Clearly, the demand for a global approach to education is growing. The necessity to inspire and support individual students to understand and fulfil their potential in an uncertain job market, competitive university career and internationally connected world is imperative to ensuring that their future is the best it can be. Now more than ever, the education offered by the IB, either as an individual curriculum or as part of a combined learning programme, helps develop, engage and enthuse the work force and citizens of tomorrow.
Concordian International School is one of the schools that offer a full IB World programme as well as an English/Chinese immersion programme. Their English/Chinese language immersions programme is available from Pre-K to Grade 4. Curriculum activities are conducted in a language other than the student’s mother tongue. Through immersion, students acquire literacy skills and academic content at the same time.
In Grade 5, students study English and Chinese language arts separately. English becomes the core language of instruction and Chinese is taught as an additional language up to advanced levels of language arts and literary appreciation throughout secondary school.
A Look at The IB Programmes
Primary Years Programme (PYP) 3-11
PYP uses a transdisciplinary Framework which provides students a curriculum that allows them to appreciate knowledge, conceptual understanding, skills and personal attributes as a connected whole. The PYP program allows students to explore 4 Units of inquiry per year in the early years and 6 units of inquiry in the primary years in both English and Chinese languages. Science, Social Studies, Personal Social Physical Education (PSPE), Language, Math are taught through Units of Inquiry. Music, Arts, ICT and Physical Education are taught as Single subjects.
A unit of inquiry is an in-depth exploration of a transdisciplinary theme, such as Who We Are, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves… etc. Students will inquire into a central idea and concepts by being guided by lines of inquiry and teacher questions. Through various learning engagements and ongoing assessment, students gain knowledge, skills and conceptual understandings. Students reflect on the significance of learning and take meaningful actions in their community and beyond, becoming competent lifelong learners.
Middle Years Programme (MYP) 11-16
The next five years prepares each student for not only the academic related subjects that continue in the global theme of PYP but also the extracurricular, self-developmental and emotional progression needed to enter early adulthood through learning and experience. The programme focuses on eight key areas, including language acquisition, language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design.
Each year has to also complete at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit that involves at least two subject groups as well as a long-term project of their choice.
Diploma Programme (DP) 16-18
The DP curriculum consists of six subject areas: three at Higher Level and three at Standard. Students choose one subject from each of five groups: language and literature, language acquisition (a second language), individuals and societies (geography, history, psychology), experimental sciences (biology, chemistry, physics), mathematics, and the arts (visual arts, theatre, music), and a sixth from any group.
Other components of the curriculum are Theory of Knowledge (TOK), which is designed to encourage students to reflect on the acquisition of knowledge; an extended essay; and creativity, action and service (CAS), which affords the opportunity to learn from experience by engaging in real tasks.
On the whole, the IB’s emphasis on independence, creativity and well-being allows each child, adolescent and young adult to grow in the direction that best suits them.
By immersing children from an early age in a language-rich environment, and through a content- based curriculum, Concordian International School greatly improves chances of acquiring near-native fluency and pronunciation. All of this is based on the International Baccalaureate curriculum framework, which focuses on “the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development.”
“The world needs not only well-educated and intelligent people, but the world also needs them to be courageous and compassionate. We need people who extend their hands to help others and stand up for the rights of all mankind.”
Varnnee Chearavanont Ross
Founding Director, Concordian International School.
** Concordian offers full IB scholarships, please contact the school directly for further details**
