Finding the right school is a decision that’s never failed to strike terror in the heart of any parent. Anyone who’s been through the experience knows how daunting it can be. If it’s your turn and you’re checking out high school options for your kids, here are top ten tips to help you navigate through the process much easier.
Identify Their Needs
What do your kids need? Do they require a little help with their math assignments? If your kids are academically gifted, what kind of curriculum suits them best? What can provide them with the academic challenges they need to grow and develop even further?
Know Their Learning Style
Kids have different learning styles. That is, there’s one learning style to which they respond the most. What is it? Are they visual learners or kinesthetic learners? Or maybe they’re auditory learners? Do they have light learning disabilities? Choose a high school in Japan that has staff who knows how to adjust their learning style to the child, or one that has a counsellor on board for kids with learning disabilities.
Consider the Extracurriculars
What extracurricular activities does the school offer that are aligned with your children’s interests and skills? Where do they excel? If they haven’t tried many of those activities, though, which ones will your teenagers like? That brings us to the next tip.
Talk to Them About It
Choosing a school is a decision that affects their lives. Make them a part of that process. Talk to your kids about the schools that are on your list and ask them for their opinion. Which options do they like? Where do they want to go?
Check the Medium of Instruction
Pick a school that uses English as its medium of instruction. If your kids are already comfortable using that language, then this makes the transition so much easier for them to handle. Also, English is a language that’s spoken in nearly all parts of the globe. Raising kids fluent in this language not only improves their communication abilities and skills but also opens doors for them whether in their personal or professional lives later.
Look for Language Learning
Some schools also offer second language learning courses. Letting your kids join these classes at such an early age will help them gain familiarity in using the language. By the time they grow up, they’ll be fluent. Knowing more than one language also protects against early mental decline and improves cognitive functions. It also gives your kids more options. When they apply for college or work, for instance, they won’t have to limit themselves to English-taught programs. If they know French, Japanese or Bahasa, they have many more options to choose from. They can even choose where to live or work.
Ask About the Faculty
What about the teachers? Do they have the proper credentials to look after the kids? Are they passionate about sharing their knowledge? Do they do more than teach the students? Do they invest time and effort in improving the development of every child in their class? These questions matter, too.
