrindavan
my son is a native speaker of English and he holds the Canadian Passport.

Glossimar,
I think for shy kids, getting them familiarized with the environment could help ease their mind. As CDNIS offers school tours regularly, you may consider taking your child there a few times before the interview.
Linda

My son is turning 4 this May, and got accepted to CDNIS reception class 2007/2008.

We applied for the pre-reception class two yrs ago, and went to the interview. We are Canadian, and he speaks English, attending international kindergarten. When he attended the interview last yr, he cried because I had to leave the classroom. He still couldn't overcome seperation anxiety at that time. As far as I knew, kids will be divided into groups, and stay with the teacher for 30 mins. They mainly let them play some toys, ask them questions relating to toys, such as colour, shape, animals, food...etc.
My son was very shy, cried and failed, and we went to the office to arrange a second interview one month later. In the second interview, my son went to the classroom very happily, and stayed inside for around 40 mins.
Although he didn't cry in the second interview, he failed the test. We had a short evaluation with the teacher, and they were very helpful explaining his situation to me. I think the main problem that my son had at that time was the communication and seperation anxiety. Although he knew English, he was shy and didn't speak up with new friends and new environment.

We re-applied and went to interview again this year. His performance was much better, willing to speakup, didn't cry...etc, and we received letter last wk informing us he got admitted to CDNIS this coming Sept. I asked my son what he did inside the classroom during the 45 mins interview . He said he drew and wrote his name. The teacher asked for his name, age. He said he played lego. He said there were two boys (including him) and 1 girl inside the room, and the girl cried.

In fact, we did lots of preparation with our son before attending the interview this yr.

good luck to u.

Dear L'est Rose,

May I know what preparation did you do to help your son speak up?

Our daughter is very shy too and she won't speak up in front of others.

My son is quite shy and not willing to speak up as well. He usually takes lots of time to warm up.

1. In the past yrs, I arranged different activities after school, so that he got chances to meet different people in different places. Some are playgroups while he can play. some are 'classes' that require him to follow instruction and concentration.

2. Take him to toy library occasionally, so that he is willing to take some books and toys by himself and play. I did this because when he went to the first interview last yr, he just stood there and didn't get toys to play, while the interview teacher was observing him.

3. Few months ago, after he started K1, I always 'brain wash' him that he was a big boy now, not a bb anymore.

4. He saw small kids crying in nursery class, and he cried in the first wk of K1 school term. Now, he understood he was a 'big boy' and only bb will cry in school.

5. I think as he grows up, he got peer pressure as well. No classmates mothers can go into the classroom in school, that's why if I stayed inside the classroom, it's very very strange. After he understood this, I asked him many times before the interview..."can Mommy go into the classroom during the interview", he would answer 'no'.

6. Few months before the interview, I always emphasized it's polite to behave, and when teacher asked him question, he needed to answer.
After telling him for several months, it's like a 'mind set' or 'rule' inside his little brain.

7. Three months before, I practiced with him at home;
When the teacher asked u....you have to answer....such as..
what is your name? how old are u ? what food do u like to eat? where do u like to go ? what do u do on wkends ?.....
After the interview, he told me the teacher did ask him the name and age, but 'no food'.

8. My son spent his summer holidays in Canada, attending playgroups in the past 2 yrs. we needed to fill in 'past school record' in the application form; I am not sure whether this experience would help, but at least just try.

9. I took him to site visit (outside the CDNIS building) several times before interview.

10. Two days before interview, he cried when arrived, and refused to get off the car, and kept on saying "I don't want to go....I want to go home....". My husband and I were shock !!! After this, I used some essential oils which can calm him emotions, bring happiness, positive thinking...etc.

11. On the interview day, I made use of essential oils as well; his mood, performance, behaviour....was out of expectation, perfect. even my husband and I were surprised as well.

12. In most of the playgroups, we attended together. In Jap class, I am not allowed to stay inside. In the first two lessons, I stayed with him. In the third lesson, I didn't stay and he cried like crazy when I left. But after the teacher closed the door, he stopped crying and started to play after 3 mins. I think the hardest part is the 'seperation moment', once he overcame, it's ok. In French class, he cried for 30 mins....now he enjoyed the class.

i think the most important is for a child to be "exposed" - play with other kids more, see different people & interact with them, ppl of different race & color (caucasians, black, indian, etc). in order to do that, play classes help, cos there are so many ppl in the play classes, like my gym, jwt, kindermusik, etc.