BajaNomad - Good bilingual school in Ensenada

Good bilingual school in Ensenada

AndreB - 5-22-2015 at 09:05 PM

We are moving to Ensenada from Chicago with the very bright 11 yrs old daughter. She is taking Spanish private lessons for the year now but she is a beginner anyway. We are looking for a good bilingual school in Ensenada.
We did some research and we have a short list of the good schools (in this order):
1. Colegio De Las Americas
2. Colegio Ingles
3. Colegio Argentino
4. Colegio Grecia
Any opinions? Any advice?
We would love to discuss this with any parents having kids, especially girls this age in Ensenada

Thanks

[Edited on 5-23-2015 by AndreB]

greengoes - 5-23-2015 at 08:41 AM

Check out the schools that claim to be bilingual very closely. In several of them the only bilingual people in them are the gringo kids who speak English and their level of Spanish. I know of two that make that claim and do not have one bilingual teacher.

AndreB - 5-23-2015 at 09:14 AM

Do you know any of those listed? I visit all of them and I didn't have any problem to find someone speaking English..

SlyOnce - 5-26-2015 at 10:20 AM

my novia/wife works for Baja CA del Norte school district. Send me a private message and I'll reply with the documents and so on you need to get your daughter admitted to school here, even private school. Perhaps you have this covered already.

AndreB - 5-26-2015 at 03:00 PM

Thanks SlyOnce, I did send you U2U.
Also, we are looking for any American family in Ensenada with the 10, 11 yrs old girls...

DENNIS - 5-26-2015 at 06:55 PM

Oh boy...I can hardly wait for you to ask about recommendations for a white, English speaking, conservative, Christian, gated community in Ensenada to live in. I've been looking for one of those for a while now.
We gotta stick together, ya know.

AndreB - 5-26-2015 at 08:07 PM

It's a good one! :-)))

Well - First - We don't talk to Christians - we are Catholics! Those Christians completely destroyed the only proper faith in God.
Second - The only real conservatives live in Alaska so we know that unfortunately we can not find them in Ensenada!
Third - English for us is a second language so under any circumstances we can fit into gated community.... :-)

Dennis... read again - we are trying to get as much info as we can for 11 yrs old girl from PUBLIC School in Chicago. We never mention that it has to be white, black or anything else...

So please... OK?

[Edited on 5-27-2015 by AndreB]

DENNIS - 5-27-2015 at 06:41 AM

Catholics aren't Christians?
Anyway...your 11 year old daughter will soak up Spanish like a sponge. Why don't you do her a favor and immerse her in her new culture? Why keep her on the outside looking in?

chippy - 5-27-2015 at 06:53 AM

So Dennis what do you suggest? Not a lot of options as far as I can see. Putting them in Mexicos horrible public school system surely is not the answer. Give us your experience in educating children in Mexico.

[Edited on 5-27-2015 by chippy]

bajaguy - 5-27-2015 at 06:58 AM

Just as a suggestion, you should look for 10 & 11 year old local girls....your kids and their kids will have a great time and language will not be a barrier to the kids

Quote: Originally posted by AndreB

Thanks SlyOnce, I did send you U2U.
Also, we are looking for any American family in Ensenada with the 10, 11 yrs old girls...

rhintransit - 5-27-2015 at 07:05 AM

no one moves to Baja for the schools. so you will be looking for the best of what is.

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 07:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

Catholics aren't Christians?
Anyway...your 11 year old daughter will soak up Spanish like a sponge. Why don't you do her a favor and immerse her in her new culture? Why keep her on the outside looking in?

Dennis
My answer was sarcastic as the only proper answer for unprovoked attack on your side. Question about possibility to meet some English speaking girls in Ensenada had nothing to do with "white, English speaking, conservative, Christian, gated community in Ensenada to live in."

Apparently you have no knowledge how the education system works.
Most likely she will go to High School in US and she has to be prepared for it.
Don't you think I'm doing her a favor moving to Ensenada?

