Managing Your Children’s Education After Moving Abroad

Adjusting to a new school system, language, and friends can be a lot to take in. You, as a parent, are also a key factor of your child being able to cope with this change. Here are a few tips on how to cope with the education of your children after relocating abroad.

1. Research the Education System in Advance

It is important to consider the education in a foreign country before moving there. Look for their education systems – state owned or national, private or international, allowed to teach children at home and international schooling, and their curricula often based or conducted in English. In addition, utilize this tool in researching and providing support back home.

For instance, families from Korea may find schools offering curricula such as IB, British, American or Korean easier at international schools. Usually, these types of schools are built for parents who are working abroad with their children and tend to provide integration assistance within their children’s structures. 

2. Involve Your Children in the Process

Before the move, discuss their education with your children and get them active in the process. Show them potential schools on the internet, tell them about the great things they will get to do, and relieve any worries they may have. This allows them to feel more prepared for the change and included in the process.

If appropriate, plan for them to tour the schools to get a sense of the setting and meet teachers or other students before the term begins.

3. Focus on Language Support

In the event that the medium of instruction in the new school differs from your child’s mother tongue, language support services will be necessary. Search for the institutions that have ESL or other programs in order to help them gain courage and perform well in their studies.

While at home, practice the language with the child by using available tools such as books, applications and conversations while also making sure to keep their language for their cultural identity.

4. Help them with Social Integration

Education is not only confined to schools; there is also the aspect of socialization. Thus, motivate your kids to participate in sports, musical activities, or even art clubs. Such activities enable them to make friends and become part of the school.

You may also organize playdates or any social function with their classmates to enable your kids make friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

5. Stay Engaged with Their Education

Be an active participant in your child education by communicating with his or her teachers and going for other educational activities such as parent-teacher meetings. This makes you aware of their academic development and helps to resolve issues in good time.

Encourage your kids to share what they’ve done after coming from outside, and listen to them, offering support in case they have any trouble. Also, praise them when they achieve something as a way of boosting their self-worth and drive.

6. Be Patient During the Adjustment Period

It goes without saying that moving from one country to the other and joining a new school is a real challenge, therefore children may take some time to get used to the change. Give them some time and help them as they try to adjust to the new surroundings. It is important to provide them with a proper home schedule to help facilitate adjustment and create a comfortable zone.

In case your child has difficulties with studying or shows signs of anxiety, it would be appropriate to seek further assistance- a teacher, a psychologist or a language instructor, for instance.

7. Balance Education with Cultural Learning

People move overseas for many reasons, one of which is the wonderful experience of cultural integration. Tell your kids to actively participate in their new surroundings, by getting to know about the local people, their culture, customs and history. This is beneficial not only for their education but also helps them to settle better.

Moreover, they should learn about their family’s background, practice traditional festivities, and converse in their mother tongue within their household in order to stay culturally rooted.

8. Plan for Long-Term Goals

Consider the child’s educational opportunities in a foreign country, especially when you know that the family intends to move later to another country, or eventually back to Korea. Try to evaluate the current education provided in terms of its strategic perspective and how it relates to future education, including college or university preparation and entrance.

New schools and bilingual opportunities help to address such needs and offer more options for families who may be moving again in the short term.