English Curriculum Overview
The International Department: Developing Culture Sensitivity and Fostering Self-Esteem.
In addition to the vision, mission and goals of Kang Chiao International School, Character, Bilingualism, Critical Thinking, and Performance have been identified as most relevant to children in the Elementary School. The achievement of these outcomes by all students is the goal that core curriculum subjects should facilitate.
The core curriculum subjects, their content, and the teaching, learning and assessment strategies are the means to achieve the outcomes of Character, Bilingualism, Critical Thinking and Performance. Students' achievement of outcomes builds a foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are the platform for success within society.
Kang Chiao Bilingual School has high aspirations for its students: that they develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, practice and attitudes necessary to become 21st Century citizens who not only participate in, but who also shape the future; that they become international leaders.
The curriculum of the International Department encompasses these high aspirations and consists of three components: Language Arts, Projects and Assignments and English Village.
Language Arts:
Language Arts exposes students to the standards, demands and practice of an English core reading program; standards, demands and practice that are critical to international competiveness.
Projects and Assignments:
Project and assignment work extend the texts that students are exposed to at Kang Chiao, prompt them beyond the books and provide opportunities for personal response to, and evaluation of, different genres. Project and assignment work also provide for performance which improves students' confidence in English.
English Village:
The lesson plans provided by English Village extend opportunities for performance, and within situations that students will encounter in real life locally and internationally. English Village equips students with an awareness of, and the skills necessary within international environments.
Threading through the curriculum components of Language Arts, Projects and Assignments and English Village are the International Department's ultimate (or hidden) goals, to:
develop students' sensitivity to different cultures, and foster their self-esteem.
It is these ultimate goals that are the International Department's most significant contribution to the school's aspiration that students accomplish roles of international leadership.
Everyday transactions across the components of Language Arts, Projects and Assignments and English Village expedite students' improvement and achievement in reading, writing, listening and speaking, and language. These four skills are strongly inter-related: no single skill can be taught in isolation. Thes are also closely interwoven: they emerge simultaneously in any one activity. The content and expectations of these four skills include:
Reading:
- Reading Comprehension
- Reading Strategies
- Phonics & Spelling
- Literary Appreciation
Writing:
- Writing Purposes/Types
- Research
- Competent Expression
Communication:
- Communicative Confidence
- Critical Listening
- Appropriate Response
- Presentation of knowledge & ideas
Language:
- Conventions
- Knowledge of Language
- Vocabulary