Posted on: 29-01-03 04:49:04
I am a potential immigrant and I have few questions about how my child will settle in a school in Toronto ?
My child will come to Toronto in Grage 7 / 8 (age about 12/13). He is studying in India in an English medium and is good at studies.
1. At that grade (7 or 8), I gather, French is cumpolsary subject. How will he be able to cope up ? He has no prior knowledge of French.
2. Will he face bullying in school ? If yes, how to handle that ?
3. If we stay at a place like Scarborough, then there will be some Indian students in his class. Will that be of some help ?
4. Other than French, is there any other subject which is quite different from here in India ?
5. Do newly arrived children survive Winter without any problems ?
That's all for now.
Hello Vilas,
You don't need to worry anything about your kid. School System, Schools and School teachers are very good here.
Your child will get admission to appropriate grade based on his/her age, not by the school records at India. (They consider Indian records only after grade 9, not before that). At the time of admission you only need passport, landing papers and vaccination reports from your doctor in India.
You child will get admission day one he is here.
As a student from non-english speaking country, she/he will have to go to English As A Secondary Language classes (ESL classes) and will not need to complete all subjects, which are compulsory for other students. Don't think that you kid is studying in english medium so he/she will not need it, every one needs it here for first couple of years.
After grade 9, it is highshool and in order to get high school diploma, you have to get 30 credits (subjects). You must have one french credit, which is not big deal (remember learning sankrit in india!), but I think as a ESL they don't need to take french at all! My kid can answer on this more, but this is what I know.
There is no bullying at school.
Scarborough is full of Indians, espcially Gujaraties. In class you can see 4-6 gujarati students out of 20-25! That is great! In some schools they are 80 percent of total studetns! Again in depends in which area you go, but if you live anywhere on Markham Road, you will see this trend.
Winter is a problem for adults not children. Your kid will play in snow!
Don't worry, come here without any fear!
Welcome to Canada!
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Read this:
http://www.canadiandesi.ca/article.php?AID=23&SID=3
It has something important for each new-comer
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Quote:
Orginally posted by vilasjoshi
I am a potential immigrant and I have few questions about how my child will settle in a school in Toronto ?
My child will come to Toronto in Grage 7 / 8 (age about 12/13). He is studying in India in an English medium and is good at studies.
1. At that grade (7 or 8), I gather, French is cumpolsary subject. How will he be able to cope up ? He has no prior knowledge of French.
2. Will he face bullying in school ? If yes, how to handle that ?
3. If we stay at a place like Scarborough, then there will be some Indian students in his class. Will that be of some help ?
4. Other than French, is there any other subject which is quite different from here in India ?
5. Do newly arrived children survive Winter without any problems ?
That's all for now.
1. The teachers are required to help and assess students according to their previous knowledge of any subject. just make sure the teacher and counselor knows about your childs previous record/experience.
2. All kids go through bullying whether they are new or always been here.
tell you child to have a good relationship with the school counselor. any problems go to the counselor. that's what they are there for. don't be afraid to go.
3. it depends on whether the indian kids are nice or not. if they are then im sure they will be of some help. but there are lots of local kids who will be more than happy to help. (my first day in high school a local girl showed me around the school and had lunch with me)
4. there are many different subjects that you can take besides french but they are mostly offered in high school. spanish is one of the popular one's
5. just make sure you have lots of layers on your kid and winter won't be that bad =)
Thanks you desis for prompt and encouraging reply. This is turning out to be agreat forum.
Garvo Gujrati, can you confirm from your child if French is compulsory in grade 6 /7 ?
One more thing. Is it possible to get private tutor ? How much will he charge ?
hi, don't worry about the French...... i came here 2 years ago with my parents...... me and my brother both were in gujarati school and it took just about 6 months to get settle down. my brother was in Gr. 7 in india and they put him in 6th here. i was ammused when he learned French even his english was very poor. now he is happy and all set even better than all of us. so don't worry about ur son, sir. he will be ok here. and u won't even need private education 4 him. private education is up to u. u can get it very easily in scarborough.....i am not sure about other areas but all that will be very costly 4 an new comer. teachers and students r very helpful here. they wil give ur son bigginer's french so it will be just knowing some words and how to make sentences.
i am telling u kids get used to it very easily and quikly.
have a nice time in canada.
Vilas,
Sonu replied quite effectively.
French is not a thing to worry. Kids take it easily. But it is not so important subject - you only need to have one credit for your High-School Graduation. That too is not requird if your kid goes to ESL class.
Evenif he needs to go for french - it is very easy - so don't worry about it.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
