The British International Section offers students an intensive English language learning experience. The International Section adapts the curricula of the Ministry of National Education and the National British Curriculum to create a high quality education framework and a dynamic curriculum to meet the needs of our international students. The International Section provides an additional 2 hours of English and focuses on the four language competences; speaking, listening, reading and writing. The International Section topics are cross-curricular and include a wide range of subjects from Physical Education to Science, Music and Computing. The International Section promotes the accomplishment of language fluency through interdisciplinary activities and purposeful experiences. The teaching is provided by native speakers with a degree in primary teaching.
What is the purpose of this course?
At the end of CM2, the expected level corresponds to the B1 in speaking and to the A2 CECRL level in spoken and written understanding. A continuity from Primary to Secondary level is foreseen, so that the pupil can pass the International Option Brevet and the International Option Baccalauréat.
What are the learning hours of the International Section?
Students have 6 hours of English lessons per week:
– 4 hours of English Language
– 2 Hours of EMILE (CLIL)
How are students assigned to the International Section Pathway?
Language pathways at LFIB are determined by the students’ level of French. The International Section is tailored towards students who are meeting the learning requirements in French. Students are assessed three times in the academic year in French. Their French homeroom teacher will invite eligible students to be assessed in English by the language coordinator. English assessments are based on the English that students have learnt in their Classic Section English lessons. If the student meets the requirements in English, parents are invited to choose which language pathway they would like their child to progress with.
The language pathways at LFIB are designed so that students can move smoothly between both the Classic Section and the International Section. Both English pathways work in harmony, following similar themes and vocabulary.
What is the EMILE?
L’Enseignement d’une Matiere Integre a une Langue Etrangere (EMILE), or Content language Integrated learning (CLIL) in English, is the delivery of foundation subjects within the French curriculum in English. At LFIB, our EMILE program is divided into two different delivery styles, EMILE and Doublette. Classic Section and International Section students explore these subjects together.
EMILE is taught in English by one teacher.
Doublette is a bilingual approach to the topics. Doublette is taught by one English teacher and one French teacher together. The additional skills that are developed in this lesson center around navigating and solving problems through the two languages.
Questions and Answers
Is there a charge of the International Section?
No, there are no additional costs for our English Language pathways.
Who can join the International Section?
The International Section is open to all students. Students must meet the learning requitements in their French class before being considered for this pathway.
English test is an oral one about the child’s daily life (Class, school yard, and family). These are studied during the English courses at LFIB.
When do assessments take place?
French assessments take place in December, April and June. Changes to a student’s language pathway will take place at the beginning of the following term.
Who takes the English assessment?
The language coordinator conducts the English assessments and results are examined by the International Section Council (Conseil de Section Internationale) who deliberates and decides whether the pupil can join this section or not.
Is it possible to partly join the International Section?
No, the students follow either the lessons of the International Section (6 hours of English) or those of the Classic Section (4 hours of English).
Are the students in the International Section gathered in the same class?
No, International Section students will learn English together with children from their own class.
Are students divided according to their level in English?
No, the students are in heterogeneous groups.
Is there a limited number of International Section places?
No, the number of places is not limited.
What are the learning goals for the International Section?
We offer a program integrating the skills of the French Program and the National British Curriculum.
Are students in the International Section automatically enrolled in the International Section the following year?
No, students are assessed in both languages at the end of the school year and the International Section Council validates, or not, the continuation in the International Section.
Can students who are enrolled in the International Section also take Thai Reinforce?
Yes, they can.