Garden International school is the second best international school in the world, it was the first international school in Kuala Lumpur set up over 60 years ago, although there are several now. On the Jalan Kiara 3 Campus is the entire of primary, secondary and sixth form schools, in primary each year has 6 classes of roughly 28 children, and for each 2 year groups there is a joint EAL class. There is also a early years centre which is where they have reception and nursery classes, on a separate campus, I went there for one day with the teacher I was staying with as she was doing observations and I wanted to see the facilities, its only a 20 minute walk away from the main school campus. And really worth spending some time in to see how they incorporate the EYFS was really interesting.
The school had never heard of BA childhood studies, however the take a lot of PGCE students and primary ed students on placements and were extremely helpful and very welcoming to me, they asked what I wanted to find out while I was on placement and the placement co-ordinator (the school has 2) organised meetings for me with the school councillor, head of primary school, EAL head and SEN head, all staff were very helpful at answering my questions, I was allowed to sit in on meetings and given lots of chances to carry out observations or get involved in classes.
I stayed with a friend of a friend who helped me to organise my placement, however the placement co-ordinator at the school who organised my stay for me was very helpful and I'm sure they would either ask if any members of staff would be happy to have someone to stay or recommend some hotels or areas for hotels. The area in Kuala Lumpur that the school is in is called "Jalan Kiara 3" this might help when looking for hotels near by.
I booked my flights to Kuala Lumpur international airport in mid January so they would obviously be cheaper if you booked them earlier. The flight was about 17 hours with a stop for a few hours in Dubai, from London Gatwick. Once at the airport in KL, there is a desk as you go to exit the airport where I booked a taxi to take me to where I was staying, if you book a budget taxi from this kiosk to the school (I was staying in a block of apartments right next door) it cost roughly 80 Ringgit (about £16) and it takes around an hour, but this is to the centre of KL. Depending on where you stay there are kiosks and shopping centres dotted all over the city. most people travel by taxi, its fairly cheap, as long as you don't let the taxi drivers rip you off, which they will try when they hear your English, but taxis are much easier and good value compared to other forms of transport in the city. One thing to watch out for, when it rains it is completely impossible to get a taxi, they will drive straight past you or if you manage to stop one, they will charge you at least 3 times the normal rate because its raining.
I mostly spent my time with the teacher I was staying with and we would eat out every night normally with other young teachers from the school or other international schools, its so cheap to eat out in Kuala Lumpur, normally dinner would cost roughly the equivalent of £10 maximum! I went on a few nights out while there with teachers from the school, we went to a great bar you could walk to from the school, maybe a 10 minute walk, but not to be done on your own, the bar was called "back yard" in Bangsar village, clubbing areas are Jalan Sultan Ismail and Jalan P. Ramlee, but again you need to ask staff or someone you know where to be going really or go with someone else.
Things to do, things not to do
Go to the night market in Kuala Lumpur, lots of Malaysian food stands, really cheap too.
clothes, jewellery, bags and lots of souvenir stalls and a great atmosphere, its usually on once a week.
China town was a place to go, be prepared to barter, you can usually get them down to half the price they usually tell you to start with, lots of food stands again and little street restaurants, dirt cheap!
Batu Caves, I didn't get a chance to go to them but they looked amazing, you can get buses or coaches to them or just get a taxi if there's a few of you.
At the end of my placement Jo asked for some feedback on how my experience had been and she said they would be very interested to hear about the comparisons I have found between the cultures and would be more than happy to take future students from our course at NTU on placement.
the first placement co-ordinator is Sharon Wellington: "wellington.s@gardenschool.edu.my"
second is Jo Charman, who I had the most contact with: charman.j@gardenschool.edu.my
Ask the school for reputable taxi numbers as you can get ripped off by ones you pick up off the street when they realise your English.
Check your up to date with vaccinations, I didn't bother with the rabbies jab, but if your going to go to batu caves you get very close to monkeys apparently, or walking in the rain forrest you could possibly need it.
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