Curriculum, learning and teaching
English for academic achievement Sandra Comas on the importance of language skills Oftentimes we provide great English instruction at our international schools, believing that communication among students and teachers is the highest priority. Is it true that a student who converses easily and well in acquired English is the student who is also best poised for advanced academic learning? It would seem so. Yet our experience shows that the ability to read and write, listen and speak, with the vocabulary and thinking of a specific area of study, is the ability that best prepares students for success at university. A student can be Autumn
Spring |
| 2017
outstanding in mathematics and face language barriers that hinder her progress. Another student could be exceptional in certain types of scientific reasoning, but not have developed the specific knowledge of English that allows him to continue to develop his scientific capabilities. International schools often focus on one language for teaching and learning. Even at the highest levels of academic study there can be “interferences� between languages that can impede learning of content. Schools face the challenge
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