Language instruction and language sections

Starting in the first year of the Primary School cycle, students are introduced to a second language (L2). They will continue to learn this second language through graduation and the baccalaureate. Students will have the option to choose German, English, or French as this second language, but it must be a different language from their L1.

By the fist year of the Secondary School cycle, a second foreign language, in essence a third language (L3), is taught. Students may choose from any of the European Union’s official languages as long as it is a different language from their L1 and L2. The school, however, does require that a minimum of seven students from the same grade level choose the same L3 in order to offer that language course. The most common choices for L3 are German, English, French, Spanish and Italian.

This progression of L1, L2, and L3 language study is a required part of the school’s curriculum. As an option, starting in the fourth year of the Secondary School cycle, students may choose a third foreign language, in essence a fourth language (L4), as an elective. The same requirements for establishing an L3 class also apply to offering an L4 class. Students may choose from any of the European Union’s official languages as long as it is a different language from their L1, L2, and L3. A minimum of seven students from the same grade level must choose the same L4 in order to offer that language course. The most common choices for L4 are German, French, Spanish and Italian.

All language classes will group together students of different nationalities and in most cases are taught by native speakers of that language. 

• CS: Czech (Nursery and Primary School cycles only)
• DA: Danish
• DE: German
• EL: Greek
• EN: English
• FR: French
• HU: Hungarian (Nursery and Primary School cycles only)
• IT: Italian

SWALS Students (Student Without A Language Section)

At our school a student is considered “SWALS” if his first or dominant language is one of the following :

• CS: Czech (Secondary School cycle only)
• HR: Croatian
• HU: Hungarian (Secondary School cycle only)
• RO: Romanian
• SK: Slovakian
• SL: Slovenian

These languages are still taught and considered as the student’s L1 though they are taught outside of the regular language sections. SWALS students are enrolled in one of the three language sections, DE, EN, or FR, and that language will become the L2 for those students.

Other National Languages: Irish, Maltese

Special arrangements are made for the teaching of Irish and Maltese, and Finish and Swedish, which are considered Other National Languages. Irish may be taught to students of Irish nationality and Maltese taught to students of Maltese nationality who request it. These students must be enrolled in the Anglophone section.

• Starting in the third year of the Primary School cycle, students participate in the European Hours program
• Starting in the first year of the Secondary School cycle, art education, music education, physical education, and computer science are taught in L2.
• Starting from the third year of the Secondary School cycle, history and geography along with the religion or morals/ethics classes are taught in L2.

In addition to these classes, it becomes part of the school culture in the playground, the canteens, and student lounges to be immersed in a multicultural and multilingual environment.