Figuring out how best to educate your children abroad is never easy. We tackle the subject in our new article, “Should You Enroll Your Child in a Local School Abroad?”
Local schools can be either public or private, but often are the least favored option by American expats. But Becky Morales, founder of Kid World Citizen, says that they may be your best option if you’re looking for a true cultural immersion experience in your new country.
Becky knows what she’s talking about. Her company teaches kids about the world and she’s a former expat and educator.
We ask her if the local school education option is realistic for most expat families. “I think it depends on the age and the language ability,” Morales says. “It is definitely easier for kids before puberty. I know this from living abroad and teaching English as a second language. After one year kids are already conversing, even if they only speak English at home. If you have a teenager who speaks no other language, though, jumping into a high school that does not have any English access is going to be a really hard situation. Not undoable, but difficult.”
A child’s personality also plays a part in determining readiness for a local school experience. Morales says shy or introverted students have a more difficult time adjusting. “It’s going to help if they either know someone in the class and can make a connection or if you can become friends with some of the parents and invite them over to your house to build a relationship outside of school,” she says. “More outgoing kids are going to find friends very quickly and start communicating.”
Morales offers a little advice to parents considering placing their child in a local school: “Try and be as relaxed as you can and just have a sense of humor. Roll with the punches and you will have a fantastic experience.”
You can view an edited version of my interview with Becky on our MYIA YouTube channel.
For more information on the local school experience, read our article “Educating Your Children in Marrakesh.”
