Overseas Family School offers some of the best language programmes in the industry. We got you the full lowdown on its Study Preparation Program and Mother Tongue Program.
Finding a suitable school is never an easy task, but it gets more challenging if you’re a family of non-native English speakers who are new to Singapore. This is because many international schools in Singapore use English as the language of instruction. If you have children who speak minimal or no English at all, it may be difficult for them to follow the curriculum and settle into their new school.
This is a dilemma that Overseas Family School (OFS) is keenly aware of, which the school strives to solve by offering its Study Preparation Program (SPP). SPP is an English language acquisition programme designed to support students who are non-native English speakers. It aims to help students acquire the necessary English language skills rapidly and build their confidence, consequently easing their adjustment process to their new school and home.
An English language acquisition programme that’s offered at no extra cost
One of the best things about OFS’ SPP is that it’s offered to families with no additional fees required. Students are grouped into small, dedicated classes according to their English proficiency level. The first two levels of SPP – Levels 1 and 2 — focus on intensive language acquisition, and lessons are taught by specialised teachers who are trained in teaching English to non-native speakers.
Ms. Jaya Ward, a Grade 1 teacher who also teaches SPP Level 1, explains how it works: “In SPP Levels 1 and 2, students acquire English proficiency in a low-anxiety learning environment. They follow the same curriculum as the mainstream classes with some modification of language to ensure understanding. We build on speaking, listening, reading, writing, and spelling skills. While the majority of our focus is on phonics, reading, and comprehension, we also develop students’ grammar so they can write recounts and other writing genres.”
Students move to SPP Level 3 once they’ve acquired basic English proficiency. At this level, students join mainstream classes and learn the curriculum together with their peers. Extra support will continue to be provided as and when students need it. OFS’ SPP is effective for rapid English acquisition, as some students progress from Level 1 to 3 in as little as 12 months.
Mother tongue languages are prioritised at OFS as well
But that’s not all, OFS also offers an excellent Mother Tongue Program that covers 14 different languages. The school understands the importance of mother tongue languages for families, and this programme prepares students for their return to their home country. Mother Tongue Program classes are conducted in four sessions per week, and are available for students as young as pre-Kindergarten 2.
From Danish, Swedish, French, and German, to Hebrew, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin, students who opt in for the Mother Tongue Program learn more than just the language of their home country. The programme immerses students thoroughly in both the language and culture of their home country. This ensures native-level language proficiency, which in turn helps with seamless reintegration when a student returns to their home country.
All of the 14 languages are taught by qualified native-speaking teachers, with teacher training and degrees earned in their home countries. The teachers are also highly fluent in English, playing a key role in supporting and facilitating communication between students and their teachers in SPP as well. Plus, the Mother Tongue Program is provided to interested families at no additional cost too!
Both the SPP and Mother Tongue Program make OFS a top choice among parents
For parent Henar Lozano, the school’s best-in-industry language programmes were the main reasons why OFS was the top choice for her son.
“There were two things we looked for in a school: an English language acquisition programme to help our son learn English; and a mother tongue language programme that can help us keep Spanish alive. We didn’t want a school where Spanish is taught as a foreign language as our son speaks it fluently. OFS was the only school that offers both of these,” Henar shared.
Henar and her family visited OFS twice. “We met the Spanish teacher from the school’s Mother Tongue Program, who was absolutely lovely. We were also impressed with how warm the teachers were, so we were convinced this is the school for our son,” she said. Though this is only her son’s first year at OFS, she has noticed progress. She commented on how smooth her child adapted to his new school, and that he and his schoolmates look forward to attending school.
“I would absolutely recommend OFS and its SPP. It can be really tough and isolating to learn a new language of instruction, so we definitely feel this was the right choice. SPP is a good way for non-English-speaking kids to have a stress-free beginning in Singapore,” she said.
Find out more about OFS’ Study Preparation Program and Mother Tongue Program via the school’s website, or arrange for a tour like Henar to meet the teachers yourselves!
This post is in partnership with Overseas Family School.