"C'est une langue belle avec des mots superbes
Qui porte son histoire à travers ses accents
Où l'on sent la musique et le parfum des herbes
Le fromage de chèvre et le pain de froment"
                                               
Yves Duteil.
Famous French composer and poet

Why learn French and Spanish?

Facts....
 
"Over 120 million people in the world speak French in 51 countries"

"French and Spanish are the most popular foreign languages taught in International Schools"

"Spanish (español) or Castilian (castellano) is an Iberian Romane language. It was spoken by roughly 364 million people in the year 2000. Current estimates place them at 410 million, making Spanish the most widely spoken romance language."

It has been proved that studying a foreign language develops students' social skills. They become more aware of the diversity of peoples and cultures in the world around them and hopefully become more tolerant and knowledgeable individuals as a consequence.

At the International School of Brunei, students of all abilities can study French as a foreign language from Year 3 to Year 13 and Spanish at beginner level in Year 12 and 13.

In our MEL (Modern European Languages) department, we always develop authenticity and creativity. Our students are encouraged to practise their four skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) through a huge range of fun and dynamic activities. We emphasise spontaneity in communicating as we strongly believe that it is very important for our students to feel confident and happy to use the foreign language in different situations.

We constantly look for new up-to-date resources for our students. ICT and audio-visual support are widely used by teachers and students alike to maintain motivation and facilitate learning.
ISB is also a member of the Alliance Française of Brunei and we are proud to be represented in most of their cultural and linguistics events.

Recent Events

 on progress

Curriculum

French as a Foreign Language in Primary:

Year 3:
At ISB, children have the opportunity to start French as a Foreign Language as early as Year 3 with Salut Céline et Antoine!  This fabulous course is designed for 7/8 year olds and gives a good introduction of the core vocabulary through mini stories, rhymes, songs and activities suited to the age group. This methodology is based on real communication situations suited to the interest, experience and social and intellectual development of each group. It is also aimed at encouraging children to use language in their own purposes!
With Céline et Antoine, the children will have fun learning and developing their four skills in French.

Year 4-6:
Children are becoming more confident and mature with the language. This is why we   introduce a brand new French method called Alex et Zoé in Year 4. This method will be carried out until the end of Year 6. It comes with CDs and interactive material to develop all four skills and creativity. Alex et Zoé is an authentic material, produced in France by French specialists. It always encourages cultural awareness and cultural interaction amongst learners. All tasks are in the target language and are especially designed for a multicultural audience.

Lower Secondary

French as a Foreign Language is based on the British National Curriculum and is taught with Métro1-3 (respectively from Year 7 to 9). Métro is a lively, creative and cultural easy-to-use 11-16 French Course designed for pupils of a wide range of ability. It is a topic-based course which is underpinned by a clear grammatical progression. It contains interesting and original activities in all four skills and emphasises spontaneity and creativity.  Métro comes with CDs, flash cards and colour OHT file full of fun activities for the learners.

Métro 1-3 also offers a very solid, steady and consistent base for future IGCSE French students.

Year 7

Term 1    Term 2      Term 3

Year 8

Term 1    Term 2      Term 3

Year 9

Term 1    Term 2      Term 3

IGCSE

In Year 10, ISB students have the opportunity to chose French as a foreign Language and prepare for the highly academic Cambridge IGCSE examination. It is a two-year course and is recognised by the British National Curriculum and gives a very strong base for students wishing to pursue further studies in French at IB Level or A/AS Level. This course is designed to develop the ability to use the language effectively for purposes of practical communication within the country of residence, where appropriate, and in all the countries where the language is spoken. It also offers an insight into the culture and civilisation of the French speaking world.

This is a non-coursework final examination course with differentiated entries to suit the wide range of abilities.

During these two years, students build up a huge range of vocabulary and grammar patterns. With a good grade in their final examination, they can definitely go and get by in any French speaking country in the world!
For those who wish to continue their French studies at ISB, they can do so at IB Level.

FRENCH - FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Course Summary
The topics studied in IGCSE Foreign Language French are:

• Everyday activities
• Personal and social life
• The world around us
• The world of work
• The international world

Students will continue to develop the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing.

