Thai Kids Adapting To Us Schools

[jaideeguy]

I'm contemplating a return to the US after being here for 12+ years and I have 2 adopted kids going to Thai public schools, 13 yrs and 15 yrs old. They are excelling [3.5 and 3.8 grade average] in their classes and both are in the King's Class. They are dutiful, well mannered Thai kids but I have seen the short comings of the Thai school system and wonder if there are any parents out there that have experienced bringing their kids at my kid's ages to US for school and if they adapted/excelled/or failed to adapt. Their English is decent by western standards, but excellent by Thai standards.

The possible plan is to return to Hawaii, where there are many Asians and they won't be a minority.

Would appreciate any feedback or comments regarding this............

Thanks in advance.

[culicine]

If their grades are as good as you say, and they can communicate well in english, they will likely excel in a regular US classroom. All of my M4 students who go the the US for a year do very well - some commented that the work (especially maths), was quite easy for them. So if they are well adjusted kids, I don't envisage any real problems.

[krisb]

Not US but Australia and not me but a good friend, when his wife came over, so did her 15yo son. Didn't have much English but a very bright boy. They enrolled him in a high school that only accepts new citizens from overseas, which focuses on intensive English for 2 years, then after that they go to a normal everyday high school of their choice. In their opinion it's made his transition into an English speaking country much easier. It surprised the Thai lad how little English he really knew!

Food for thought, perhaps an option in your boys new country op.

[Scott]

In the schools that I have worked at, we have had quite a few students go overseas, mostly as exchange students, but a number who have gone to school and stayed with various people, including distant relatives and in one case a missionary family.

The students tended to be on the bright side, but not necessarily exceptional. I was in touch with quite a few of the students and none of them had any major adjustment problems--and remember they were not with their parents or close family members.

A person I know was married to a former bar girl and she had a son who was 15. He had a slight physical deformity, spoke no English and was a poor student. He was a nice kid, but really had no friends. He moved his family to a rural, very conservative state. The kid adjusted very well, made friends, learned English and really began to blossom.

Kids are very adaptable--if the parents have a positive attitude, the kids will do fine.

[NeverSure]

Being an Asian minority in the US is no problem. There are lots of them and they tend to excel. They won't be treated like a minority because the US is already called "the melting pot."

The hill to climb would be English if the child isn't fluent. The issue wouldn't be social even with that unless the child already has social problems in his own county. He won't even be seen as Asian.

I would never put any child in a big, inner city school anywhere in the US. I would look for a smaller city or town. Any child of any race will be treated better and get a better education among smaller city or town people, and the general decorum will be better. The education should be better with better disciplined and parented students.

The school will try very hard to help the child with English or any other adjustment needs. I think not only won't there be a problem, but I think the experience would be great for a kid.

Good luck. Everything will be fine.

[WonnabeBiker]

My friend's kid was maybe 13 when they moved back to the U.S. A great zip code was chosen - North Muskegon in MI.

The kid is doing great. Playing chess, singing, doing sports and getting good grades in a good high school.

In Bangkok, he was bullied. And as a teacher I could write a book on the shortcomings of the Thai education system and particular schools.

[ohiodad]

Five years ago, we adopted a 10 year old girl and brought her to live with us in a multi-ethnic suburb of a large city. Her English was pretty good, but she was offered English as a Second Language assistance in most courses and translators for standardized tests. Her grades have been very good, and in high school, she is taking advanced courses. The biggest school issue we had during the first year was her adjustment to school routines and discipline. That first year (5th grade), she spent so much time in the assistant principal's office, we joked that they put her name on a chair in his office. In addition to ESL, her regular teacher had lived in Thailand for 3 years and was married to a Thai woman. Once a week, he would eat lunch with her, talking Thai and just being her friend.

We have found that the biggest gap in her education came in Social Studies. She had absolutely no exposure to US history and was behind her peers in basic knowledge about things like states of the union and geography.

A bigger issue was her unfamiliarity with American pop culture. It may have held her back socially for a few months. Today she is entering 10th grade, has plenty of friends and is doing well academically.

[maccaroni man]

IMO it does make a difference where in the USA you are moving. A lager city may be easier than a small town where there is very little to do and the local kids are set in their own clicks. 14 and 15 I'd much different than 8 and younger. Kings class students can do very good in Thailand and move on to medical school or other higher levels of education more easily than others

[ronz28]

Living conditions in the USA are very influenced by local laws, people who live in the area and local government administration. Best to scout the forums in the area you want to live in to find the better school districts and how students succeed. Realtor forums may be a place to start like this one http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/search/7272928/