Local school dilemma

[pombal]

Has anyone who lives in a non English speaking country put DC into local school for 2 years then back to International school without it being a total car crash?

So DC currently 9 and a half did pre school in local language (Latin language not Mandarin or anything like that).
Then they went to international school for Y1 and are still there.

Very happy, doing well, lots of friends.

I thought we could maintain/ develop local language with clubs/ activities etc.

It hasn't happened.

I now have a DC who was born here, can understand everything but can't speak local language, won't speak or interact with local children out of fear.

Do I put them back into local school for a few years (or longer if it works out) or persevere with extra lessons / activities?

Looking to hear experiences from anyone who has done this at a similar age or kept on with international school and managed to get DC speaking local language.

It would help if you say where you are and which curriculum your international school uses.
Some countries have local schools which push ahead academically, where I am it is like this and would be possible. Where I am also it's normal for 8 year olds to go to school with friends, whereas if you were in the international schools around us, some parents would consider it neglect. Where I am it would also be very hard to become fluent in the local languages, but in other places it might be easier.

I don't really want to say where I am as I've recognized people that live here before on the forums.

Schools here both local and international aren't particularly academic or pushy.
Parents that want that send their kids back to UK for boarding school at 13+

I think it depends where you are too. I have friends who are English and and who have sent their dd to International schools in two different countries. Her command of the second language and integration worked in one country but not in the other.

Also some international schools are not truly international. My local one just repeats things in English if a pupil requests it apparently and there is segregation between different communities.

Mine aren't school age yet but I face the same dilemma and the more similar threads I read the more I'm convinced local schools are the answer if you all intend to stay put.

The international schools here follow the U.K. curriculum and students do IGCSE and A Levels, they are like non selective private schools back home I guess.

Like I said the DC do activities in local language but after 4 years of that I don't really see much improvement.

I just really want to know if anyone has transitioned to local school at the end of primary and was it awful?

Everyone always asks where are they going to live in the future.
I can't answer,but it will be influenced by where they go to school now.

If they go through the international system their future is more likely to be UK.

Sorry, also answering without having done what you describe but moving kids about so often (just moving for a few years) without physically moving house sounds a bad idea and likely to do more harm than good.

Does your 9yo have friends at international school who they'll be likely to drift away from?

Mine have always been in local school and preschool and belong in the local community more than I ever did in the UK when my parents sent me to private school and the local kids saw that as "thinking you're better" and wouldn't play with us - being sent to brownies didn't integrate us, it was just a mild form of torture as the other girls ignored us or sniggered at our non local accents (all English speaking just a local accent we never developed...). So it's no wonder token local activities don't truly integrate international school children.

We don't really do the ex pat thing but international school children I know of do speak the language fairly well generally but not as native speakers, just at upper intermediate level generally - which is still better than UK educated kids, but a far cry from immersion. The advantage is the flexibility to move back to the UK or other international posting.

I think you need to pick one route now and whole heartedly commit with no plan to flip flop between systems every few years.

drinkingtea that's actually a really helpful post.
I think you are right about the flip flopping.

It's just a shame the local system is so difficult.
My youngest DC is at local school and is 7. They have come home today at 5:30 with 9 pages of maths, 3 pages of science and have to write a short story for homework this week :(

Given what else you written I d for local and consider UK state boarding perhaps to perfect written English at end of school life

Your situation seems quite difficult as the education system there sounds quite tough and unforgiving so it might be difficult for your 9 year old to make the change. However, I think if you are going to change to local school you should do it as soon as possible.

We were in an area with no International schools so had no choice in the matter. DS went to the local school at 10 and was fluent very quickly, those that joined at 12 or 13 struggled and , in extreme cases, even dropped out. He moved into secondary education with relative ease and left with the equivalent of A levels before returning to the UK to attend university (his choice). He now teaches MFL in the UK.
He did take IGCSE in English after some private tuition with a recently retired English teacher (gaining anA*)as we knew that the level of English as taught as a second/third language in local school would be totally insufficient. It made things much easier, both when he applied to university and when he did his PGCE at Oxford as there was no need for a proficiency test.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for your reply fussychica.
It's good to know it's possible to make a successful transition at 10.

