An international school is an institution that teaches children of different nationalities and cultures according to an international educational programme.
As a rule, English becomes the main communication tool in such schools. For many years now, it has been the language of world communication. It is also used to give lessons in accordance with the international curriculum.
Peculiarities
The main feature of an international school is that in case of a move, it will be easy for a student to continue their studies in another country, since the programme is international and universal. The prospects after graduation are also wide. You can enter a university in almost any country.
There are such schools in Russia. Therefore, families do not have to move abroad to provide an international education for their children. For example, the British International School in Moscow implements the national curriculum for England, and in the 12th and 13th years of study pupils follow the international IB and A-level programmes.
Advantages of Studying at an International School
In addition to the universal curriculum, other advantages of studying in an international school can be noted:
- High level of language: classes are conducted in English. At BIS, for example, teachers are native speakers. It means that by the end of their studies, even those pupils who came with zero knowledge will leave with B2 – C1 levels.
- Authentic environment: as a rule, in educational institutions of this type children are immersed in a foreign language environment. This facilitates and speeds up the process of learning the language.
- Multiculturalism: students from different countries, carriers of a certain cultural code, gather under one roof. In the classroom and outside, they interact, communicate, make friends and learn about the culture and values of each other's peoples. This ensures the formation of an undistorted worldview and a broad outlook. To pursue this goal, every year we organise celebrations in honour of the International Day. Children dress up in traditional costumes of their peoples and tell their classmates about their traditions and rituals.
- Tolerance: teachers raise children to have a respectful attitude towards representatives of other nationalities and traditions.
Opportunities After Graduation
There are only a few Russian universities among the others in the world universities ranking. The first ten positions are shared by the United Kingdom and the United States. Therefore, for a truly prestigious and high-quality higher education, it is worth going abroad. It is difficult to enter foreign universities after having attended a regular Russian school. It is better to start preparing in advance, and even better to choose a school that will provide the necessary basis for going to a renowned international university.
There are special international programmes of pre-university training that are valued by universities of almost any country. Some of the most popular are IB and A-level. BISM is the only one in Moscow that offers both these options. They last for two years and are aimed at developing all the skills necessary for a future student: conducting research, writing essays, collecting and analysing data, preparing and presenting projects. With such strong foundations, it is much easier for children to join university life.