English Language

Language teaching at JIS concerns everyone who works in the school. We are all language teachers as we model, expose and reinforce all aspects of good language learning.

English is our main language of instruction and joins all the language needs of our students together. As well as English, all students at JIS study another language as part of their PYP experience. Whilst studying English language all students will be following our Scope and Sequence (curriculum) document. This ensures that all students can learn at an appropriate pace and with clear direction for their development and future progress. Our Scope and Sequence document follows the following strands of language learning:

  • Oral Communication (speaking and listening)
  • Written Communication (reading)
  • Written Communication (writing)
  • Visual Communication (viewing and presenting) 

Each year the students are exposed to a balance of all these areas as they progress through their Units of Inquiry and language learning.

In reading, our students follow a guided reading programme which allows them to work as individuals as well as members of a group or literacy circle. They are carefully assessed and then their progress is monitored as they learn to enjoy, decode and fully understand texts at differing levels. There is lots of discussion to ensure clear understanding of meaning and appreciation of author style and technique.

Reading books are brought home at regular intervals to allow students to further develop their learning and skills. Students are given graded texts to work with during their guided reading sessions (instructional level) and then allowed to bring texts home that they can share and enjoy at a more comforatble level (independent level). At JIS we have an extensive collection of reading books for use for guided reading sessions. The teachers can access these for whole groups or for individuals. The choice of the take home books is often left to the student, whilst the books used for instruction at school are decided by the class teacher. As well as class library based reading books all JIS students are able to bring books home from the school library on a very regular basis. They have two sessions in the school library under the guidance of our school librarian Mrs. Claire Forbes. 

In writing, we work hard to ensure that all our students are confident, accurate communicators through the written word.  Through our Scope and Sequence we ensure that all areas of written communication are explored and practised. We have recently undergone extensive training for all  our staff in 'First Steps' writing. This is a framework developed for exploring different purposes for writing alongside the development of the important skills in grammar, writing style and spelling. Knowing the 'purposes' for writing allows our students to more appropriately understand why we ask them to write and we hope this will lead them to being more thoughtful about the way they write and also length, layout and style of their writing.

Handwriting is important, even in a world increasingly dominated by keyboard skills and word processing. Handwriting is taught specifically and also as part of an integrated language programme. The school has an agreed style of letter formation that we teach but we do encourage students who already have a good, legible style of their own to maintain this if this is appropriate. 

Oral communciation (speaking and listening) is fundamentally important to JIS and our students. Our students are strong, confident communicators who are passionate about their learning and can express this to a variety of audience. Through exposure to regualr opportunities for presentation, discussion and debate we expcet the students to learn the skills of listening and appreciation as well as those of speech delivery. Many of our Units of Inquiry place an important emphasis on the role of presentation and viewing and presenting. This allows the students many opportunities to develop the skills of being in front of an audience or as a member of an audience. 

The role of visual communication (viewing and presenting) is becoming increasingly important in our world of digital imagery and transfer. To be flexible but thoughtful about communicating your ideas is a valuable skill which we strive hard to develop within our students. By using shared criteria, students are able to assess each other as well as be assessed themselves. The sharing of the expertise allows them to learn and develop within a culture of mutual appreciation.