XLIS Secondary Parent Talk

True education is to help each flower grow in its own way.

 

Each child’s growing up story reflects a wonderful family background and so are the genes of every child and the environment in which they grow up. Xi’an Liangjiatan International School invited some of its parents to share their unique parenting stories at the “Parent Talk” series event. This action aims to encourage more parents to discuss and reflect on how we can better support the studies and lives of our IB learners, while also providing engaging learning opportunities for students of all ages and from diverse backgrounds.

 

The 1st XLIS Parent Talk in 2023

 

Mrs. Shi Yunjie (MYP4 Parent)

From ECE to MYP: Learning from my daughter’s IB education

What kind of “shock” will parents who are laymen of the IB Diploma Programme  experience when faced by the international education? What will happen when an outdated education model meets an up-to-date educational philosophy?

 

Mrs. Shi, who is Chinese and grew up under the traditional Chinese education system, can’t help but worry about their children’s academic achievements without the use of standardized textbooks? However, she also noticed that her husband pays more attention to the exploration and cultivation of their children’s interests rather than the pursuit of their academic achievements. By listening to her children on a daily basis, she now acknowledges the unique advantages of the IB curriculum – committed to cultivating  life-long learners who will be ready for a more globalized society. Rather than focusing on what to learn, we should pay more attention to cultivating students’ independent, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills while also guiding students to cultivate good habits.

 

Mr. Doyoung Kim (MYP5 Parent)

Empower your child to dream

No child’s growth occurs without challenges, and every parent faces different home education problems. However, it is the common mission and responsibility of parents to help children find their dreams and empower them.

 

Mr. Doyoung Kim from South Korea has just moved to Xi’an. He has worked nearly 30 years with the “Samsung” Group, and has a daughter who is about to enter her DP years. During his speech, he not only told the story of his daughter’s growth of  confidence through learning Japanese, but also shared his own experience in family education. He believes that the establishment of a healthy parent-child relationship is a necessary prerequisite for the healthy growth of children. Since a young age, every time his daughter is faced with making a decision, he chooses to encourage her to try more and explore more, rather than directly help her to make a decision. We must let the child choose independently, and be responsible for his or her choice. As a father, he has always practiced a truth of his own – giving children the ability to pursue their dreams is the best gift that parents can give their children.

 

Mr. Zuo Yi (MYP4 Parent)

How to guide children to read extracurricular books.

Good reading comprehension is the basis for children to learn various subjects well, and high-quality reading is also the key to enriching children’s thoughts, stimulate children’s spirit of inquiry, and serve society. Rambo Zuo’s father, Mr. Zuo Yi, emphasized on the importance of cultivating children’s reading habits by sharing the reading list he customized for his son.

 

Throughout his children’s growth, Mr. Zuo also uses his own educational philosophy. He considers reading as the cheapest and most convenient way to explore the world. When dealing with teenagers, he does not recommend thick books, but prefers to use books which can stimulate children’s reading interests and consistency, while also helping them  attain peak reading levels. “From primary school to university, if a child can read 20 books a year, he may not necessarily succeed in the secular sense, but he will certainly become an accomplished person.” He believes that cultivating children’s reading habits is the beginning of lifelong learning, and the nutrients derived from different reading experiences are also beneficial to the development of critical thinking.

 

Mr. Matthew Dolman (MYP5 Parent)

My experience as a parent and views on IB schools

Matthew Dolman, from the Isle of man, near the UK, is the father of two XLIS girls. He and his family have lived in China for many years. Whenever he mentions the IB education that his children have been receiving, he always gives it his thumbs up with a great deal of excitement. He not only recounted the irreplaceable advantages of the international diploma curriculum system, but also expressed a strong recognition on behalf of his entire family. It’s clear to Mr. Dolman that as parents, he and his wife have also benefited immensely from IB Learner Profile like Inquirers, Open-minded, Risk-takers and Reflective.

 

Mrs. Chang Ming (MYP5 Parent)

Be a brave thinker

Different education systems have their own advantages. How we choose the most suitable educational path for our children’s development is one of the core task that every parent feels compelled to complete.

