 | | At FIS, English is the principal language of instruction, but the school also offers instruction of and in German as host country language as well as a variety of further language teaching: English as a Second Language, First Language (mother tongue), French or Spanish, and additional languages in the After School Activity program.
English as a Second Language (ESL) Program
Children who need extra help in English are placed in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program. The goal of the ESL curriculum is to facilitate the acquisition of English language skills necessary for ESL students to participate fully in the classroom. Specialized instruction enables ESL students to practice the language in small groups and to receive individual attention. These children are placed in the regular homeroom and given ESL support either in their homeroom or in the ESL classroom. ESL teachers plan with the grade level teams and assist students with curriculum subjects as well as general language acquisition. Student progress is monitored carefully throughout the year mostly through formative evaluation and frequent consultation with the homeroom classroom teachers. Before leaving the ESL program, students are expected to meet the demands of the regular curriculum and communicate effectively in the school environment. In Grade 6, ESL students may be given the opportunity to take further ESL in place of French or Spanish.
German Language Instruction
Participation in the German language program is compulsory for all children from Pre-Primary through Grade 10. The German program is designed to enable students to develop communicative competence in their host country language appropriate to their development stages. Therefore the school offers instruction in German as a mother tongue (“Deutsch”) and as a foreign language. In the early years the program is centered around listening, comprehension and speaking skills. Students are more formally introduced to reading and writing in German during Grade 2. FIS also offers a German immersion program with currently one class per grade level from Grade 2 through 8, and ISW offers an enriched German program from Grades 2 - 5.
First Language Program (FLP)
The First Language Program is designed to maintain students’ ability to read, write and study in their own language and to facilitate their return to their own national education systems. Research shows how literacy in the mother tongue greatly helps literacy in a second and further languages and boosts personal and cultural confidence. The program is offered from Grades 2 through 12 at FIS and from Grades 2 through 6 at ISW.
Currently, the First Language Program comprises the following:
- At FIS, Dutch and Swedish are offered during the school day for all levels. Japanese and Korean are also taught at the Upper School level.
- At ISW, Dutch and Swedish can be offered during the school day.
Further Languages
French or Spanish are offered as an additional language starting in Grade 6. Instruction is offered to students at all levels of proficiency. Depending on availability of teachers and demand by students, the After School Activity program can offer further languages such as Italian or Chinese.
|
| | Language Coordinator at FIS/ISW If you have questions about the language program at FIS, please contact Dr. Ian Gulliford.
|
| The purpose of this website is to guide learners of English in effective and enjoyable ways of improving their language ability. |
Language Course Descriptions For detailed course descriptions for all language courses at each level, visit the Curriculum page.
|
| |