Metro Special

Cons: Too young to go

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-20 08:04

Most students sent to study abroad at a young age where were born in the 1990s. Many simply did so because their wealthy families had dreams of emigrating.

However, once in a foreign environment, these kids suffer from psychological problems such as anxiety and loneliness, in addition to pressure from their new schools.

Experts believe it can take between five and eight years to prepare a Chinese child to study in a foreign culture. They must be good at learning as well as have a strong ability in dealing with pressure, and maturely discern what is right from wrong.

However, if these students do not develop this skill set, they will find it difficult to be admitted to a foreign school even after spending time in the country itself.

Generally speaking, studying abroad at a young age brings more pain than reward to both parents and children. The reasons are varied: the students may develop different personal qualities, their parents may have insincere motivation, and profit-driven overseas education agencies may introduce students to low-level study programs.

Therefore, it is inevitable that problems will surface as an increasing number of children go to study abroad.

Excerpts from a report on http://www.ciein.com

(China Daily 04/20/2010)