For some parents and children, the education we offer is very unusual. Questioning your teacher – respectfully – is encouraged. Making mistakes – provided you learn from them – is applauded. Trying new things – music, sports, theatre, debating – alongside ‘academic’ subjects is celebrated. Our expectations are high, but so too is the quality of our teaching and care.
And the education seems even more unusual when you don’t speak a word of English.
However, as hundreds of happy Thai parents at Regents International School Pattaya can testify, once those difficulties have been overcome, your child has so much to gain.
Here, we explain what we at Regents do to help new students to cope with the move to international school.
1. We will get to know your child as an individual
As part of our entrance procedure, we will undertake a face-to-face assessment of your child so that we can understand their strengths and weaknesses. That way, when they eventually start at the school we already have a very good idea of their personality and what support they will need.
2. We will get to understand your expectations as a parent
Great education is about teachers and parents working in partnership. So initial meetings with you (with translators on hand if necessary) will be designed to ensure that we understand your child to the best of our ability.
3. We can help your child to prepare for the start of school
Where there is a gap of weeks or even months between your child applying for a place at Regents and starting here, we will provide exercises and activities for them to try before they arrive.
4. We will make a gentle start with them
Over the first few days at school, your child will focus on classroom activities which don’t require knowledge of English, like music, sport and computing. We will also introduce them immediately to our small group intensive English lessons for beginners. In this way, we will help them to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.
Ultimately, what we must all remember is that children are on the whole incredibly adaptable. In those first few days and weeks, of course it will be hard for a child who is new to international school. But children are incredibly resilient and the ability to handle difficult, confusing situations is something which will serve them very well when they eventually move on from school to start a career.