Bilingualism

Students who have been learning in a bilingual environment for many years perform at an above-average level in foreign languages, in their own mother tongue and in other subjects. Bilingualism promotes the cognitive development of children in such areas as awareness of language, creativity and flexible thinking.

During the first 4 years of school, most of the teaching at our bilingual primary school takes place in English. Our teachers deliver their lessons at native speaker level, using the immersion method. This means that teaching staff speak in the foreign language at all times, using pictures, gestures and symbols to support student understanding. This enables the children to learn the foreign language in a play-based and completely natural way within a wide range of contexts. Even our primary school students are able to discuss, write and give presentations in English. Beginning in grade 5, we additionally teach history and geography in German.

At the same time, we also attach great importance to good quality teaching in German. Therefore, the alphabet is first taught in German and our German teachers are often provided with specialist classrooms for this purpose.