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languages A & B
English Dutch French German Spanish
English A - 4 lessons per week
The English department balances language and literature, ensuring that knowledge and skills are introduced progressively.
Aims of the Syllabus
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to communicate effectively in the written and spoken word |
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to understand what they read, hear and see in a wide variety of contexts and styles |
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to respond practically and effectively to what they read, hear and see and so develop an understanding of the part English plays in the world around them |
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to develop an understanding of cross-curricular links |
Throughout Years 7, 8 and 9 we aim to provide:
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a consistent approach to writing, understanding and expression as crafts to be learned by practice |
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a wide variety of opportunities for writing |
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encouragement to the students to develop reading interests |
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a continuing emphasis on the importance of general language awareness, especially of levels of usage and varieties of English |
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introduction, where relevant, of the basic terms in language (grammar) and literature and practice thereof |
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an emphasis on the use of the school library for pleasure and research |
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a progressive development of the students skill in the use of the spoken word by means of discussion, conversation, role-play and debate |
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an awareness of English as an active, practical and living subject |
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an introduction to and development of IT skills in English |
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an awareness of their own development and progress through the use of self-assessment, peer assessment and rubrics |
English B (English as an Additional Language - EAL)
With the exception of the languages offered as part of the curriculum, the language of instruction for all subjects at The International School of The Hague is English. For those students whose native language is other than English, or for those with little familiarity with the language, the ISH offers English as an Additional Language in both “beginner” and “transition” levels.
The EAL programme is designed to enable students to achieve accurate and confident use of English at a variety of levels. It provides a balanced programme of listening, speaking, reading and writing development, enabling students to become familiar with the language in a practical context, exposing them to a variety of challenging material and stimulating them to give their own opinions and participate in discussions and drama.
In such ways students use the language for real purposes and behave as language users rather than mere acquirers of language rules. However, this is not to imply that accuracy is seen as being of lesser importance. The EAL programme provides a comprehensive coverage of the English grammatical system while simultaneously encouraging students to learn the language as fluent users in practical, everyday situations.
EAL Computer Room
There is extra provision in Years 7, 8 and 9 for students who need extra language support. These students receive three additional hours a week, which include using interactive computer assisted language learning programmes. This self-study time, supervised by an EAL teacher, is intended to allow students to address individual areas of difficulty
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Dutch - 3 lessons per week
All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 take Dutch as a compulsory subject in our school. In each year, there is a distinction between
Dutch A - native/near native speakers
Dutch B - Dutch as a foreign language at an intermediate level
Dutch C - Dutch as a foreign language for beginners
For Dutch A students, the aim is to cultivate and improve their Dutch language skills through reading, writing and presentations. The ISH aims to follow a Dutch curriculum, while keeping in mind that ISH native Dutch students have different backgrounds than Dutch students in a Dutch school.
For Dutch B and C students, the primary aim is to teach our students to communicate well in Dutch and familiarise them with Dutch society. All students work in groups and individually on their language skills.
Students are made aware of their development and progress in Dutch through self-assessment, peer assessment and clear assessment criteria.
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French, German, Spanish A - 2 lessons per week
ISH offers German, French or Spanish to native speaker students, as and when appropriate. Courses will be offered in these languages on condition that there are
sufficient interested students to create a class.
Aims
to enhance students’ knowledge and enjoyment of their own culture, literature and language within the given timeframe.
to help students with the use of their own language as a vehicle for thought, reflection, learning and self-expression through the use of a variety of media such as films, printed material, and so on, in the target language.
Students are encouraged to apply their acquired knowledge and skills creatively through story writing, devising advertising campaigns, writing poetry, etc. This provides the students with an opportunity for self-assessment and peer assessment, which will help them measure their progress.
Students are assessed according to their level within the group: Language A or Language A Transition. Transition level offers opportunities to some students to further develop their technical accuracy. Students are placed within these sub-groups according to preset criteria.
French, German, Spanish B – 3 lessons per week
All students in Years 7, 8 and 9 choose to study German or French or Spanish as a foreign language (Language B). The primary aim of the Language B programme is to teach students to communicate in the target language, both in class with their classmates and, when the occasion arises, with other speakers of the target language. For this communication to be effective, students must learn to express themselves with reasonable accuracy.
The secondary aim of the programme is to immerse students in an authentic cultural context. Through the many conversations in the teaching materials (textbook, audio and video cassettes) students get to know and appreciate the culture of the countries where the target language is spoken.
Once students understand new phrases and expressions, they are encouraged to practise their knowledge in numerous communicative activities, carefully graded from easy to more challenging. Students work in pairs or small groups for most activities, but they also have the opportunity to express themselves individually, both orally and in writing.
In addition to activities presented by the teaching material, students are challenged to apply what they have learned to everyday situations, e.g. by carrying out interviews, making calendars and cards, making projects about their family and friends, hobbies, etc.
Students are made aware of their own development and progress through the use of self-assessment, peer assessment and clear assessment criteria.
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