As part of the “Spring Productions”, Year 3 students do more than learn new vocabulary in their English lessons. They also build confidence and gain first-hand experience of what it takes to put on a musical. Learning takes place in a different environment, creating a new atmosphere and a richer, more multifaceted learning experience. Through music and storytelling, English comes to life, deepening the children’s understanding of the language.
Languages and Intercultural Understanding in Primary School
Our Language Programme in Primary School
Our Primary School has a strong culture of welcome. Every new child is warmly received and quickly becomes part of the school community. Our school is a place where children feel they belong, regardless of where they come from or which languages they speak. We foster an appreciation of diversity, cultures and languages while promoting respect, tolerance and empathy in our interactions with other
A key element of our curriculum is a differentiated foreign language programme taught by native speakers. For children who have little or insufficient knowledge of German, the language of instruction, we offer tailored support through our German as a Foreign Language (DaF) and German as a Second Language (DaZ) programmes.
Learning English from Year 1
English is taught as a foreign language from Year 1, with four lessons per week. In Year 1, teaching is differentiated within the classroom to meet individual learning needs. From Year 2 onwards, students are grouped into four proficiency levels – Starters, Rollers, Movers and Flyers – to ensure that each learner is appropriately challenged and supported. In the early years, the focus is on listening and speaking, with reading and writing introduced from Year 2. Songs, rhymes, role-play and stories make lessons interactive and engaging. Year 3 students also take part in our Spring Productions. All English classes are taught by native speakers and follow the principle of “fluency over accuracy”, prioritising confident, fluent communication over grammatical perfection. The curriculum is complemented by extracurricular clubs and the opportunity to take the Cambridge Young Learners English (YLE) exams. To further develop reading and writing skills, our library offers around 3,000 graded books from the Oxford Reading Tree (ORT) series. This extensive collection gives primary school students ongoing opportunities to read in English, build confidence and make steady progress.
A Comprehensive Chinese Language Programme
Chinese holds a special place at our school. Our aim is to give every child an engaging introduction to the Chinese language and culture. At our Hongqiao campus, Chinese is offered as an optional language programme (FSC). Depending on their prior knowledge, students are placed in one of three proficiency groups: beginner, intermediate or advanced. In Years 1 and 2, lessons take place twice a week as part of the extracurricular programme; in Years 3 and 4, they take place three times a week. In addition to language lessons, all primary school students can take part in complementary activities, including the China Club in Year 1, a half-year Chinese project from Year 2 onwards and cross-year projects during Atelierzeit. At our Yangpu campus, Chinese is a compulsory, graded subject. Students are taught in three proficiency groups: beginner, intermediate and Chinese as a native language. They have three lessons per week, two focusing on language acquisition and one exploring cultural topics through Chinese studies. Students who do not speak Chinese as their native language focus on developing everyday communication skills in the beginner and intermediate groups. Native Chinese speakers, meanwhile, further develop their reading and writing skills.
Find Out More About Languages and Interculturality in Primary School
German Language Support Programmes (DaF and DaZ)
We offer tiered, fee-based language support programmes for children who start at our Primary School with little or no knowledge of German, as well as those who need to consolidate their existing skills. Our intensive DaF programme (German as a Foreign Language) helps children develop the language skills they need to express themselves confidently and participate actively in school life. The complementary DaZ programme (German as a Second Language) builds on existing knowledge, helping children deepen and consolidate their skills. The programme comprises three levels – BASIC, MEDIUM and MAXIMUM – and supports children step by step until they can follow lessons confidently and without language barriers.