The course aims to:

• Develop a student's ability to understand and communicate effectively for purposes of practical communication
• Form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for further study, work and leisure
• Offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries where French is spoken
• Provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation to encourage further study of French

Assessment Summary
IGCSE Foreign Language French is assessed by final exams. Students may be entered for the Core (grades C - G) or Extended (grades A* - G) curriculum:

• Paper 1 - Listening exam; counts for 33% of Core grade, 25% of Extended grade
• Paper 2 - Reading and directed writing; counts for 33% of Core grade, 25% of Extended grade
• Paper 3 - Speaking; counts for 33% of Core grade, 25% of Extended grade
• Paper 4 - Continuous writing; counts for 25% of Extended grade

International Baccalaureate (IB)

At ISB, students have the opportunity to:

• Carry on their French studies and enrol in Language B at Higher or Standard Level.
• Start Spanish at beginner level and enrol in Language Ab Initio Spanish.

Language B French, Higher/Standard Level:

This programme is a language learning course for students with some previous experience of learning in the target language. The main focus of this course is on language acquisition, the development of skills and cultural awareness.

Language B French course gives students the opportunity to reach a high degree of competence in French and explore the culture(s) using the language.
At ISB, we emphasise authenticity and creativity. All our resources are constantly updated using the Internet to access current issues in the French Speaking world. The ISB library is also well resourced and has subscriptions to many cultural magazines.

ISB is also a member of the Alliance Française of Brunei which contributes to many of our intercultural exchanges.

Spanish Ab Initio Level:

At ISB, students have the opportunity to start Spanish at beginner level in Year 12 with the Language Ab Initio programme.
The course is a language learning course for beginners, designed to be followed over two years by students who have no previous experience of learning Spanish. The main focus of the course is on the acquisition of language required for purposes and situations usual in everyday social interaction. It aims to develop a variety of language skills, and a basic awareness of the culture(s) using the language, through the study of a core syllabus and a language-specific syllabus.

We emphasise spontaneity and communication. We use the Internet and have different subscriptions to authentic documents in order to provide the students with the most up-to-date material from the Spanish speaking world.

Assessment Information

French:

Year 7-11:

The course is a topic based course and the students have a formal assessment at the end of each unit. The four skills are evaluated (Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading) This is marked according to the British National Curriculum and each task is evaluated with the assessment criteria given by the text book.

Each student is also evaluated every week with a vocabulary "check up" in order to monitor each individual's learning and progress.

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/rgshiwyc/school/curric/HotPotatoes/index.htm     www.musicalspanish.com     www.languagesonline.org.uk         www.realspanish.net    www.realfrench.net  www.frenchteacher.net   www.momes.net   www.atantot.com     www.lajolieronde.co.uk http://www.thelearningbank.co.uk/shireland/vocational/    www.donquijote.org/spanishlanguage     www.mflgames.co.uk     www.mflresources.org.uk     http://www.zut.org.uk/index.html       http://www.classtools.net       www.intute.ac.uk    www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/

The Malay Department at International School Brunei offers two separate secondary programmes:

First Language Malay for native speakers and Foreign Language Malay for beginners
to cater for the needs and interests of its international students from Year 7 to Year 13. Each programme has specialist teaching staff to cater for the different courses with different teaching and learning styles.

In both our programmes, we endeavour to develop our students' language skills and support them to become critical and independent learners. We encourage our students to use the Malay language actively in their everyday life, and in practical and role-play situations. Language learning extends, diversifies and enriches our students' ways of thinking about the world they live in.

Recent Events

Curriculum

Primary

Students in Year 1 and 2 embark on a weekly introductory Malay language course (greetings, numbers, animals, body parts, etc) through learning songs and rhymes. The objective is to develop their language learning skills through active speaking and listening skills, and to cultivate their interest in learning about the culture of the host nation.

Students in Year 3 to 6 study Malay in differentiated groups to cater to their needs, interest and ability levels. The emphasis is to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through a variety of units/topics taught. Students are beginning to use a dictionary and develop independent learning skills, as well as gain exposure to formal language and grammar usage in striving to develop their literacy. 