I agree any later is very risky.
I have also seen children arrive and go to local school at 13+ and it never goes well.

It would be difficult for my 9 year old to change, it might mean being held back a year.

The children all have a nice time in international school and local is tougher (although not better) for sure, but when I see my DC in the park unable to speak or play with local children their own age it makes me sad.

It's interesting to hear that your son ended up working in the UK, because I also think that if the DC are going to have to go there for jobs (very possible) why not keep them international, let them enjoy school.

Am always so conflicted about this :(

I don't think being held back a year at this stage would have any repercussions on their entry to higher education later as it would most likely be considered a language issue which would be understandable in the circumstances.
DS was never interested in attending university abroad or working overseas, odd really. As a language student he did his year abroad in two countries where he had not been educated. He enjoyed it but so far has never considered returning to any of the 3 countries where he speaks the language. If you think they might return to the UK to work due to the local economy there may be no point in forcing a change just to pick up the language. Obviously, it would be lovely for your DC to become fluent in the language where you live but it sounds like changing schools soon is the only way and as you say that might make them very unhappy. Tough choice but one you need to make soon.
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Is it wise to have your 9 year old in an English school when he s growing up in a country with another language when you have your 7 year old in a local school in the local language? It is not surprising the 9 year old refuses to speak the local language as he sees his sibling has an advantage over him and he is aware he is different to local children?

Homework often brings stress to parents if the thought of homework from local school is clouding your judgement. Might be worth not looking at younger child's homework

My DD was born here, (Spain) goes to local school.

The international schools in my area are generally poor and very expensive.

Yes, she gets lots of homework. I would say is currently far ahead of UK.

I order English curriculum books on Amazon and make sure she is at correct level at home, in English.

She speaks perfect English, Spanish and local language. (and passable French)

DD is 9 btw.
I give her work to do in the 'English' lessons at school and she just gets on with it.

pombal I agree with fussy that being held back a year at 9 is utterly irrelevant by the time you are applying for higher education (though I'm not sure that is what you're worried about? Is it more about being with his same age peers?).

Is being held back or repeating a year common in your local education system? Where we are there is a wide age range in any class - in my 9 yo's class there are children who are still 8 and children who are already 10, for example. In my 11 year old's class she is the youngest and the eldest has already turned 13. Being older seems to be an advantage and the children (so far) my young for her year child often says she wishes she were not the youngest but my older for his year child has never seen any disadvantages, social or otherwise, about being one of the older ones. Its the young for her year one I worry about in the near future, when she's 14 and has 16 year old classmates allowed to buy beer (here) and ride 50cc scooters...

Thank you for all your replies.
I'm sorry I haven't been back to the thread, this is just a big cause of stress and upset for me at the moment as DH and I aren't on the same page with schools at all :(

Like some of you who have posted above choices are limited where we are as we're not near a big city.

I spoke to DH about moving 9 yo back to local school and he won't hear of it.

My children are going to grow up and live in a different country from us, it makes me so sad.

Ask your husband why the 7 year old is in a local school and the 9 year old is not? Without knowing you, it seems very unfair on the 9 year old and it seems your husband is deliberately ensuring your 9 year old will grow up an outsider in his own country and so disadvantaged compared to younger sibling. Surely you as a parent has the right to remove the 9 year old from the private school?

Why is the international school not equipping kids who are there longterm to speak the local language fluently?

cannot the little one will move to international in September- both DC have done preschool in local then moved.

MrsKlugscheisser they do give lessons in local language and get children through gcse and A level in local language but this doesn't translate to fluency.

I guess if you got to A level and then did a summer job here you would have a reasonable level. I'm hoping this is the case so DC have the choice to live here.

If they were to choose not to live here I would be ok with that, I just don't want them not to have the option.

DH and I have had another school based disagreement today.
He just won't agree to local school.

What will you do if ever you lose the income that pays for private school?

I ve seen it happen plenty of times.

lifeinsun I've seen it too and if the DC are 13+ it's can be a total nightmare :(

Sorry lifeisunjust misread your name.