Learning and teaching practices in KinderWorld International School

Table of contents Page Acknowledgements..................................................................................03 Introduction..............................................................................................04 Chapter 1: Introduction to KinderWorld International School 1.1 The importance of education .............................................................05 1.2 Overview of Vietnam’s education......................................................05 1.3 About KinderWorld International School........................................08 Chapter 2: Learning and teaching practices in KinderWorld International School 2.1 Learning practice....................................................................................................................14 2.1.1 Pre-School Programme.....................................................................1 4 2.1.2 Primary Programme..........................................................................15 2.1.3 Secondary Programme......................................................................16 2.1.3 Training School..................................................................................18 2.2 Teaching practice.................................................................................19 2.2.1 iPSLE...................................................................................................20 2.2.2 Global Assessment Certificate...........................................................21 2.2.3 Vocational and Technical Training..................................................21 2.2.4 Post-Secondary Education.................................................................22 2.2.5 Pegasus University College................................................................22 2.2.6 Proposed Pegasus International University.....................................22 2.2.7 Institutional Partners..........................................................................24 Chapter 3: Remarks and Suggestions 3.1 Advantages and disadvantages............................................................28 3.1.1 Advantage..........................................................................................28 3.1.2 Disadvantage.....................................................................................30 3.1.2.1 School fee..........................................................................................31 3.1.2.2 Timescale...........................................................................................31 3.2 Remarks and Suggestions.....................................................................32 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS During my preparation and completion of the report, I have received valuable instructions, assistances, suggestions and supports from many people to whom I would like to express my sincere thanks. I would like to give my special thanks to my supervisor, Ms. Van Thi Minh Huyen, lecturer of Faculty of Business English, Hanoi Foreign Trade University. She helped me a great deal in shaping the structure, correcting mistakes, clarifying methodology and commenting on data of the paper. During my research on the report, I have received great support from staffs in KinderWorld Kindergarten & Private School JSC @ Somerset Hoa Binh at Somerset Hoa Binh - Vinh Son Company – KinderWorld group who have helped and guided me a lot in collecting and processing data and information for my report. Last but not least, my profound gratitude is sent to my beloved family, friends and classmates for their supports and encouragement during my work. INTRODUCTION Under the led by the Communist Party and the State, education always paid much attention to development and improvement quality. MP has stressed that it is one of keys to help Vietnam have enough qualifies and skills to join the WTO, there are lots of challenges and opportunities ahead. In fact Viet Nam’s education system hasn’t met social needs. Therefore, with policies open door, there are alot of foreign investers come to Viet Nam to find oppotunities and KinderWorld is a big investor in educational area. In our limited knowledge we offer scale and methods in learning and teaching practice in KinderWorld International School that aim to find comparations with thoughs between Vietnam schools and International schools. We hope to recieve readers ideas then. There are 3 chapters in this report. Chapter one: Introduction to KinderWorld International School Chapter two: Learning and teaching practices in KinderWorld International School Chapter three: Remarks and Suggestions Chapter 1 Introduction to KinderWorld International School 1.1 The importance of education  The education is the process of instruction aimed at the all round development of individuals, providing the necessary tools and knowledge to understand and participate in day to day activities of today’s world It dispels ignorance and boosts moral values of individuals. It is only wealth can not be robbed. It builts characters, provides strength of mind and increases knowledge. The education sustains the human values which contribute individual and collective well-being. It forms the basis for lifelong learning and inspire confidence to face challenges. It provides skills to individuals to become more self-reliant and aware of opportunities and rights. It also enhances the abilities of individuals to manage health problem, improve nutrition and childcare and plan for the future The education not only impacts on human development and economic growth, also is the fundamantal requirement of democracy. Through education people become more responsible and informed citizens, and have a voice in politics and society. The education is the key which allows people to move up in the world, seek better jobs, and ultimately succed in their lives. So education is very important, and no one should be deprived of it. 1.2 Overview of Vietnam’s education Over the past few year, Vietnam’s educational system has improved in both scale and quality, that play an important role in the development of the economic and socienty . Although Vietnam is considered a poor country with low per capita income and years in war, Vietnam has unceasingly recorded its great achievements in education Pre-primary education: Public kindergartens usually admit children of ages of 18 months to 5 years. Sometimes, four-or-five-year-old children are taught the alphabet and basic maths. This level of education is popular