Lower Secondary

Students taking Malay can select one from the two programmes offered:
The Malay as a First Language Programme is based on the curriculum as outlined by the Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam. Students in each grade work through appropriate level Year 7 to Year 9 Bruneian Malay textbooks, with an emphasis on karangan, tatabahasa, kefahaman dan lisan.  It is crucial for parents to encourage their children to use the formal language actively at home and in social situations, and to encourage their child's regular reading of Malay magazines and newspapers at home.

The Malay as a Foreign Language Programme is taught through specific content themes and teaching approaches adapted to best cater for the needs and interests of our students. The emphasis is on the development of the four communication skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in formal Malay, and the generation of a depth to students' cultural understandings and knowledge about Malay speaking peoples in particular.

Languages Curriculum Map 2007-2008

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

IGCSE

Year 10 - 11 Brunei-Cambridge GCE 'O Level Bahasa Melayu

Year 10 - 11 IGCSE Foreign Language Malay course

Year 10 Malay

Year 11 Malay

Assessment Information

In the Malay as a First Language Programme me, assessment will be in the form of reading and writing tasks to include 'Karangan, Tatabahasa, Kefahaman dan Lisan' based on the skills and concepts taught. The emphasis will be on developing grammar and extended vocabulary which are assessed through regular grammar tests, reading comprehension passages, summary writing exercises and various writing tasks. 

In the Malay as a Foreign Language Programme, assessment of the skills taught through the various topics/units will be in the form of role-play tasks, topic talk presentations, reading comprehension exercises, various short and long writing tasks, as well as creative project work.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

YEAR 12 & 13 IB MALAY A1 LANGUAGE COURSE

The Language A1 course, offered at both Higher and Standard levels, is designed to meet the needs of students for whom the Language A1 is normally their best language. The study of literature is the main focus of the Language A1 programme me, which includes a World Literature component. IB English and Malay provides the opportunity for students to examine, discuss and compare the ideas and language of a wide variety of writers from the twentieth century and from previous centuries and from a variety of cultures, world-wide.

Malay A1 Higher Level Syllabus and Standard Level Syllabus

Year 12 Malay A1

Term 1         Term 2          Term 3

Year 13 Malay A1 (link to Term 1, 2, 3 units of work)

Term 1        Term 2           Term 3

IB COURSE OUTLINE: 

Analysis of style, literary appreciation, oral presentation and the development of essay and commentary technique all feature significantly.  The study of five texts from World Literature is a central element of both Higher and Standard Level in all Language A Courses.  At Higher Level fifteen texts are studied; at Standard Level, eleven texts. 

IB MALAY A1 HIGHER LEVEL:

I/GSCE grade B or above is required to take Language A 1 Higher Level.  In addition to the five World Literature texts, students study ten texts embracing prose, drama and poetry, written originally in their Language A.  The Higher course can be both stimulating and enriching, but is uncompromisingly demanding, and before considering entry, students should possess a voracious appetite for Literature combined with a capacity for hard work.  Adult Literature is studied. Oral skills are assessed through internal assessments including the IOC (Individual Oral Commentary) and the IOP (Individual Oral Presentation). Written skills are assessed through an externally moderated literary essay called the World Literature Essay (1500 words). Students also take a final written examination comprising two papers. 

IB MALAY A1 STANDARD LEVEL:

I/GCSE grade C or above is required to take Language A 1 Standard Level. In addition to the five World Literature texts, students will study six texts embracing prose, drama and poetry, written originally in their Language A. This course is designed for non-specialists, and while practising the same skills as those encountered at Higher A Level, will be less demanding. Adult Literature is studied. Oral skills are assessed through internal assessments including the IOC (Individual Oral Commentary) and the IOP (Individual Oral Presentation). Written skills are assessed through an externally moderated literary essay called the World Literature Essay (1500 words). Students also take a final written examination comprising two papers. 

YEAR 12 & 13 IB MALAY AB INITIO COURSE

Students who are beginners or new to the Malay language may take the Ab Initio course where the focus in on developing their communicative skills. The course is taught through specific content themes and teaching approaches adapted to best cater for the needs and interests of our students. The emphasis is on the development of the four communicative skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in formal Malay, and the generation of a depth to students' cultural understandings and knowledge about Malay speaking peoples in particular.

