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Sending kids to local schools?

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karpo3
  3/23/2014 18:07 EST

During our 6-month sabbatical, I'd like to send my 10 and 12 year old to local school to work on their Spanish. Frankly, I don't care if they learn anything else (they're bright kids and we can homeschool them on the few things they need to really learn during their six months"off"). Has anyone done this in DR? Any idea what the rules are for visiting US citizens? Can we send them to local public schools? Anything we should do before we arrive, or can we manage all this once we arrive? (FYI, we're all beginners/intermediate in Spanish -- I'm brilliant at charades :) but am worried about the level of bureaucratic Spanish getting in my way...). And we're not sure where we'll be living yet so just need general info.

Sereno
  3/23/2014 19:59 EST

Hi. I commend you with your desire for your young children to learn Dominican Spanish (Dominican Spanish is different from all other Spanish.) and gain some first hand experience with other Dominican children. Since you didn't give a time frame school might be out for the summer.

Up front and in your face with my opinion. DON'T DO IT.

The Dominican public schools are funded by the government and fall very short of everything other then that every child must have a uniform and other mandated items. Schools are very under funded so that children don't learn. I also believe that only Dominicans that can prove that they ARE Dominican can attend the schools. So your request for information may be mute.

Those that do go to the public schools come mainly from the working class, that is to say that exposure to even the basics are minimal.

Children can tend to be rather... not nice at times and your children may become, most likely, targets of the other kids AND the teachers.

I suggest that you look at private group type Spanish classes that are advertised or perhaps an in home teacher that would not be too expensive or the private Expat type schools that are very expensive.

As you learn your way around then go to your local public school and watch a baseball game and then maybe integrate some.

I wish you luck but please be very careful with your children and yourselves.

Sereno

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Sereno
  3/23/2014 20:26 EST

I read what I wrote and not my best work. I do hope that I was able to give you information. I hope that others can provide some too.

As another thought, I do know of places in the hills above Sosua with family type gatherings of homes. 3 or 4 very small homes and 20 people of all ages. No TV and little power or anything else. But this is a good thing not being in the tourist areas and living off the land. My wife and I ride up on our horses, a Jeep can do it, a couple of times a year and always greeted with open arms. They don't speak English.

IF I had young children that are open, I'd look at renting one of the small casitas and learning and integrating what the real Dominican Republic people are. NOT easy but could be an experience that non of you would ever forget.

Sereno

StevenBarr
  4/11/2014 09:56 EST

I am retired and live in the Santiago area. I have 2 children 6, 14. I send them to private school and they are doing great. I find the country a relaxed atmosphere to raise children. I monitor who and were they go. they are great kids and soon I hope to have my son go to the colledge here to study medicine. good luck on ur adventure. steve

aali4
  4/11/2014 10:50 EST

Hi Steve, can i ask how much it costs for your children to attend private school yearly? Also did they speak spanish when you moved there? If not how was the transition and how were the other students?

StevenBarr
  5/1/2014 09:46 EST

Steve for my son I pay $7000 US for a english school with US teachers that live here.
Santiago Christian School.

My daughter in first grade I had her in the above school and she did poorly a have moved her to a different schools Saint Davids which cost $ 4,600 and next year she is going to Trintinty School for $2000 the less expensive school give her more time and fewer students in the classrooms, I had them in other schools here that were 10 dollars a month but the careculem was poor and only four hours.

Yes both kids learned english and spanish in the house My wife of 20 years is spanish and the kids when arguing default to spanish.

steve in dr

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