Languages

As an International School, communication across cultures plays an important role in our curriculum. In this regard, all children in the Primary School are required to choose a modern foreign language in Year 1, and are able to choose from the following:

■ French   ■ German   ■ Spanish   ■ Romanian

We see languages as a vital component of an international education and as such are continually working to increase the number of languages available to our students. One way we do this is through the pro vision of language clubs, in which students will have the opportunity to join a native speaker club, or to learn a language such as Italian or Russian, not offered as a part of the MFL programme.

Speaking and listening are the principal foci in the first year of the programme, to enable our students to develop their conversational skills and confidence quickly. This oral focus is supported by a comprehensive reading and writing programme to lead to the acquisition of secure language skills that will be developed further in Secondary School.

As an aspect of leaning a language, our children will also learn about the culture and life of the country and are encouraged to converse with native speakers to extend their confidence, fluency and good accent. Native speaking parents and guest visitors are invited in to read to our students in the language they are learning to help motivate the students to learn.

Later in the Secondary School programme our students will also have the chance to join a school excursion or a student exchange programme to experience using the language directly in the country of origin.