Language

Language is integrated into all areas of the curriculum. The learning expectations in language are arranged into 3 main strands: oral communication, written communication and visual communication. Sub-strands include: listening, speaking, reading, writing, viewing and presenting.

Oral Communication

Listening: Students listen to people and texts for general and precise meaning. They learn to listen attentively, to understand and evaluate what they hear, to think about literal and inferred meanings and respond appropriately.

Speaking: Students use talk to generate, develop, modify and present ideas. They participate in complex discussions, group meetings, debates and group presentations. They practise how to argue persuasively and present a viewpoint not necessarily their own.

Written Communication

Reading: Students read a wide range of texts with increasing accuracy and understanding. They discuss what has been read, reflect on and talk about the motivations and feelings of characters in the story and analyse details of plot and characterization. They work to recognize and articulate meaning beyond the literal. They recognize structural and stylistic differences between fiction and nonfiction. They locate and use a range of reference materials to locate information.

Writing: Students write with increasing fluency for a wide range of purposes, using the six traits of ideas, voice, sentence fluency, conventions, word choice and organization. Through this they develop an effective vocabulary and a variety of sentence structures. They use the writing process confidently; planning, drafting, revising, editing and presenting their writing. They evaluate their writing and act upon the responses of others to that writing.

Visual Communication

Viewing and Presenting: Students develop appropriate viewing behaviours for a large range of visual material. They respond orally and in writing using specific detailed vocabulary and terminology. They learn about media elements and the effect of design on meaning. They learn the purpose of visual material and to identify stereotypes.

They begin to work with a variety of media to plan and carry out different projects.

Additional Languages

ENGLISH AS AN ADDITIONAL LANGUAGE (EAL)

As English is vital for to learning across all curriculum areas, EAL is offered as an additional language to support non English speaking students to become proficient in the English language.

FOREIGN LANGUAGES - FRENCH, KHMER AND MANDARIN

These languages are offered at an introductory level. The main goal is for students to begin acquiring an additional language. These classes emphasise the development of oral communication and later moving towards basic skills of reading and writing.

MOTHER TONGUE

We offer students from Grade 2-5 classes in their mother tongue. Research suggests that improving a student’s mother tongue benefits the learning of an additional language. Only fluent speakers are eligible for these classes. The programme is not intended for those students wishing to learn an additional language. Our aim is to work towards students achieving literacy skills at the equivalent grade level in their ‘home’ countries