Language Learning

LANGUAGES IN PRIMARY

The French Section offers six pathways in primary, allowing us to provide an ideal educational experience for each of our pupils.

Our French-English pathway

The French-English pathway is the choice of 95% of our primary families; it gives children the opportunity to become fully bilingual in French and English, while also learning Chinese. The French-English pathway runs from MS to CM2. Each year group has two qualified and experienced classroom teachers – a native French teacher and a native English teacher.

Our EAL pathway

French speaking pupils who are new to English from CP to CM2 have the support of an additional EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher. The EAL teacher runs intensive English classes at the start of the school year 3 times a week during class time and at midday. The EAL teacher also accompanies EAL children for certain lessons during regular English class time. Children who follow the EAL pathway also benefit from a place in an after-school English homework club.

This pathway is an extension of the French-English pathway, with complementary components. The objectives for children’s learning in this pathway are set by the classroom teacher. 

Our FAL pathway

FAL (French as an Additional Language) classes give our non-native Francophone pupils from MS to CE2 additional exposure to the French language. In Infant FAL (MS and GS), the FAL teacher assists FAL students in French class and in small withdrawal groups during class time. In Junior FAL (CP, CE1 and CE2) the FAL teachers assist students in class during regular class time and also during a small additional group lesson at midday. Junior FAL students have the added benefit of a place in an after school French homework club.

This pathway is an extension of the French-English pathway, with complementary components. The objectives for children’s learning in this pathway are set by the classroom teacher. 

Our FLC pathway

French Language and Culture classes deepen CM1 and CM2 students' cultural and linguistic knowledge of French in preparation for secondary school. FLC students are accompanied by an FLC teacher at key moments of the day in French class and also have an extra French lesson at midday. FLC students benefit from a place in an after-school French homework club.

This pathway is an extension of the French-English pathway, with complementary components. The objectives for children’s learning in this pathway are set by the classroom teacher. 

Our FAL+/ FLC+ pathway

For FAL pupils who wish to intensify their French learning experience and do not want to study Chinese. Classes take place during Chinese class time. Groups are small and focus on specific objectives.

This pathway is an extension of the French-English pathway, with complementary components. The objectives for children’s learning in this pathway are set by the classroom teacher. 

Our French only pathway

This pathway is closest to what pupils in France study, with additional English and Chinese lessons.  A student in the French only pathway remains in the French classroom every day with the French teacher, while their classmates following the French-English pathway spend English days in the English classroom. French only students spend 1 hour and 20 minutes in the English classroom per week. They also follow regular Chinese classes with their year group (see below).

Please note that the French Only pathway is for native French-speaking students who are already enrolled in the French Section. All requests to join the French Only Pathway must be approved by the primary head.

 

Chinese Language and Culture classes 

Chinese Language and Culture (CLC) classes are offered starting in Moyenne Section (MS). In MS, the class learning assistants, Kuo-Ying Chiang and Wan-Ting Yeh, both qualified Chinese language instructors, are responsible for the teaching and learning of Chinese. Children in each MS class are divided into language level groups for Chinese class. Kuo-Ying and Wan-Ting coordinate with the MS French Section classroom teachers to ensure that the themes and topics covered in Chinese lessons reflect those taught and learnt in the French and English classrooms.  They also coordinate with the TES CLC teachers to ensure a smooth transition for our MS students into the TES CLC programme in GS. 

From Grande Section (GS) onwards, Mandarin language instruction is conducted according to the   TES curriculum for CLC by specialist CLC teachers. Instruction is adapted to pupils’ language profiles; learners have the possibility to change group level during the course of the year, depending on their progress. 

Pupils from the French, British and German Sections learn Chinese together in ability level groups. 

In MS, GS and CP, the groups are: Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL) and Chinese Language (CL).

From CE1 onwards, a third level is introduced: Chinese Language and Literature (CLL).

In primary, the number of Chinese classes depends on the year level of the pupils: 

- MS: four 30-minute sessions a week;

- GS & CP: five 30-minute sessions a week;

- CE1, CE2, CM1 & CM2: 3 and a half hours a week, divided into three one-hour lessons and one 30-minute lesson. 

 

LANGUAGES IN SECONDARY

From 6ème to 4ème:

The French-English programme taught in our Primary school prepares French Section students for the Combined Courses taught in Secondary.  

From 6ème to 4ème, students from all Sections of TES study English, Chinese, Art, Music and Physical Education together in Combined Courses. The language of instruction for the Combined Courses is English (excluding Chinese Language & Culture classes).

French Section students from 6ème to 4ème study French Literature, Mathematics, Physics, Biology, History, Geography & Civics and Technology in French.

FS students have the option to learn Latin starting in 6ème. From 5ème, FS students add a fourth modern language to their studies: Spanish or German.

3ème and 2nde: IGCSE

In 3ème, French students prepare for the Brevet National Diploma exams. In preparation for the exams, the number of classes taught in French increases. Students continue to study Chinese and English in Combined Courses alongside British and German Section students.

From 3ème, all TES students follow the British National Curriculum in their English Combined Courses in preparation for the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) exams.  All TES students sit the English IGCSE exams together in the last term of Seconde.

1ère and Terminale: Language Modules in the International Baccalaureate

Following the IGCSE exams, TES French Section and High School students prepare for the International Baccalaureate (IB) during their Combined Courses in English and Chinese. They sit the IB English and Chinese exams during the last term of Terminale (Tle).

French Section students graduate from TES with a French Baccalauréat diploma plus an IB in languages.

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