Switching schools is always a momentous occasion for a child, but their experience of acclimatizing to an international school may be a different one altogether. Oftentimes, it isn’t just the academics that distinguish international schools from their mainstream counterparts. These schools are also home to a unique culture whose qualities a child may encounter for the very first time. 

How exactly will an international school education affect a child in terms of their academics, co-curriculars, and other aspects of their personal development? Here’s what parents can expect when they enroll their child in a high school in Singapore for international student populations, plus how you and your own child can prepare for such a big transition.  

Their Worlds Will Be Bigger

In a general sense, being enrolled in an international school will make a child’s world seem bigger than it already is. They’ll be interacting with other students, as well as teachers and school personnel, who hail from different countries and cultural or ethnic backgrounds. In their classes, they’ll be learning about languages, cultures, and values that may not receive the same spotlight as in their local schools. 

This change in perspective can sometimes be disorienting for a child, but more often than not, it is a cause for excitement and enthusiasm about their forthcoming learning experiences.  

They’ll Be Driven to Enhance Their Academic Performance

One other big change that a child will grapple with is an international school’s approach to its academics. Your child’s prospective school will likely follow rigorous academic programs such as the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum and the Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and as such, learning experiences will likely be delivered through methods of instruction that are designed with a global outlook. In addition, most international schools believe in small student-to-teacher ratios so that teachers can pay more attention to each student’s individual needs. 

These being said, the academic life at an international school could affect your child in different ways. They may feel pressured about the need to perform according to the school’s standards and their own desire to stand out among their peers. But with your guidance as a parent, as well as with support from your child’s teachers and fellow students, they’ll be able to see their new school’s academic requirements as healthy challenges to their own abilities. 

They’ll Be Able to Join a Variety of Co-Curricular Activities

International schools also typically boast a wide variety of co-curricular activities, from academic clubs to sports teams and clubs for particular interests anchored in the different fields of arts and sciences. A child will be able to take their pick from the school’s math team, debate team, school paper, athletics club, or drama guild, among others. They may even have the chance to join co-curricular activities that allow supervised travel and cultural exchange opportunities outside of the country, like leagues for international student leaders are wont to do. 

It will be a good thing for your child to encounter the wealth of co-curricular activities available at an international school. This will ensure their holistic development, as well as give them chances to nurture a healthy social life. 

They’ll Learn to Be More Culturally Sensitive

Being enrolled in an international school will also encourage your child to practice cultural sensitivity at an early age, as these schools prioritize building cultural bridges between students from all walks of life. It is a value that will serve your child well later in their life, especially if they intend to pursue further studies or a career in another country. Moreover, knowing how to practice a value like cultural sensitivity will help your child be a good example to others—and to become a respectful, compassionate role player in their relationships. 

It’s worth noting that cultural sensitivity is not a value that is exclusively taught in international schools. However, the very fabric of an international school’s educational program, plus the diverse nature of its school community, makes it the best place to learn and imbibe cultural sensitivity.   

They’ll Want Deeper Conversations about Their Identity and Sense of Community

Lastly, being a student in an international school will give a child plenty of opportunities to ponder on their selfhood and how to be their authentic selves in a highly globalized world. Among the challenges that international school students and their parents will have to take in stride are a child’s questions about their personal identity and home community. At times, a child may feel lost or unsure about the community they really belong to, and they may even be embarrassed about their relationship with their home country or culture. 

This issue tends to come up especially among third-culture kids, or children who were raised in an environment outside of their parents’ home country. If this is your family situation, encourage your child to be honest with you and help them pinpoint what part of their international school experience incites feelings of embarrassment, insecurity, or isolation. Do invite them to immerse themselves in your family’s national or religious heritage while they’re enrolled in an international school; this will allow them to feel more connected to their roots and perhaps even become proud to share this part of themselves with their school community. 

Final Words

Having your child study in an international school may shake things up for them, but in a good way. Perhaps there’s no better place for them to learn how to be inquisitive, self-determined, and passionate about what they can do for the world. Embrace your role as a parent and support them through these changes so that they can have healthy, well-rounded, and joyful learning experiences in their new international school.