Characteristics of an International Education
An international curriculum offers students the opportunity to learn as part of a global village.
The idea that students are part of a ‘global community’, and that students should be taught to be ‘internationally minded’, is an important attribute of an international curriculum.
What distinguishes an international curriculum from a national curriculum is often this ideology – that, through engaging with topics through the global language of English, students become internationally minded global citizens, who see themselves as part of the global community, not separate from it.
English – The Global Language
A key characteristic of an international school curriculum in Bangkok is that the vast majority of lessons are conducted with English as the language of instruction.
Core subjects such as:
- English language Arts
- Math
- Social Studies
- Science
are all conducted in English. In Bangkok, even language subjects such as Chinese and Korean use English as the language of instruction as the teachers often are not fluent enough in Thai to conduct the lessons in Thai.
In addition to that, many international schools include a student body which are non-Thai, so if lessons were conducted in Thai, these students wouldn’t be able to access the content due to their non-native level of Thai language.
Specialist subjects are also always conducted in English at an international school. Special subjects include:
- Art
- Music
- P.E
- Health
- Dance
They often will include local content, such as studying Thai music and art, but the teachers will be native English speaking, qualified teachers who use English as the means of instruction.
International Curriculum Schools in Bangkok
There are dozens of top international schools throughout Bangkok which offer world-class international education with English as the language of instruction.
Many of these schools, such as BASIS, offer state-of-the-art facilities in a purpose-built school where children have access to the best in modern education.
Significant, Relevant International Education
Another key characteristic of an international curriculum is that idea that students are given skills and experiences that are relevant and significant to them whatever they may end up doing as a career, and whatever country they may end up living in as an adult.
A true international curriculum aims to prepare students for life as a global citizen by encouraging them to become knowledgeable, open-minded, principled communicators, who use research skills to come to their own opinions.
An international education is a great way to prepare students for a life as part of a global society.
