160 likes | 244 Views
After-School/Noon Hour Language Courses at WAB. May 12, 2008. Agenda. Welcome A word from 1 of our students who currently studies 2 languages Goals Challenges Study of Two Additional Languages Pilot Program 2006-2009
E N D
After-School/Noon Hour Language Coursesat WAB May 12, 2008
Agenda Welcome A word from 1 of our students who currently studies 2 languages Goals Challenges Study of Two Additional Languages Pilot Program 2006-2009 Realities And Important Considerations For You And Your Child Student Characteristics MYP - IBDP Language Continuum The Importance of Students Having a Firmly Embedded MT Question and Answers
A Word From Our Student • Fabienne Derks • Grade 7 • Studies MT Dutch and Mandarin Chinese • Is currently completing her 2nd year in additional language programme
Goals • Allow students to study two languages (in addition to English) or to study an additional language while enrolled in our EAP or LSP programs • Assist our students in maintaining their MT • Connect our beliefs about languages with our course structure and language offerings • Seek a sustainable model
Challenges • Developing programs that meet our students’ needs • Developing programs that match our philosophy/beliefs • Fitting programs within our MYP framework • Developing strategies for solutions • Curricular Balance • Timetable • Staffing • Costs • Critical Mass • Sustainability
Study of Two Additional Languages Pilot Program 2006-2009 2007-2009 Timetable Solutions: • Courses offered through a combination of after-school/lunch hour lessons • Total of 150 Minutes per week (as opposed to 200 minutes) • Possible Course Timetable Structure: 80 minutes on Tuesday, 35 minutes on Monday & Thursday 75 minutes on Tuesday and Thursday • Key Points: Offered a minimum of twice per week • Flexibility of times offered can meet the needs of that student group
Lunch and After-School Language Courses 2008/09 • Foundation Chinese • Standard 1 Chinese • Standard 2 Chinese • Advanced Chinese • Foundation 2 Spanish • Standard 1 Spanish • Beginner French or Beginner Spanish (only 1) • Foundation 2 French • Standard 1French • Mother Tongue French • Available depending upon enrollment of 4 or more students per class Priority for course enrollment will be given to students who are currently in this program
Important Considerations for You and Your Child • Noon Hour/After School Course is a Ninth Course with full curriculum, course demands and extra homework • Time constraints • Course times will be offered during some ASA times (thus conflict for some students) • One or two shortened lunch hours for students • Full year course • This course is much more rigorous, demanding than language ASAs • All Mother Tongue Language Courses are subject to an additional fee (approximately between 16,000 rmb - 21000 rmb per student) • The Noon Hour/After School is a PILOT program and could be discontinued, or come with extra fee for future years
Characteristics of Successful Student Candidates to Study Two Additional Languages • Motivation • Commitment • Organization • Effort • Facility for language learning
Importance of MaintainingMother Tongue Developing MT language and literacy: • Facilitates learning additional language(s) • Ensures continuous cognitive development • Enables intercultural awareness • Increases positive re-adjustment to home community
Implications If Students Do Not Have Firmly Embedded Mother Tongue: • Vocabulary development becomes limited • Inferential comprehension is difficult • Abstract concepts are difficult to grasp • Grammar is simplistic • Sentence structure is basic • Written depth and detail is lacking
Mother Tongue and the IB • Students can have their MT accredited by the IB – this can be applied for with help of the MYP Coordinator. • MT is recognized on MYP and IBDP certificates • Amount of student subject requirements are reduced when MT certification is noted • There is no set hour requirement for MT courses but it is the equivalent of Language A. Ideally you would be looking for an hour + per week. • The IB actively discourages IB schools from taking students out of any subject group as a whole for the purpose of mother tongue or additional language study.
Questions? We are happy to answer any questions. For further information we can also be contacted at: Donna Connolly, MS Principal, dconnolly@wab.edu David Wood, HS Assistant Principal, dwood@wab.edu Brian Pretty, HOD French/Spanish/Dutch, bpretty@wab.edu Hui Xu, HOD Mandarin Chinese, hxu@wab.edu Wenjing Wang, Coordinator WS Mandarin Chinese, wjwang@wab.edu