Why are you so bitter??

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 08:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaguy

Just as a suggestion, you should look for 10 & 11 year old local girls....your kids and their kids will have a great time and language will not be a barrier to the kids

Quote: Originally posted by AndreB

Thanks SlyOnce, I did send you U2U.
Also, we are looking for any American family in Ensenada with the 10, 11 yrs old girls...

It is rather obvious that in time she will find many "local" girls. I'm thinking about "transition" period.

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 08:13 AM

Quote: Originally posted by rhintransit

no one moves to Baja for the schools. so you will be looking for the best of what is.

I think you underestimate Ensenada...

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 08:16 AM

Quote: Originally posted by chippy

So Dennis what do you suggest? Not a lot of options as far as I can see. Putting them in Mexicos horrible public school system surely is not the answer. Give us your experience in educating children in Mexico.

[Edited on 5-27-2015 by chippy]

It is rather obvious.... He has none.
Or... maybe he thinks we don't have to!

DENNIS - 5-27-2015 at 09:00 AM

I don't care how you raise your kid. It's just offensive to me to hear of someone moving to Mexico in search of the American way. It's arrogant, and close-minded.
You will end up living in that gated community, sequestered and insulated from the culture that surrounds you...... ending your stay here with no clue as to where you have been. You won't be able to read the names on the stores, and you'll still be mystified by the money exchange, as well as fed up by your maid for not being punctual to scrub your toilet.
You will have relocated to a foreign land without ever leaving your nest.

Call the American Consulate when things get overwhelming, and have a nice trip.
Don't forget to be legal with immigration. It's the proper thing to do.

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 09:14 AM

Quote: Originally posted by DENNIS

I don't care how you raise your kid. It's just offensive to me to hear of someone moving to Mexico in search of the American way. It's arrogant, and close-minded.
You will end up living in that gated community, sequestered and insulated from the culture that surrounds you...... ending your stay here with no clue as to where you have been. You won't be able to read the names on the stores, and you'll still be mystified by the money exchange, as well as fed up by your maid for not being punctual to scrub your toilet.
You will have relocated to a foreign land without ever leaving your nest.

Call the American Consulate when things get overwhelming, and have a nice trip.
Don't forget to be legal with immigration. It's the proper thing to do.

Jesus Dennis...
What is wrong with you?
Go get a drink or something...
I'm new on this forum, but I'm hoping that you are an exception...
And please don't bother to answer...

SlyOnce - 5-27-2015 at 09:37 AM

My novia and I live in Playas, while she works for the Spanish Only MX school district, there are lots of English speaking schools in Playas. Higher economic class MXNs want their kids to be bilingual in Spanish and English.

I can't make a recommendation for a school in Ensenada.

My experience with Ensenada is that there are lots of young people there working in the shops and restaurants and most all of them are bilingual due to the cruise ship crowd. I don't think your daughters will have any problem at all fitting in nor finding new friends.

I think it is a good choice to go to a bilingual school, or else your kids would be lost at first.

Entering MX public education system is possible, and my novia will explain in a private message, but not advised.

David K - 5-27-2015 at 09:38 AM

Hi Andre,

Don't be too hard on 'ol Dennis, he means well. I also get mis-understood here, as typing words don't always come across to others in the way we mean them to be heard.

I suggest you read posts or the blog by Frank O... who changed his handle to Soulpatch. He retired from the fire department here and took his young family (incl. twin girls) to Nayarit, Mexico where they live and go to school.

Not sure how much time you have spent in Ensenada already, but anywhere you go to live needs to be checked out or it could be a disaster for you, the wife, or the kids. Rent first, or use a motorhome and stay at an RV Park and see what the area, people, and facilities are like.

No place in Baja is like any city in the U.S. (and that can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you want).

While I do not live in Baja, because I am not done exploring, to stay in one place building the 'project house', I have traveled there most of my life, well 50 of my 57 years anyway. The magic of Baja is that you can never get enough (if you are into the things I am, such as history, off roading, camping, geology, beaches, etc.).

