Language
Lessons are geared towards enhancing and consolidating students’ proficiency in the English language through the study of a wide variety of themes, working towards CEFR level B2-C1 in vocabulary and level B2 in grammar.
Language classes are linked to literature classes and creative writing is encouraged. When it comes to spoken English, students learn to debate in English.
Authentic material (videos, newspaper articles in English) are studied.
Literature 2023-2024
This year’s reading list is comprised of:
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. A 19thC classic about the education of an orphan, Pip.
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. A 19thC classic where characters overcome pride to find love.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. A 2003 mystery novel.
- Small Island by Andrea Levy, a 20thC story of post-war immigration from the Caribbean to the UK.
- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, a 2005 historical fiction novel set in Germany during World War II.
- Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, a 2005 science-fiction novel – students read an excerpt from this novel when they did their entry test last March ;-).
Literature 2022-2023
Summer reading included:
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. A 19th century classic about the education of an orphan.
- Emma by Jane Austen. A 19th classic about a young woman who fancies herself as a matchmaker.
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. A 2003 mystery novel.
- Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Another 19th century classic, a fantasy novel.
- Small Island by Andrea Levy, a C20th story of post-war immigration from the Carribean to the UK.
- I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. Classic science-fiction short stories which can be read as a novel.
- Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, another fantasy novel set in London, from the 20th century this time.
- Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, another science-fiction novel, with an interesting narrator.
The main text studied in class was To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee. We watched a stage adaptation during our April trip to London which brought the characters to life in a very different way.
The students performed Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in early June.
Literature 2021-2022
Students read a selection of the following works over the summer:
- To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee
- Anita and Me – Meera Syal
- Holes – Louis Sachar
- Private Peaceful – Michael Morpurgo
- Chalkline – Jane Mitchell
- The Sign of Four – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The main work studied in class was Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.
In poetry students studied a range of poems through the ages, from an extract from Beowulf in Old English (11th Century) to Shakespeare’s sonnets right up to some very modern poems by contemporary poets such as Patience Agbabi and Jacob Polley.
The Shakespeare play studied in class this year was Romeo and Juliet, which was performed for parents in May 2022.
Literature 2020-2021
In prose classes, the first few lessons were based around different works:
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Hadden
- Holes by Louis Sachar
- Northern Lights by Phillip Pullman
- Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
- The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The main work studied this year was The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.
In poetry students studied a range of poems through the ages, including a selection of sonnets by William Shakespeare, ‘Refugee Blues‘ by WH Auden ‘Tonight at Noon‘ by Adrian Henri, and many others.
The Shakespeare play studied in class this year was Much Ado About Nothing.
History and Geography
As in French lessons, the main theme in History is the main steps in the making of the modern world and the challenges posed by a world in constant evolution (environment, development, migration) in Geography. To avoid repetition, case studies in Geography are different from the French class and are usually from the Anglo-Saxon world.
In History, the main aim is to acquire general knowledge of British history ranging from ancient to modern times. The students therefore study the Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Norman invasion as well as the Tudor dynasty.
Geography lessons will develop awareness of the inequalities of development in the world and their impact on different areas, such as the management of risks or resources as well as the impact on population or migration. This will be tackled through comprehensive case studies of the California water crisis and the population policy in India and Uganda.
In general, the emphasis is on debating skills, on forming a personal view of a topic and being able to express it in English.