In desperate need of reviews/comments about Mark Twain Int'l S and KG

Member since 15 March 2016

Anna yanaNew member14 April 2016 01:43:02

Hello 九色视频 Parents,

We're moving to Bucharest this summer and I've selected the Mark Twain International School and KG for my 5-year-old-to-be. However, I'm in desperate need of some comments or reviews of parents whose children have attended it. For example, are the children happy there? Do they really speak English there -- teachers? students? -- so is it more than just a gimmick? Is there a sizeable expat community of children there and what's their national makeup? How much time do they have to be physically active (not only in gym class, but during breaks, particularly outside breaks)? Are the parents happy with their kids' academic and emotional development?

I'm worried about the move overall and in particular about how he'll adapt to a new place, a new language, new people around him and a lack of his old friends, so at least am trying to gather a sufficient amount of info about his likely new school. So if you've sent or know someone whose kids attend/have attended the MTIS, I would be grateful for any and all comments or reviews -- positive or negative -- they're all welcome!

AncaMihaela New member

Member since 03 November 2010

AncaMihaelaNew member18 April 2016 08:53:23

Hi, I can't give you too many details unfortunately, but what I can say is that I have several friends who had children at this school聽 and were highly disappointed abt it. Complaints were abt the teachers ( very low level), not good english, kids with bad behaviour, food and teaching rooms not ok aso. If you need a school in english language maybe the British School of Bucharest to be a better option.聽 Or maybe the American School. Both are quite expensive though. If you can settle with french, then The Lycee Francais Anna de Noailles is definitely an option and if you need german then Die Deutsche Internationale Schule Bukarest ( not the Goethe Kollegium - bad quality teaching, bad german聽 ). Hope this was somewhat helpful.

kands Guest

kandsGuest18 April 2016 17:10:28

Hello...I am an expat teacher from America working here in Bucharest. I cannot give you personal experience, but I can tell you the school has a horrible reputation for Native teachers. I have spoken to some people who have worked there and the turnover is huge because the school doesn't pay the teachers salaries...sometimes for months. This isn't meant as an advert...but you are welcome to check out the school I work at. It is entirely in English and focuses on emotional intellegence and uses the British national curriculum. It is called Verita International School. Great school and I enjoy working there...the teachers are all very loving.

macostea New member

Member since 12 October 2009

macosteaNew member11 August 2023 09:22:49

After going through the education process provided by IB schools in UAE and Qatar, where the teachers were in majority native English speaking, my son reached MTIS for grades 7, 8 and in the International Division.

In brief, the schooling level is very poor therefore we went for homeschooling for the rest of the education. Why is so poor? Here are some of the reasons:

1. There is no native English speaking teacher, not even for the English subjects.;

2. Foreign language - for example French - is thought to the kids via Romanian language. Considering that at the ID (International Division) the majority of the kids are foreigners (or like mine, half Romanian but not speaking Romanian at the academical level) there is a real handicap for the kids.

3. The school is organized in a villa that it is not designed for school activities...therefore, some classes are near the kitchen so the kids clothes smell garlic and onion and burnt oil each time they come home...imagine what academic atmosphere they have in the classroom;

4. The way the subjects are thought is obsolete, following the old Romanian - Russian model based on memorization, with long lessons written on the board by the teacher while kids are supposed to stay quite in the bench and no comment;

5. Kids questions are usually ignored...when the English teacher was asked by me why she ignores the questions of the kids she just simply said "Because they are bull****!"...

...and I stop here for saving your reading time.

In brief, do not choose this school if your just want your kid to accumulate some knowledge that shall keep him in line with the needs of our actual world.