Students are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively in the target language through oral and writing tasks. There is internal assessment comprising oral examinations and a written examination comprising two papers.

Year 12 Malay Ab Initio

Term 1        Term 2       Term 3

Year 13 Malay Ab Initio

Term 1         Term2       Term 3

Assessment Information

Previous Events 

2011 National Day Assembly

ISB hosted a Special National Day Assembly to celebrate Brunei Darussalam's 27th National Day which fell on Tuesday 23rd February 2011. The assembly began with the audience standing and singing along respectfully to the National Anthem of Brunei Darussalam. The theme of this year is "Negaraku Brunei Darussalam" (My Country Brunei Darussalam). The assembly also showcased a traditional Malay ‘Selendang Joget' dance performed by Year 9 and 10 students, ending with a popular song performed by Year 8 student, Aziz bin Harun.

Useful Links

http://www.cie.org.uk (for IGCSE Foreign Language Malay syllabus)

http://www.phrasebase.com/english/phrases/ (a useful phrase bank for Malay words)

http://www.xinminss.moe.edu.sg/melayu/default.aspx (helpful website for learning Malay)

http://www.bharian.com.my/ (Malaysian news site for articles and reports)

http://www.utusan.com.my/ (Malaysian news site for articles and reports)

http://pgoh13.free.fr/malay_course2.php (an excellent Malay learning resource for beginners)

go top

The Mandarin Department at International School Brunei offers a Foreign Language Mandarin programme for Years 7 - 13. At Year 13 level, an additional course, Mandarin for beginners, caters to the needs and interests of its international students.

We endeavour to develop our students' language skills and support them to become critical and independent learners, equipping them for the growing Chinese-speaking modern world. We encourage our students to use the Mandarin language actively in their everyday life, and in practical and role-play situations. Language learning extends, diversifies and enriches our students' ways of thinking about the world they live in.

Recent Events 

ISB Mandarin students visit Shikai restaurant

A group of Year 12 students from International School Brunei (ISB) recently went on an educational visit to Shikai, a popular local halal restaurant. The students are undertaking the pre-university International Baccalaureate (IB) programme and have been learning Mandarin for nine months. The purpose of the trip was to enable students to use the language for practical purposes and interact with native speakers.

Prior to the visit, students learned a range of language and vocabulary associated with the unit on food and drink. The aim of the unit is to introduce students to the customs and culture of Chinese people, including using chopsticks, ordering various specialty dishes, engaging in polite conversation, and developing an awareness of meal etiquette.

“The IB Mandarin Ab Initio beginner’s course is very intensive and expects students to be proficient in using a wide range of Chinese characters. With increased globalisation and China’s market growth, it is beneficial for students to be familiar with the language, customs and culture. Active learning must take place both inside and outside the classroom,” said Ms Ayu Mee, ISB teacher.

One of the students, Jonash Goh said, “I am fluent in English and studied Malay at school; this is the first time I am learning Mandarin formally. It is demanding due to different intonations and it is a challenge to write various Chinese characters accurately. However, this subject is crucial for my future. After completing my IB diploma, I intend to study Marketing at the University of Melbourne and help my father expand his new business venture in China.”

The Mandarin students will be completing worksheets and writing diary entries to reflect on this experience whilst preparing for their upcoming Year 12 CAS (Community, Action and Service) trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, from 17^th to 23^th June 2011, where they will be climbing Mount Kinabalu, carrying out community work at a small village, diving, white-water rafting and mountain biking.

Curriculum

 Primary

Students in Year 3 to 6 study Mandarin where the emphasis is to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills through a variety of units/topics taught. Students are introduced to reading and writing the basic Chinese characters in addition to learning the language. Students are beginning to use a dictionary and develop independent learning skills, as well as gain exposure to formal language, and Chinese culture and traditions.

Lower Secondary

The Mandarin as a Foreign Language Programme is taught through specific content themes and teaching approaches adapted to best cater for the needs and interests of our students. The emphasis is on the development of the four communication skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in formal Mandarin, and the generation of a depth to students' cultural understandings and knowledge about Mandarin speaking peoples in particular.

