What is an international school?
April 25, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
EXPATRIATES new to Shanghai often remark on its internationalism: this city, many say, feels like New York or London. They marvel at the East-West blend, noticeable in the architecture, the cuisine and the people. It's old news for seasoned expats, but new-to-Shanghai parents are sometimes surprised to see this global mix reflected in international school populations.
While some international schools remain rooted to a national curriculum, other international schools in Shanghai and around the world are changing their curricula in response to this global mix, fuelled in part by the demands of an increasingly international world, and partly as a result of rethinking standard Western curricula in the wake of outstanding performance by students from places like China and Singapore.
For some international schools, the rethinking of the curriculum started early: "The question I began asking in the 1980s was, 'what is an international school?" says Dr Betty Chan, director of Yew Chung International Schools (YCIS).
"It seemed evident," she continues, "that (the international schools of the day) were just national schools in an international context …. but I felt an international school should provide an international education."
Dr Chan went on to develop the Yew Chung curriculum, integrating best practices and concepts of the East and West, and focusing on bilingual English and Chinese dual language learning.
Today, the YCIS philosophy of creating fully rounded and balanced students, with the ability to speak multiple languages, challenged by a rigorous, world-class academic program and engaged with their host country, manifests itself in students like Year 13 student Celest Dines.
Confident and thoughtful, Dines speaks four languages and has a charming accent that can only be described as "global." You detect a trace of her Australian father, and even a little of her Spanish mother, overlaid with the myriad accents of friends from around the world that have created this unique blend. Dines, who has studied at Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS Shanghai) since Year 2, lights up when speaking of this remarkable international diversity. "Seven of us were on a World Classroom trip, and we realized that there were 10 nationalities between us! At YCIS, we're all different, which is the norm."
As she talks, Dines peppers her speech with Chinese concepts and perfect, accentless Mandarin, always pausing to make sure the listener understands. It becomes clear that this graciousness comes from a wide exposure to different cultures.
"Here (at school), you appreciate the similarities and differences from a wide variety of different cultures, and you learn how to interact with people in a way that is sensitive to their culture."
Dines' engagement with China is effortless, whether in conversing with her neighbors, helping a friend bargain, or buying the ingredients for dumplings in the local market. She laughs as she relates the attention she receives as a fluent Chinese-speaking foreigner: "When I go to the wet market on an errand for my Aunty (ayi), I always have to stop and tell people my story: where I'm from and how is it that I speak Chinese!"
Beyond language and culture, Dines also exhibits another aspect of the international education at YCIS: global thinking characterized by an inquisitive attitude, a desire to serve the community, a consistent ethical standard and respect for diversity.
For Dines, that means planning to study biomedicine and Chinese at university. For other YCIS graduates, that means pursuing excellence in a wide range of interesting fields: from studying international relations at Stanford to pursuing a joint degree in Biology, History and the Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds, to enrolling at the Royal Academy of Music to study composition.
In a recent article, 2011 valedictorian Gabriella Rader wrote about why she took classes outside of her major in medicine at the University of California, Berkeley: "… My future isn't just medicine. I realize that I have a huge spectrum of interests and there is no reason why I shouldn't pursue all of them. I need to experience things like creative writing, public policy and student government … to become a well-rounded person."
Students like Radar and Dines illustrate the benefits of the rethinking of international education, a rethinking that will serve students well as they enter an increasingly globalized world.
While some international schools remain rooted to a national curriculum, other international schools in Shanghai and around the world are changing their curricula in response to this global mix, fuelled in part by the demands of an increasingly international world, and partly as a result of rethinking standard Western curricula in the wake of outstanding performance by students from places like China and Singapore.
For some international schools, the rethinking of the curriculum started early: "The question I began asking in the 1980s was, 'what is an international school?" says Dr Betty Chan, director of Yew Chung International Schools (YCIS).
"It seemed evident," she continues, "that (the international schools of the day) were just national schools in an international context …. but I felt an international school should provide an international education."
Dr Chan went on to develop the Yew Chung curriculum, integrating best practices and concepts of the East and West, and focusing on bilingual English and Chinese dual language learning.
Today, the YCIS philosophy of creating fully rounded and balanced students, with the ability to speak multiple languages, challenged by a rigorous, world-class academic program and engaged with their host country, manifests itself in students like Year 13 student Celest Dines.
Confident and thoughtful, Dines speaks four languages and has a charming accent that can only be described as "global." You detect a trace of her Australian father, and even a little of her Spanish mother, overlaid with the myriad accents of friends from around the world that have created this unique blend. Dines, who has studied at Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS Shanghai) since Year 2, lights up when speaking of this remarkable international diversity. "Seven of us were on a World Classroom trip, and we realized that there were 10 nationalities between us! At YCIS, we're all different, which is the norm."
As she talks, Dines peppers her speech with Chinese concepts and perfect, accentless Mandarin, always pausing to make sure the listener understands. It becomes clear that this graciousness comes from a wide exposure to different cultures.
"Here (at school), you appreciate the similarities and differences from a wide variety of different cultures, and you learn how to interact with people in a way that is sensitive to their culture."
Dines' engagement with China is effortless, whether in conversing with her neighbors, helping a friend bargain, or buying the ingredients for dumplings in the local market. She laughs as she relates the attention she receives as a fluent Chinese-speaking foreigner: "When I go to the wet market on an errand for my Aunty (ayi), I always have to stop and tell people my story: where I'm from and how is it that I speak Chinese!"
Beyond language and culture, Dines also exhibits another aspect of the international education at YCIS: global thinking characterized by an inquisitive attitude, a desire to serve the community, a consistent ethical standard and respect for diversity.
For Dines, that means planning to study biomedicine and Chinese at university. For other YCIS graduates, that means pursuing excellence in a wide range of interesting fields: from studying international relations at Stanford to pursuing a joint degree in Biology, History and the Philosophy of Science at the University of Leeds, to enrolling at the Royal Academy of Music to study composition.
In a recent article, 2011 valedictorian Gabriella Rader wrote about why she took classes outside of her major in medicine at the University of California, Berkeley: "… My future isn't just medicine. I realize that I have a huge spectrum of interests and there is no reason why I shouldn't pursue all of them. I need to experience things like creative writing, public policy and student government … to become a well-rounded person."
Students like Radar and Dines illustrate the benefits of the rethinking of international education, a rethinking that will serve students well as they enter an increasingly globalized world.
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