Shelley Borrow Jackson:
  • 纽约国际学校校长（2015年至今）
  • 原Bement School校长（任职16年）
  • 国际阅读协会的专栏作家

  • 中央公园教育委员会会员
  • 原新英格兰独立学校联盟董事

  • 原美国初级寄宿学校联盟主席

问: When is the best time for children to study in the US, in boarding school or with their family, respectively? If the goal is for children to be truly bilingual, not only able to use the language, but has deep understanding of the culture, think in the second language and make true good friends? 
什么时候是孩子来美国上学的最佳时期，针对寄宿学校和走读学校分别来说？ 如果我们的目标是让孩子真正的中英双语自如切换，英语对他们来说不仅仅是一种交流工具，并且对美国的文化有深刻的理解，可以用英语来思考，并且交到真正的好朋友？
答：Obviously, the earlier the better when it comes to language acquisition.  With that in mind, a child who moves to the US before he or she is emotionally ready to do so will have far greater concerns than not being bilingual. There are many schools-- particularly junior boarding schools-- who will take students in middle school or late elementary years, provide them with ELL support, and have them ready to attend strong secondary schools. 
从语言学习来说，当然是越早越好
。但是，
如果孩子还没做好精神上的准备就来到美国，会带来比缺乏双语能力更大的问题
。有许多学校--尤其是初级寄宿学校--会招收初中或小学高年级的学生，并且提供ELL英语语言学习指导，为他们升入好的中学做准备。

问：What did you do to help children from another country to acknowledge, address and adjust culture difference? What the most effective method? What is IANY doing in this regard?  
你是怎么帮助来自另一个国家的孩子认识，解决和调整文化差异的？什么是最有效的方法？ 纽约国际学校在这方面做了哪些努力？
The schools who do this best make sure that the student can still find China within the new culture.  This should include Chinese teachers and other Chinese students and their parents.  They should see Chinese art on exhibit in the school, should find books with Chinese characters and settings in the library, and should have opportunities to eat familiar food. Traditional Chinese holidays should be recognized. It's very important for adults in the new school to model their own enthusiasm, respect, and interest in Chinese culture.  IANY is careful to do these things at all times. 
答：在这方面做得最好的学校一定确保了学生能够在新的文化中找到“中国”。这包括：来自中国的老师，其他中国学生，及其学生的父母。他们应该能够在学校看到中国的艺术作品；能够在图书馆里找到中文书籍和相关的布置；并且能够有机会吃他们熟悉的食物。中国的传统节日应该在学校得到承认。新学校的成年人也要有对中国文化的热情，尊重和兴趣，这非常重要。纽约国际学校在任何时候都很注意这些事情。
问：How to get children interested in reading (English) books when it is hard for them? 
如何让孩子对阅读（英文）书感兴趣？
答：Choosing very engaging texts is critical.  They should be visually appealing, have characters that the children can relate to, and have plots or story lines which are compelling.  When at home, it is very important that children are reading books which are easy for them to read independently rather than at what we call an "instructional level."  Easy books are where children really cement their fluency; it's where they take note of grammar structures (like capital letters and punctuation), learn to make their reading sound fluid and expressive, and where they take risks in phrasing, tone, speed, etc.  Leave the more challenging and instructional reading to the teachers and in the classroom. This is actually the same advice we give all children who are learning to read in English as well. 
选择特别有吸引力的书至关重要。这些书应该在视觉上对孩子有吸引力，有孩子可以联系起来的角色，并且具有引人入胜的故事情节。在家时，最重要的是让孩子们阅读易于独立阅读的书籍，而不是所谓的“教科书”。易读的书籍能让孩子们正真巩固英语的流利程度；注意到语法结构（如大写字母和标点符号）；学会更加流畅和富于表现力的朗读方式；以及乐于在措辞、语调、语速方面进行“冒险”尝试。把更具挑战性和教学性的阅读材料留给老师在教室里进行。这实际上也是我们给所有学习英语的孩子们的建议。
问：What are the common mistakes you see parents make when raising bilingual children? What's your suggestion to avoid making them?  
你们看到父母在抚养双语儿童时常犯的错误是什么？你有什么建议吗？
答：Don't second guess your decision to raise a bilingual child!  If it's your family's language, stay true to it, and never let a school tell you that you should stop using it at home.  If you've sent your child to a bilingual program and you don't speak that language, you can find many cultural activities in New York which can continue weekend opportunities for your child to use the target language.  If you have any concerns about the child's ability to use the language outside of school, be sure to talk with your child's teachers.  They can guide you to ways to extend the language beyond the school day if it is advisable. 
不要怀疑抚养双语儿童这个决定！如果这是你们家庭的母语，当然要坚持，并且永远不要让学校告诉你，你们应该在家里停止使用母语。如果您已经让孩子参加双语项目，但您不会说第二语言，您可以带孩子参加一些文化活动。周末的时候，纽约有许多这样的活动，孩子们可以在活动中继续使用第二语言。如果您对于孩子在校外使用第二语言有任何的担忧，请务必和老师沟通。老师们会尽可能的给出怎么在校外培养孩子双语能力的建议。
问：You have worked at both boarding schools and now day schools. What types of children will thrive in boarding schools and what type of children do better in day schools?  
您曾经在寄宿学校工作，现在又在走读学校工作。什么类型的孩子会在寄宿学校中茁壮成长，什么类型的孩子在日校学习更好呢？
答：The answer to this question really lies within each family and their readiness to allow a child to join a boarding community.  The characteristics most boarding schools look for in their student body lie more in the social realm than the academic.  They want students who are eager to make friends and to be a good friend.  They want students who care about joining in community activities; a student who wants to study all weekend is typically not happy and not taking full advantage of boarding school life. Students should have proven that they're excited to try new activities and who accept that they are not yet "fully cooked." 

答：这就“因人而异”了，每个家庭的情况都不尽相同，比如是否做好了让孩子进入寄宿学校的准备。大多数寄宿学校更看重学生的社交能力而不是学业。他们希望学生们乐于交朋友，并且能成为互相的好朋友；希望学生们积极参加社区活动。如果一个学生更想把整个周末的时间都用在学习上，那他在寄宿学校通常不会开心，也无法充分利用寄宿学校的资源。适合寄宿学校的学生应该已经表现出对尝试新活动有浓厚的兴趣，并且认同自己还没有“完全煮熟”（有可塑性）。

问：Anything else you would like to share with Chinese parents?  
您还有什么想与中国父母分享的吗？
答：I would only reiterate how important it is to look for the ways in which a school demonstrates genuine affection and respect for Chinese culture.  Too many American schools are filling their ranks with Chinese students as revenue, rather than as cherished members of a school community. 

我只想重申，寻找一所真正热爱和尊重中国文化的学校是多么的重要。太多的美国学校以中国学生为收入来源，而不是他们学校社区中重要的一员。

问：What are the grades you are currently accepting applications?  The International Academy is accepting students for Pre-Nursery (age two) through Grade 3.  The school will add a grade each year until it reaches Grade 8.
您学校目前接受申请的年级有哪些？
答：纽约国际学校正在接受2岁到三年级的学生。学校将每年增加一个年级，直到八年级。
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