Languages Curriculum Map 2007-2008

Year 7

Term 1 Year 7 Mandarin
Term 2 Year 7 Mandarin
Term 3 Year 7 Mandarin

Year 8

 Term 1 Year 8 Mandarin
Term 2  Year 8 Mandarin
Term 3  Year 8 Mandarin

Year 9

Term 1 Year 9 Mandarin
Term 2 Year 9 Mandarin
Term 3  Year 9 Mandarin

Over Years 10 and 11 students will embark on the two-year IGCSE Mandarin as a Foreign Language course, which leads to non-coursework final examinations, consisting of three exams: a reading and writing paper, an oral paper and an extended writing paper. Students will be examined in various skills including reading comprehension, skimming and scanning skills, extended writing and oral skills.

As the emphasis is on developing their communicative skills, students will study a range of media and other language resources including posters, advertisements, related vocabulary and terminology, write formal and informal letters, complete reading comprehension tasks and develop extended writing skills. They will also learn how to compose and present a topic talk, conduct interviews with their peers and perform role- plays.

Grammar (prefix, suffix, classifiers, etc) and dictionary skills will be taught incidentally. It is important for parents to encourage their children to use the target language actively at home and in social situations to develop their confidence and communicative skills, as well as review their completed notebooks

Year 10 Foreign Language Mandarin

 Year 11 IGCSE Mandarin

MANDARIN CHINESE - FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Course Summary
The main aim is to develop the ability to use Mandarin Chinese language effectively for purposes of practical communication. Students focus on four subskills:

• Reading
• Writing
• Listening
• Speaking

There is no coursework. All students study the extended curriculum in order to achieve the highest possible grade in this exam-based course.

Assessment Summary
IGCSE Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese is assessed by final exams.

• Paper 2 - Reading and directed writing; counts for 35% of final grade
• Paper 3 - Speaking; counts for 30% of final grade
• Paper 4 - Continuous writing; counts for 35% of final grade

 International Baccalaureate (IB)

The emphasis is on the development of the four communication skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in formal Mandarin, and the generation of a depth to students' cultural understandings and knowledge about Mandarin speaking peoples in particular.
Students are assessed on their ability to communicate effectively in the target language through oral and writing tasks. There is internal assessment comprising oral examinations and a written examination comprising two papers.

Mandarin Language B
Students who are competent in Mandarin will select to study IB Mandarin Language B, which is focussed on developing students' proficiency towards native speaker level. The course is taught through specific content themes and teaching approaches adapted to best cater for the needs and interests of our students.

The emphasis is on extending the four communicative skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing in formal Mandarin, and the generation of a depth to students' cultural understandings and knowledge about Mandarin speaking peoples in particular. Students are assessed on their ability to communicative effectively on various topics of interest, current affairs and real world issues, as they develop the skills to formulate arguments to support their opinions and viewpoints. There is an internal assessment comprising oral examinations and a written examination comprising two papers.

Assessment Information

In the IGCSE Mandarin as a Foreign Language Programme and IB Programme, assessment of the skills taught through the various topics/units will be in the form of role-play tasks, topic talk presentations, reading comprehension exercises, various short and long writing tasks, as well as creative project work.

Previous Events

2011 Chinese New Year Assembly

 ISB ushered in the Lunar Year of the Rabbit on 27 January 2011 with a warm welcome by IB student hosts, Then May Yi and Darragh Murphy.
The emcees used a PowerPoint presentation to outline the various customs and cultural practices of Chinese people around the world, including the significance of mandarin oranges, the colour red and the importance of fostering community ties through 'open houses'.
The audience also enjoyed various performances by ISB students including a highly entertaining lion dance, and a colourful, traditional
Chinese fan dance. The joyous assembly ended with the hosts wishing everyone 'Gong Xi Fa Cai.'





Useful Links

http://www.elanguageschool.net/

www.zhongwen.com

www.hellomandarin.com

http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com

www.asia1.com

www.qq.com

www.sina.com

www.chinesehorizon.com - for listening and speaking

Chinese Language YouTube

Chinese-Lessons

http://www.languageguide.org/

http://www.quia.com/shared/search?category=9&adv_search=true