As international-mindedness is a key driver for OWIS and a large portion of its student body hails from expatriate families, there are often a number of EAL students enrolled at any given time. At OWIS, we believe that language learning and fluency requires support, both within the classroom and outside of it.
We welcome students who are new to English in Early Childhood and offer our EAL programme for students in Grades 1 to 6. Each grade-level is assigned an EAL specialist who works directly with students whose native language is something other than English. By grade 7, the expectation is that all students enrolled will have mastered the English language and will be able to conduct their studies exclusively in English.
At an international school, the EAL programme plays a pivotal role. At OWIS, we are proud of our multicultural environment, and we love the fact that we have students who hail from countries around the world. However, this diverse student body also requires us to rise to the challenges that come along with that.
Many of our students have been speaking a different language in their homes and in the educational setting since they were born. This requires us to develop an innovative EAL curriculum that works to actively improve the English skills of our students.
An evaluation of each individual student's current English language skills. The EAL specialist will determine where they are in terms of their fluency and understanding and will then create goals that are personalised for that individual student.
Intentional teaching methods that focus on contextualised language use. Students are provided with immersive and engaging lessons that allow them to use their English skills both orally and in writing. We emphasise our inquiry-based approach to our EAL programme.
Purposeful inquiry into English-based texts and lessons. This approach leads to a conceptual understanding of the English language.
Learn more about the IB PYP and our child-centred teaching methodology. Discover why our rigorous and holistic curriculum successfully prepares your child for secondary school and see how we raise internationally-minded and confident lifelong learners.
At OWIS, we encourage students to continue to learn about and explore their own culture as well as the culture of their peers.
We believe that the beauty of our school lies in our differences.
We strive to provide a curriculum that encompasses a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds. We want our students to share their own traditions and values, as this allows classmates to better understand each other as well as the world around them.
Multicultural learning at OWIS extends beyond the classroom. Our students often go out into the community and participate in events that allow them to meet their neighbours and learn more about the local culture.
OWIS strives to create an invigorating learning environment that challenges all students to rise to the occasion and do their best while learning to become global citizens. Our EAL programme plays a critical role in allowing our students to be successful, and we are proud of the support that our EAL students receive.
Chanya was previously in a Thai school and we realised that her weak grasp of English could obstruct her daily school life. As a new student, both to the school and in the language, I was so worried about her. But after starting at OWIS, my daughter had settled down very well after the first few weeks. The English as an Additional Language program (EAL) offering one-on-one support has helped her to catch up quickly with her social life and normal classes. We have been delighted being a part of the One World community.
Get a virtual feel of our friendly and warm school environment. Learn more about the IB PYP and our child-centred teaching methodology. Discover why our rigorous and holistic curriculum successfully prepares your child for secondary school and see how we raise internationally minded and confident lifelong learners.