 

When Lucy’s mother, a fifth grader in XLIS’ middle school, talked about the changes that the International Diploma Program curriculum had brought her daughter, it was hard not to share her excitement. Through her sincere narration, we learned how an introverted girl who used to be “obedient”, has grown into today’s enthusiastic, cheerful, and brave girl. This change of personality has led to a series of chain reactions: an increased self-confidence, a greater sense of self-efficacy, and a firmer love for writing。This is what she and her husband expect from the international baccalaureate curriculum framework.” The key to home-school joint education is to discover our child’s personality, adapt to change, and help her find a suitable environment and educational model, so that she can grow to be an excellent student.”

 

The 2nd XLIS Parent Talk in 2023

 

Mr. Ali Shirvani (MYP1 Parent)

Unlocking the Power of Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) in Our Childern

Dr. Shirvani, an Iranian father of two IB students Ali and Ilia, shared his insights on “Create, Action and Service” (CAS).

 

In the middle school years, students should prioritize taking action to foster their well-rounded development while balancing their daily homework load. The CAS  program is a vital component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, which places a premium on higher development requirements for international students. Dr. Shirvani, mentioned as parents, we must ask ourselves: how can we support our children’s growth and development?

 

According to him, creative outlets such as music, drama, writing, and physical fitness can help unlock students’ artistic imagination and creativity. However, these activities serve not only as ends in themselves but also as means to reinforce their skills and abilities.

 

In addition, participating in outdoor sports and community service as volunteers can further enrich our children’s development. Dr. Shirvani also stresses the importance of cultivating independent thinking, problem-solving skills, and a sense of identity and exploration in our children.

 

Let us work together as parents to help our children realize their full potential by nurturing their creativity, action, and service.

Mrs. Kate Yu (MYP1 Parent)

How do I deal with my anxiety as an international school parent

Mrs. Kate is not only the University Counselor of our school, but also M1 Richie’s mom. Being both a parent and a staff at the school gives her a bigger perspective than others in home-school education, and her English ability also helps her overcome many obstacles. However, when facing the challenges associated with her child’s growth, her anxiety is no less than that of other parents.

 

She mentioned that different family and cultural backgrounds give birth to different types of parenting anxiety. As a parent, if you want to understand the immediate needs of your child in time and provide effective help to your child, you should first dare to recognize your limitations in all aspects of knowledge and ability, and not hesitate to ask your child for advice. Secondly, in order to keep pace with children, parents should also learn to actively explore and make full use of the teaching platform provided by the school (Managebac) to understand the daily learning content of children. Only in this way can we keep the same frequency and resonance of thinking with children, help them develop healthily and comprehensively, and accumulate strength to meet the ever-changing future world.

 

Mr. Kyoung Tack Kim (MYP1 Parent)

How to be good friends with our kids

No parents are unwilling to be friends with their children, but failed parent-child relationships are everywhere in life. It is not easy to establish a close friendship with children overnight.

 

According to Mr. Kyoung Kim, starting a dialogue based on children’s interests is the first step for both sides to understand each other. When there is a dispute, don’t avoid it, because it is a good time for parents and children to understand each other’s needs and establish rules. The first prerequisite for harmonious coexistence with adolescent children is to recognize and accept each other’s differences, and to confess our shortcomings as parents. All this will eventually lead to an end point – respect the existence of children as independent individuals and make “becoming friends” no longer a distant dream between parents and children.

 

Cultivating our young learners to be talented global citizens for future is the eternal theme of education. Since every family has its own unique DNA, there are bound to be personality differences during children’s growth and the process of education. The“Parent Talk”series event aims to promote communication through sharing different parenting cases and encourage educators to discuss and reflect on how we can better support the studies and lives of our IB learners.

 

The couplet hanging on the “Shuyuan Men” which located on the Chinese corridor of our school, states:  “The benevolent for others, scholars for themselves; the superior man is broad-minded and not a partisan, striving for harmony in diversity.” This excerpt from the Analects of Confucius demonstrates the international education philosophy that our school has always adhered to. Each flower has its own flowering season, we believe that as long as the heart is cared for, it will have its own beautiful blooming season! Thanks for our parents’ authentic sharing!

 

Click here for more details.

Author:

Fancy Fan (Admin Officer)