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.
At OWIS, we encourage students to continue to learn about and explore their own culture as well as the culture of their peers.
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.
EAL Teacher
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EAL Teacher
education
bio
Since graduating with a Bachelor in Special Education and a Masters in English As An Additional Language,Harbans has been teaching for over 30 years now. Her roles have been diverse and they have helped her to be a flexible practitioner. She has been a class teacher, learning support teacher as well as a special needs teacher, currently specialising in EAL.
Harbans has taught at many levels from junior to secondary. Prior to joining OWIS, Harbans spent twelve years in Singapore working at an international school. She was able to pursue her love of Phonics teaching and Phonemic awareness there. Her favourite part of her work as an educator is when Harbans sees her students' succeed and realise their potential.
At home, Harbans loves to cook and get involved with community activities.
Head of Additional Needs
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Head of Additional Needs
education
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Preeti joins OWIS as the Head of Additional Needs. Originally from India and residing in Singapore for over 10 years now, Preeti has spent many years in the Special needs domain. She has a Post-Graduate Diploma in Special education from the Spastics Society of India, a double Masters degree in Guidance and Counselling and Education from James Cook University, Australia (Singapore campus).
Preeti has over 16 years of experience as a teacher, remedial tutor, educational therapist and educational consultant. She has extensive experience as an early intervention and learning support specialist in various schools in India, Singapore and Bali.
Learning Support Teacher
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Learning Support Teacher
education
bio
Shruti hails from India (Pune), where she worked for 6 years in a corporate role and transitioned to education as she wanted a satisfying and rewarding career. Shruti has a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of Pune and has taught primary grades for 2 years before moving to Singapore. After coming to Singapore, she pursued a Diploma in Learning Disorder Management and Child Psychology from the College of Allied Educators. She also regularly attends different workshops and training sessions.
Shruti enjoys the opportunity to guide and teach children and finds it satisfying to see their faces and expressions while they learn and experience new things. She feels that every child is unique, and their individuality must be respected and understood so that they achieve their potential. She helps students achieve success via functional and life skill using multi- sensory and multi-modality teaching approaches to bring out the best in them.
She encourages students to look beyond the four walls of the classroom and explore the world around them as a place of learning and discovery.
She is excited to be part of the OWIS family that aims to develop independent, inquiring and lifelong learners while promoting international mindedness within the school and in the community. She believes OWIS is a kind environment for students as well as teachers.
During her free time, she loves cooking and learning different art forms. She enjoys travelling and discovering diverse cultures.
EAL Teacher
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EAL Teacher
education
bio
Debakshi graduated with History Honours from Presidency College, Calcutta India. She obtained a Masters in History and a Bachelor of Education from Calcutta University. She went on to do a certificate in TEFL( UK), a Young Learners Certificate (British Council) and a Diploma in TESOL.
After more than 7 years of homeroom teaching in several schools in India, including DPS R K Puram, she moved to Singapore in 2010. In Singapore, she has worked as an EAL teacher in an international school.
She believes in using differentiated instruction in order to address the weaknesses, strengths and needs of each student. Her passion for second language acquisition was ignited by a deep interest in non-English speaking cultures.
Debakshi is excited to be part of the OWIS community. She is attracted by the school’s holistic approach to education and multicultural environment.
A voracious reader, Debakshi has developed a predilection for Asian literature over the years. She loves reading books by Chinese, Japanese and South Asian authors. She is a passionate dog lover and is associated with animal welfare organisations in Singapore and volunteers for them. Debakshi and her husband are proud parents to their teenage son and two dogs, adopted from local shelters.
For more information on our EAL Programme for students in Grades 1 to 6, please contact us today to set up a campus tour. We look forward to meeting with you and providing you with information about how we can support your student during their OWIS journey.
