At UWCSEA, the language of instruction is English. In addition to English or English as an Additional Language (EAL) lessons, almost all students take another language. This can be a First Language, (which includes a language learned as a child, other languages spoken at home and ‘heritage languages’, which are languages spoken by a parent, grandparent or ancestor). Alternatively, students can take a Foreign language—also known as Language Acquisition. This language is not spoken as a first language by any family member and the learner is not culturally connected to the language.
The languages offered depend on the grade and campus. The course that a student is placed in will depend on their proficiency in the language, which includes their experience in learning the language in an academic setting.
Language courses are designed to provide our students with exposure to their own culture and linguistic identity, in the case of First Languages, or other cultures in the Language Acquisition Courses as well as to acquire skills in a language other than English. The details of our LOTE courses are outlined below; our K–12 EAL programme is explained on a separate factsheet.
For the most part these lessons take place during the academic timetable; any exceptions are marked.
We admit EAL learners from K1 to Grade 11 on both campuses, and support students whose first language is not English in retaining and developing skills in their home language (first language) wherever possible. In addition to the languages offered via the academic timetable, we also offer a comprehensive Home Languages Programme for students who wish to maintain and develop a level of academic exposure to a language which they do not study during the school day.
This brochure gives information about the K–12 LOTE language learning pathways available at UWCSEA.
Students joining the College may be tested to ensure they are placed in a course that matches their previous experience and attainment with the UWCSEA language course.
Language Acquisition Courses
Beginner courses
These are for students with little or no prior exposure to learning the language. In the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), these are the ‘ab initio’ courses. There is at least one beginner language option available for students joining in K1–Grade 8, and Grade 11.
Continuation courses
These courses require students to have had at least a year of prior academic study in the language. There are continuation courses available for students joining the College in K1–Grade 11.
First language courses
A selection of first language courses are offered through the academic programme. Students joining these classes are assessed as part of the formal assessment and reporting process.
UWCSEA students who successfully complete a first language/ Group 1 course in a language other than English in the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11 and 12), as well as meet all other requirements, will graduate with an IB Bilingual Diploma.
Our Home Languages Programme is usually offered after school (as part of the Activities programme) and allows students to develop their home language when this is not available to them at an appropriate level through the academic curriculum.
School Supported Language (SSL) course
This High School programme is for advanced learners who would like to continue academic studies of their chosen language. This course is available to students when their chosen language has a small number of proficient users in our community. To enrol in the course, students need to have sound reading and writing skills in their chosen language either through using it as a family language and/or in an academic setting. A students’ chosen SSL language is not necessarily their first, best, home or family language. It could be a language in which they were schooled for a number of years, even though they do not speak the language at home.
In this course, literary analysis skills are taught in a class which may contain speakers of a number of different languages; students then apply the skills by completing reading and writing assignments in their chosen language, guided by a qualified literature tutor.
Home Languages Programme (HLP)
Our HLP is offered outside the academic timetable and is not formally assessed. The aim is to help students maintain a language they speak at home (this is not necessarily their first language) and to develop literacy skills, particularly in reading and writing. These classes may assist students progress to a first or advanced language class if it is offered in the academic programme.
Overview of language offerings on Dover Campus
* Students may be offered the SSL or Language A as an alternative if there are insufficient numbers to form a class.
Chinese in K1–G2, Chinese first and second language students are taught together in interactive classes with emphasis on speaking and listening. From Grade 3 onwards, first language Chinese is offered as a separate class.
Dutch in Grade 7 and 8, Dutch is taught as a first language after school. More information on UWCSEA’s Dutch language and cultural programme for students in Grades 7–12 can be found at uwcsea.edu.sg/Dutch.
German in Grades 7 and 8, German is taught as a first language according to the Swiss curriculum, supporting students joining us in Grade 7 from the Swiss School in Singapore; German First Language speakers and ‘Near first-language speakers’ are also encouraged to join this course that adopts a differentiated approach to prepare them for German A or German B HL in Grade 11. More information on the programme for Grades 7–12 can be found at uwcsea.edu.sg/German.
Japanese is taught as a first language from Grade 6 onwards for first language speakers.`Near first language speakers´ are also encouraged to join this course that adopts a differentiated approach to prepare them for Japanese A or Japanese B HL in Grade 11.
Home Languages Programme is an option from K1. Students can choose either Model A with one session a week and a responsive curriculum; or Model B with up to three hours a week and a rigorous , structured curriculum with assessments.