If you are going there simply as a cheap place to live, and the city is you only interest, I fear you will be disappointed? I hope it all goes the way you wish, and we can follow your transition progress here on Nomad!

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 11:47 AM

Quote: Originally posted by SlyOnce

My novia and I live in Playas, while she works for the Spanish Only MX school district, there are lots of English speaking schools in Playas. Higher economic class MXNs want their kids to be bilingual in Spanish and English.

I can't make a recommendation for a school in Ensenada.

My experience with Ensenada is that there are lots of young people there working in the shops and restaurants and most all of them are bilingual due to the cruise ship crowd. I don't think your daughters will have any problem at all fitting in nor finding new friends.

I think it is a good choice to go to a bilingual school, or else your kids would be lost at first.

Entering MX public education system is possible, and my novia will explain in a private message, but not advised.

I'm waiting for this message then...
My daughter will adjusts rather easily. It will be her third time after all - her native language is Polish... :-)
I'm thinking right now about private bilingual school at this moment...
Please let me know...

SlyOnce - 5-27-2015 at 12:30 PM

Please consider living in Playas. There are many advantages compared to Ensenada. Most people drive right by because they want to be deeper in Baja. Its safe, its close, its a family beach town. I call it the city of schools and restaurants. My apartment has a wonderful view and private secure parking, utilities are included and cost $350/month.

Renting in Playas, while going to school, and exploring farther south in Baja on weekends and holidays would be a great way to start.

PS come to visit sometime.

AndreB - 5-27-2015 at 12:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Hi Andre,

Don't be too hard on 'ol Dennis, he means well. I also get mis-understood here, as typing words don't always come across to others in the way we mean them to be heard.

I suggest you read posts or the blog by Frank O... who changed his handle to Soulpatch. He retired from the fire department here and took his young family (incl. twin girls) to Nayarit, Mexico where they live and go to school.

Not sure how much time you have spent in Ensenada already, but anywhere you go to live needs to be checked out or it could be a disaster for you, the wife, or the kids. Rent first, or use a motorhome and stay at an RV Park and see what the area, people, and facilities are like.

No place in Baja is like any city in the U.S. (and that can be either a good thing or a bad thing, depending on what you want).

While I do not live in Baja, because I am not done exploring, to stay in one place building the 'project house', I have traveled there most of my life, well 50 of my 57 years anyway. The magic of Baja is that you can never get enough (if you are into the things I am, such as history, off roading, camping, geology, beaches, etc.).

If you are going there simply as a cheap place to live, and the city is you only interest, I fear you will be disappointed? I hope it all goes the way you wish, and we can follow your transition progress here on Nomad!

Thanks David,

Dennis? I don't know why he attacked me knowing nothing about me, but it is already forgotten.
First reason we picked Baja is... Baja itself. I met my wife at San Felipe and we fall in love with Baja and with each other. It was difficult because we had different partners at that time... :-).
We have visited Baja several times before and it was always in our dreams to be able to spent some times there.
No, we are not going to buy anything at least for now.
I will retire in July and we have enough Chicago. We look for a place to live , we would prefer close to a school or near the ocean. We have been in Ensenada several times and we obviously like downtown and fish market. We are seasoned travelers, so we shouldn't commit any stupidity .
Actually,we are in love with Africa even more, particularly eastern and southern but because of our daughter, we can not go there now. Btw: Our older son is helping organize health care in Zambia at this moment...

Thanks again for the encouragement... :-)

arthurhunt - 2-5-2018 at 07:03 AM

Im sure you can find a school where she can fit.

BajaTed - 2-5-2018 at 11:11 AM

Associating yourself with a scholarship fund in the region will lead to friendship opportunities with parents/kids her age also. Seen it before.

R.I.P. Dennis, Dilly, dilly :biggrin:

AndreB

bajaguy - 2-5-2018 at 06:26 PM

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