only in major cities (Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Can Tho, Vung Tau etc.). Primary education: Children normally start primary education at the age of six. Education at this level lasts for 5 years and is compulsory for all children, which is why Viet Nam, albeit still a developing country, has very high literacy proportion, over 90% on average. Intermediate education: Middle schools teach students from grade 6 to 9. To graduate, they have to pass the Intermediate Graduation Examination presented by the local Department of Education and Training (which was abolished in 2006). This educational level is generalized throughout most of the country--except in very remote provinces, which expect to popularize and standardize middle education fully within the next few years. Intermediate is also a non compulsory schooling form in Vietnam. Secondary education: Most students manage to pass the IGE. High school, which consists of grades 10, 11 and 12 is standardized in all major urban regions, but is not uniform in rural provinces. At the end of grade 12, all students are required to write a leaving examination held by Province's education service. The examination tests students of 6 subjects including Mathematics, Vietnamese Literature, Foreign Language (mostly English), and other 3 subjects determined by the Educational Board of Viet Nam. The Educational Board of Viet Nam is planning to merge this examination with the university entrance exam in 2009. Higher education: University Entrance Examination is very important in Vietnamese students' lives. High school graduates have to take it after the SGE and get high results to be admitted to universities. The pressure on the candidates remains very high despite the measures that have been taken to reduce the heat around these exams, since securing a place in a public university is considered a major step towards a successful career for young people, especially those from rural areas or disadvantaged families . In the year 2004, it was estimated that nearly 1 million Vietnamese students took the UEE, but on average only 1 out of 5 candidates succeeded. Normally, candidates take 3 exams, each lasts 180 minutes for the fixed group of subjects they choose. There are 4 fixed groups of subjects: Group A: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry; Group B: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry; Group C: Literature, History, Geography; Group D: Literature, Foreign Language, Mathematics; Besides, there are also groups: H, M, N, R, T, V. Most of Vietnam's universities also offer Master (2 years) and PhD (3 years) degrees. In addition to universities, there are community colleges, art and technology institutes, professional secondary schools, and vocational schools which offers degrees/certificates from a-few-month to 2-year courses. Private universities: According to Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training, there are currently 23 non-public universities, accounting for 11% of the total number of universities. These non-public universities are currently training 119,464 students, or 11.7% of the total number of students. The government is planning to increase the number of non-public universities to 30% by 2008. Foreign educational institutions are increasingly open in Vietnam. Most of their fields are English language and information technology. Vietnam is currently revisiting its education system. It recognized the increasing role of English as the language of business and the importance of international cooperation to help adapt the education system, notoriously slow in change management, to the rapid pace of its economy. 1.3 About KinderWorld International School The KinderWorld Group was founded in 1986 with first pre-school centre was opened in Singapore and to-date, the KinderWorld Group has grown extensively in Vietnam providing education for students from Pre-Nursery up to and including a University Foundation Programme. In the late 1990s, the KinderWorld extent its operations into overseas markets, including Vietnam, it opened International Preschool Centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2000 and International Primary Schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2004. Moreover it worked closely with Education Departments in Australia, Singapore and Vietnam to help meet international standards. Nowaday, the International Arm of KinderWorld operates in Vietnam: HA NOI   Address:  KinderWorld Kindergarten & Private School JSC @ Somerset Hoa Binh 3rd Floor, Somerset Hoa Binh,106 Hoang Quoc Viet StreetCau Giay DistrictHanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:  (84-4) 755 8186 (84-4) 755 8187        Address :  UniWorld International School @ Van Phuc KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Van Phuc 2D Van Phuc Diplomatic Compound46 Van Bao Street, Ba Dinh District Hanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-4) 726 1601 (84-4) 726 1600 enquiry-vanphuc@uniworldvietnam.com       Address :  UniWorld International Shool @ CiputraKinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Ciputra Block C3 (NT III B) Ciputra Hanoi International City,Phu Thuong Ward, Tay Ho District Hanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-4) 758 2664(84-4) 758 2706enquiry-ciputra@uniworldvietnam.com       Address:  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Somerset Grand Hanoi3rd Floor, 49 Hai Ba Trung Street Hoan Kiem DistrictHanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-4) 934 7243(84-4) 934 7244enquiry-ht@kinderworldvietnam.com       Address :  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ The Manor, Hanoi C5-C11, 1st Floor, The Manor Building My Dinh, Me Tri New UrbanTu Liem DistrictHanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-4) 794 0209(84-4) 794 0211enquiry-themanorhanoi@kinderworldvietnam.com       Address :  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Somerset Hoa Binh3rd Floor, Somerset Hoa Binh106 Hoang Quoc Viet StreetHoan Kiem DistrictHanoi, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-4) 755 8182(84-4) 755 8184enquiry-hoabinh@kinderworldvietnam.com  
