GSIS exemplifying the benefits of bilingual education
Secondary Sports Day The German Swiss International School (GSIS) in Hong Kong has long been recognised for the quality of education and breadth of opportunities it provides.
Admitting applicants of all nationalities from kindergarten through to the completion of secondary level, the school offers two streams both of which lead to globally accepted qualifications, while developing bilingual proficiency and familiarity with different cultures and outlooks.
Students in the German International Stream (GIS) work towards the Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) diploma, which opens the way to university places in Europe and around the world.
Moving in parallel, those in the school’s English International Stream (EIS) prepare to take IGCSE exams and then the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), providing a similarly wide range of subject choices and options for further education.
To attract students from diverse backgrounds, GSIS does not make prior knowledge of German a prerequisite for entry.
Instead, the GIS runs three specialised programmes for different age groups, helping new joiners learn effectively and fit in quickly.
Cross-Stream Art Exhibition at The Hong Kong Arts Centre In kindergarten, perhaps the ideal starting point for children to pick up a new language, the classes are bilingual, with teachers switching between German and English.
The environment is deliberately nurturing, with a focus on participation and holistic development.
The programme also emphasises creativity, social skills and reasoned thinking, which helps youngsters to acquire vocabulary and express their thoughts and ideas.
For pupils aged six to eight, there is the Cultural and Language Integration Programme in Primary Years (CLIPPY).
Its immersive bilingual curriculum centres on language-rich lessons which cover course content while also enhancing personal growth.
The aim is to empower the students, giving them confidence to speak up, as well as to start thinking in more detail about what they see and hear in the world around them.
Celebrating the school’s Swiss heritage with a special Alphorn In addition, for slightly older pupils, joining the secondary section at GSIS, there is the Fast Track programme specifically designed for 11- and 12-year-olds with little or no previous exposure to German.
They are given an accelerated introduction to the language, with extra lessons sometimes scheduled before or after the normal school day.
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