Languages

PSI takes pride in being a language-rich environment. Whilst English is our language of instruction, the School also offers Ukrainian, Russian, French and Spanish at various grade levels.

Students can also study their mother tongue languages after school. DP students can earn IB bilingual diplomas through a range of language offerings, including a self-taught mother tongue language course offering. In short, language is just one of the many ways that PSI promotes global citizenship.

English

PSI is an English-language medium school, with all instruction (other than additional languages) in English.

We recognise that language teaching is the responsibility of all English-speaking faculty and staff. Through modeling, explicit teaching and integration, language teaching is contextualised, purposeful and relevant. Our focus is on developing English language to support both academic and social circumstances.

English is also the language of inclusion, which means that the school encourages students to use English for social interactions, whilst acknowledging that students may also choose to use their mother tongue.

Other Languages

Classes in Spanish are available in both Primary and Secondary. Students may take Spanish as an additional language up to five days a week and dependent on the grade level.

French is now available in Secondary (Grades 6 - 12). Students may take French as an additional language up to five days a week and dependent on the grade level. French will also be offered in Primary from the beginning of the 2020/21 school year.

At the IB Diploma level (Grades 11 and 12), a wider range of language options is available online. Also, as a part of the Mother Tongue Programme, students may take part in our Extra Curricular Activities programme (ECA), which offers a wide range of different languages.

Mother Tongue Support

PSI recognises that a student’s mother tongue plays an important part in the development of self-esteem and cultural identity, as well as being a key component in successfully learning a second language.

The school supports and encourages opportunities for mother tongue development in the community and in the home. In Primary School, students may take either Russian or Ukrainian as a mother tongue language, whilst students in Secondary School may study native-level Russian or French if enrolment permits. Other students may take part in our Extra Curricular Activities programme, which offers a range of languages.

The Secondary School also assists students in identifying online resources for individualised study and supports the IB Diploma Programme Language A Self-Study (SSST) programme.

Finally, all Ukrainian students at PSI are encouraged to take part in the Ukrainian Externum Programme, which can lead to a certificate of completion of the Ukrainian national curriculum.