  HO CHI MINH CITY       Address:  KinderWorld Kindergarten & Private School JSC @ SCC First Floor, Somerset Chancellor Court,21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1,Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Tax code:  (84-8) 3827 4598(84-8) 3827 45970301913395          Address:  Singapore International School (SIS) @ Saigon SouthKinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Saigon SouthNo. 29 Road No. 3, Trung Son Residential Area,Hamlet 4, Binh Hung Ward  Binh Chanh DistrictHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax: Email:  (84-8) 5431 7477(84-8) 5431 7471enquiry@sisvietnam.com       Address:  Singapore International School (SIS) @ District 3KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ District 344 Truong Dinh Street,Ward 7, District 3 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax: Email:  (84-8) 3932 2807 - 3932 2808(84-8) 3932 2949enquiry-hcmc@uniworldvietnam.com       Address:  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Somerset Chancellor CourtGround floor, Somerset Chancellor Court, 21-23 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-8) 3827 2464(84-8) 3827 2465enquiry-scc@kinderworldvietnam.com       Address:  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ The Manor - HCMC The Manor Building, 91 Nguyen Huu Canh Street Binh Thanh DistrictHo Chi Minh City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-8) 3514 3036 - 3514 3037 (84-8) 3514 3038enquiry-themanor@kinderworldvietnam.com  
  HUE   Address:  UniWorld International School @ HueKinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Hue 25 Phan Dinh Phung Street,Vinh Ninh Ward, Hue City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-54) 819 832(84-54) 819 833enquiry-hue@uniworldvietnam.com       DANANG   Address:  UniWorld International School @ DanangKinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Danang 139 Le Loi Street, Hai Chau DistrictDanang City, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax:Email:  (84-511) 384 0495, 384 0654(84-511) 384 0496enquiry-danang@uniworldvietnam.com  
  HAIPHONG   Address:  KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ TD Plaza 6th Floor, Lot 1/20A, Le Hong Phong RoadNgo Quyen District, Vietnam   Telephone:Fax: Email:  (84-31) 835 2895 (84-31) 835 2894 enquiry-tdplaza@kinderworldvietnam.com  
  VUNG TAU   Address:  Singapore International School (SIS) @ Vung TauKinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Vung TauDai An Residential, Ward 9,Vung Tau City, Vietnam       BINH DUONG   Address:  Singapore International School (SIS) @ Binh Duong KinderWorld International Kindergarten @ Binh Duong Highway 13, Thuan An District, Binh Duong Province, Vietn   It is our hope that this report may contribute to an understanding of the current state of education in Vietnam and make some comparations to find keys to help KinderWorld group more succeeful in competitive educational enviroment. Chapter 2 Learning and teaching practices in KinderWorld International School As a fast progressing country, many Vietnamese people are able to find jobs with high incomes. Together with strong economic development, society pays much more attention to education now than before. Parents want to find good schools to nurture the future of their children and they have entrusted the schools in educating their children 2.1. Learning practice The KinderWorld Group is a new innovative model for learning and teaching in Vietnam. It is offering a combination of Eastern values with an International outlook on education. Singapore International School (SIS) is the typical school model of the KinderWorld Group. Students of SIS have the choice to choose either the Integrated program or the International program.     • The International programme has been developed based on the core subjects of the Singapore and the Australian curiculum.     • The integrated programme combines the best in International education and retaining the core subjects required by the Vietnamese MOET.   Vietnamese students will be taught together with International students by qualified expatriate teachers in some key learning areas of the International program. The Students will also have the chance to join all outdoor activities in an English speaking, multi-cultural environment. The main subjects, the school also emphasizes on music, art and physical education to allow the students to develop all round and to help them to discover and develop their individual intelligence. The school provides also the complete academic pathway for students in Vietnam to complete their education from kindergarten to university, complying to Vietnam International rulings.A typical KinderWorld Group of International Schools consist of classrooms of an optimal size of 25 students, libraries, multi-media rooms, art and crafts rooms, music rooms, science laboratories, multi-purpose halls. Facilities include a swimming pool, mini football pitch and yard for other physical activities. Walking around the grounds it's easy to see the difference from a regular Vietnamese school which traditionally place much more of an emphasis on academic exercises and tend to ignore the physical development of kids.Small motivational words such as ‘Honesty’, ‘Commitment’ and ‘Industrious’ are stuck on the board in front of every classroom. Each one is the name of the class as students from each class bear that particular virtue, it helps students graduate from school, these virtues will be their life-long belongings. The using technology to assist in teaching and learning, in which all students are taught there, from young to use hi-tech tools such as computers, printers, projectors, visualisers and smart-boards. Working with brand-established technology names such as Acer, company want to offer the best in both hardware and software to enhance teaching. The schools help students to enjoy learning by making meaningful connections through group work and multi-media assignments, supplemented with experiential learning for a highly dynamic and multi-cultural world of tomorrow.2.1.1 Pre-School Programme International Kindergarten : Classes are kept small with an expatriate teacher leading the class with the assistance of a local teacher. This ensures an optimal environment in which young minds learn and develop. Local Kindergarten : Led by qualified local teachers and conducted in English. English lessons are conducted by expatriate teachers. KinderWorld provides preschool education for children from 18 months to below 6 years. The curriculum is designed to develop children’s social skills as well as providing a strong foundation in English language and Mathematics skills. The curriculum also covers Science, Social Studies and promotes the development of fine and gross motor skills. The Kindergarten programme is a play-based inquiry learning programme. Class Levels · Pre-Nursery - 18 months up to 2 years old · Nursery - 2 years old up to 3 years old · Kinder