DESPITE its eye-catching facade, The Korean International School (KIS)

_ which overlooks Victoria Harbour _ has remained low-profile and

modest.

The spacious school has a warm, homely atmosphere as a result of the

small student population which is less than 200.

"What other school has a teacher-to-student ratio of eight to one?"

Principal of the KIS English section, William McGarvie, said.

Although the school population is a comfortable size, an increase in

students will enable the school to offer more programs.

The KIS has an English school and Korean school. The English school

ADVERTISEMENT

was established in 1994. Comprising a kindergarten, primary and middle

school, it has children from 15 countries.

"Non English speaking children learn English quickly because they

take daily English classes and all the other classes are taught in

English," Mr McGarvie said. "We had two Danish students who learnt

to speak English within two months." Mr McGarvie said the younger the

child the quicker he or she will learn. To further assist non-English

speaking students, the school is introducing an English language

program. Designed for all age groups, the language program will enable

non-English speaking students to have their own classes where they

learn English based on the subjects that the rest of the school is

studying.

The day-to-day lessons for all students mirror the British national

curriculum based on International English standards developed from

programs in the UK, Canada, Australia and the US. The school has

extensive sporting and academic facilities which resemble something in

a university campus, not a school campus. The KIS English section is

also the first international school in Hong Kong to introduce a class

for "developmentally delayed" children.

All rights reserved.