Grade 11 IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
Language A Group 1 courses (first language)
A – English Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – English Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Dutch Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – French Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – German Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Hindi Literature (SL and HL)
A – Japanese Literature (SL and HL)
A – Korean Literature (SL and HL)
A – Spanish Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – School Supported Language (SL)
Language B Group 2 courses (language acquisition continuation)
B – English (HL)
B – Chinese (SL and HL)
B – French (SL and HL)
B – German (SL and HL)
B – Japanese (SL and HL)
B – Spanish (SL and HL)
Language B Group 2 courses (language acquisition beginner)
B – French ab initio (SL)
B – Mandarin ab initio (SL)
B – Spanish ab initio (SL)
Overview of language offerings on East Campus
* Students may be offered SSL as an alternative if there are insufficient numbers to form a class.
Chinese in K1 and K2 students are taught together in interactive and dynamic classes that encourage all students to be active Chinese speakers, with an emphasis on speaking and listening. From Grade 1, Chinese is offered at advanced level.
Home Languages Programme an option from K1, the classes may help to prepare students to join the first language classes offered as part of the academic programme in the Middle and High School.
Grade 11 IB Diploma Programme (IBDP)
Language A Group 1 courses (first language)
A – English Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – English Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Language and Literature (SL and HL)
A – Chinese Literature (SL and HL)
A – French Literature (SL and HL)
A – Hindi Literature (SL and HL)
A – Japanese Literature (SL and HL)
A – Spanish Literature (SL and HL)
A – School Supported Language (SL)
Language B Group 2 courses (language acquisition continuation)
B – English (HL)
B – Chinese (SL and HL)
B – French (SL and HL)
B – Spanish (SL and HL)
Language B Group 2 courses (language acquisition beginner)
B – French ab initio (SL)
B – Mandarin ab initio (SL)
B – Spanish ab initio (SL)
First Language Courses
In the past, UWCSEA High School students have studied over 50 different languages as either SSL or HLP courses, including:
• Asian languages: Bahasa Indonesia, Bengali, Burmese, Cantonese, Chinese, Dzongkha, Filipino, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Malay, Marathi, Mongolian, Sinhalese, Tajik, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Urdu and Vietnamese
• European languages: Albanian, Belarusian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Swedish and Ukrainian
• Middle Eastern languages: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian School Supported Language courses
In Grade 9 and 10, this non-examined course helps students develop literary analysis skills. Students who are studying a number of different literature and language courses are guided and supervised through the course by a UWCSEA language teacher. In addition, they are supported in their chosen language by a literature tutor who sets learning engagements, gives feedback on progress and assesses learning in each student’s chosen language. By completing a variety of tasks independently and collaborating closely with their tutor, students take ownership of their learning in the target language. In addition to developing the conceptual tools for exploring literature, SSL students also learn how to structure critical analyses, essays and oral presentations about literature.
Each student’s written work is regularly assessed by a professional literature tutor, against criteria provided by the College. These teachers are carefully selected on the basis of their experience and expertise. Parents play an important role in supporting their children’s efforts by discussing work with them and providing additional opportunities to use the target language in a variety of contexts and for diverse purposes.
Admissions
In Grades 11 and 12, students select from the IB-approved authors list and are supported by a SSL supervisor and an experienced tutor in their chosen language as they study towards a bilingual diploma.
SSL lessons are part of the student’s timetable, and students may have lessons with their tutor in the allocated study time, or outside school hours, depending on the tutor’s availability.
Home Languages Programme
HLP is offered for students who want to maintain and develop a language spoken at home. This may be the student’s ‘first language’ or ‘heritage language’, or it may be another language to which the student has had extensive previous exposure and in which the family is keen for the student to maintain a level of fluency.
Classes are delivered by a qualified teacher in small groups of 3–6 students of similar age and ability. The classes take place after school or at lunch time, supporting students to maintain and develop literacy skills in the language at age appropriate levels. Classes are scheduled subject to demand, and are an additional cost.
In K1 to Grade 1 the focus is on maintaining or expanding a student’s exposure to their home language in an environment other than home. Teachers use a communicative approach to build on speaking and listening skills through activities, games and songs. Students learn to recognise patterns and characters or single words. From Grade 2, a particular focus on developing the literacy skills of reading and writing is introduced, in line with the development of literacy skills in the academic programme (English and other taught languages) classes. Students expand their vocabulary and develop confidence in speaking. They gain a sense of cultural identity through different activities.
For older students, the programme is intended to assist them to develop a level of proficiency that may allow them to move into first or advanced language academic classes in Middle or High School or the SSL course in High School. It may also assist students who aim to study for a bilingual IB Diploma to develop a level of language learning to access a relevant IBDP course.
The availability of all language courses is based on demand; if an insufficient number of students request the course, we try to offer an alternative course.
All students applying to continuation or advanced language courses are likely to be assessed to ensure the UWCSEA course is an appropriate fit.
Those intending to apply to study a specific language through a School Supported Language course should contact Admissions to discuss their request prior to making an application to ensure that we are able to support the language.
Home Languages: registration for these lessons is completed through the seasonal Activity sign-up. This enables students and families to manage their lunchtime and after school schedule in one location.
