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The bilingual way 
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Short Description: High German, rather than teaching the. foreign language as a separate subject. .... Parents should also be aware that. sometimes when children do not under- ...
Content Inside: The bilingual way Uniquely positioned between English-speaking international schools and the local state schools that teach Swiss- and High German, a new generation of primary schools offers a curriculum in both English and High German. By Monica Shah Zeeman x Primary and the same two teachers are with students English-speaking children need to be middle schools in and around Zurich for two years. fluent in High German to do well in later that are listed on `The Bilingual Way' Swiss families obviously benefit from years in Switzerland, so the value of webpage, offer bilingualism by immer- much greater fluency in English, without picking up the Swiss German dialect is sion. Lessons are delivered in English or losing the option of a Swiss education primarily social. It will help them to feel High German, rather than teaching the later on. Many English-speaking parents they belong. foreign language as a separate subject. choose Swiss state schooling, which is Sometimes children do not respond Children spend half their time learning in free of charge and well placed to engage well to the additional pressure of learn- each language. Teachers plan a continu- children in the community around them. ing in a foreign tongue, so choosing a ous curriculum, ensuring that children So what are the advantages of a bilingual bilingual school may mean compromis- study each subject in both languages school? ing on parental expectations in order to without repetition. Compared to the local school system, allow children to make mistakes and Pioneers in bilingual education must a bilingual school allows expat parents to learn in their own time. have had nightmares about their respon- monitor their child's work even where Said one parent: "My son's teacher sibilities after all, only 40 years ago, it their own German is not fluent. It does says he struggles in German, but he at- was common belief that learning two lan- not let parents off the hook however, be- tended an English school until we came guages was more confusing to children cause children are marked in both lan- here in 2005 so I am not worried. I have than helpful. guages. accepted their referral to a tutor but his At TAZ Horgen `Bilingual Dayschool level seems normal to me." Zimmerberg' children alternately attend Fluency begins at home one week in German and one in English It is true that children can easily learn a Risk of confusion from age six (Primary Grade 1). At Lake- language to a basic level of proficiency, From age five, children in a monolingual side School in Küsnacht, Grades 1 to 6 but they rarely excel in both languages. English school learn to read and write, attend two and a half days in one lan- They will need support at home. and usually achieve significant results guage, two in the other, with the schedule "Parents need to encourage the child within a year. By contrast the new bilin- switching to balance at 50/50 the follow- in the second language and be proud," gual day schools adhere to the same ing week. Unless there are staff changes, says Arlene Licher of TAZ Horgen. schedule as Swiss-German schools, teach- 2 4 swiss news march 2007
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