HOW DO WE TEACH ENGLISH AT SPLASH?

At Splash International, we firmly believe that knowledge of the English language is crucial in today’s open and connected world. We are the only international school in Košice that is a certified user of comprehensive educational content created by the leading British company in this field, Pearson. This company has been creating systematic educational programs and materials for the British education system for a long time, but its know-how is also used by thousands of international schools around the world.

At open house days or other meetings, parents ask us important questions:

• How do we approach the teaching of the English language?
• Do our students have to have previous knowledge of English?
• Do parents have to speak English?

The aim of this blog is to answer these questions and give you a closer look at our teaching methods.

During the preparatory course of the enrolled children, we will individually assess the level of knowledge of the English language for each of them. This will allow us to adapt the educational process to his specific needs. Whether a child understands English only at a basic level or not at all, our adaptive approach will ensure effective learning. It is important that even for parents it is not a condition to master the English language.

The teaching of the English language at Splash International begins immediately, already with the program for kindergartens, where we accept children from the age of 3. We fully integrate English into the daily activities of preschoolers, thereby creating the conditions for their later problem-free learning in the school environment. While some children start with us in Kindergarten, others can transition to our school at any stage, easily benefiting from our personalized small class environment.

Our teachers use proven teaching methods from the Pearson company with a focus on the active participation of students. The “engagement” technique ensures that each student is directly connected to the learning process. Another cornerstone of our methodology is differentiation, which allows students to access learning based on their current level of knowledge. This promotes cooperation and a friendly environment within the class group of children.

Enhancing literacy: A closer look at our teaching approaches

Here are some illustrative examples that highlight our approach to key components of language acquisition:

1. Vowel control, correct pronunciation

In our comprehensive phonics program, we systematically teach children vowels and consonants in stages, starting with simple phonemes and progressing to complicated diphthongs and triphthongs. This structured approach ensures that pupils develop a solid foundation in phonics, which is an essential skill for effective reading and spelling.

2. Dynamic speaking and listening

Engaging students in guided dialogues every day is one strategy to improve speaking and listening. By following the structure of the conversation, students effectively formulate their thoughts and develop their ability to understand and respond to different texts.

3. Reading

Reading is one of the core parts of our curriculum. We approach pupils’ reading in three different ways:

Reading aloud to pupils: Daily reading aloud by the teacher significantly contributes to pupils’ language acquisition. This practice not only expands their vocabulary, but also improves comprehension by placing words in the context of meaningful stories. Our extensive English library, which we are proud of, helps us foster a love of reading.

Shared Reading: Shared reading is especially effective in mixed English language classrooms and is a shared strategy for developing reading skills. Teachers work together with the whole class and provide a supportive environment for individual learning needs.

Guided Reading: Guided reading is tailored to groups with similar reading abilities. During guided reading, educators help students engage and effectively develop their reading skills. This focused approach supports individual progress.

4. Integrated learning of grammar

Teaching grammar at Splash International does not mean memorizing grammar lessons. It takes place in meaningful contexts and language found in books. Written (literary) texts offer students attractive possibilities for grasping grammatical concepts. Effective writing conforms to the sentence structure, vocabulary, and language found in literature rather than colloquial speech. An integral part of grammar, our systematic approach to spelling starts with the simplest patterns and progresses to more complex, irregular words.

Conclusion

As a result of our educational process, Splash International students not only acquire language skills, but also develop deep skills of effective communication and literacy.

At Splash International, we are meticulously building our team of educators with experience from foreign or international schools. We emphasize motivating students to take responsibility for their own progress and love learning. We use educational procedures, textbooks and material