Toddlers prepare for their first big interview

A Getting into good schools or universities is tough in many parts of the world, but in Hong Kong the pressure begins earlier. Often parents try to get children into a good kindergarten – and before that, into a good nursery. So there are now classes preparing toddlers for that all-important nursery interview.

B Yoyo Chan is preparing for an important interview that could help her succeed in life. She is one-and-a-half years old. At two she will start nursery, but competition is fierce in Hong Kong, and some of the most prestigious nurseries are selective. Her parents want her to be well-prepared for her first big test in life.

C The best nurseries and kindergartens can receive more than 1,000 applications for just a few dozen places. As a result, enterprising tuition companies are now offering interview training for toddlers. At interview class, Yoyo is asked to greet the tutor and introduce herself. The tutor then asks her to complete a number of tasks, including building a house with bricks, drawing a picture, sticking two felt eyes in the right position on a felt face, and identifying pieces of fruit. At one tuition company, the Hong Kong Young Talents Association, a series of 12 training sessions costs HK$4,480 ($580; £390) – that’s nearly a quarter of the monthly household income. “We try to teach children through musical activities, while adapting the activities to what the interviews will cover,” HKYTA tutor Teresa Fahy says.

D But to make things more complicated different nurseries and kindergartens are looking for different things. It’s common for the interviewers to observe how children play with toys. This gives an idea of their fine motor skills, and how they interact with other children. How they take part in group activities such as singing or moving to music will also be carefully examined. And interviewers will talk to the children to see how well they express themselves, and whether they make eye contact.

E Some, but not all, will also ask children to identify colours or shapes, or to explain scenes in a picture book. “Interview questions are getting harder and harder,” says Fahy. “Kindergartens may ask children complex questions like, ‘What are your eyes for?’ or ‘What type of egg is this?’ They may also test a child’s manners by offering them sweets at the end of the interview. The child has to take one and say, ‘Thank you’. Taking too many sweets is seen as greedy, while declining the sweets is considered impolite.”

Adjusted to (1)

fierce – nelítostný

felt – plsť

1) Read the article and match each of the headings to a paragraph.

1 Tuition companies

2 Pressure on toddlers in Hong Kong

3 Knowledge and politeness are necessary

4 Requirements of preschools

5 Yoyo Chan is preparing for interview

2) Read the article and answer the questions.

1 What is the situation concerning preschools in Hong Kong like?

2 Who is Yoyo Chan? What do we know about her family and life?

3 What are requirements of Hong Kong preschools?

4 How do parents prepare their children?

5 What do the interviewers talk with children about?

3) Explain the following words and phrases.

1 the pressure begins earlier

2 prestigious nurseries

3 tuition companies

4 toddlers

5 fine motor skills

4) Answer the following questions.

What do children learn in preschool institutions? What are types of preschools? What is the role of preschool teacher? What knowledge should children acquire before they start primary school?

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Source:

(1)

CHEUNG, Helier. Toddlers prepare for their first big interview. BBC News [online]. 2015 [cit.