Just Imagine a scenario where your child enters a classroom where students are greeting each other in multiple languages. Your child is sitting with a student of another nationality, exploring different cultures of the world. They are collaborating on science projects addressing real-world problems, and discussing history from multiple perspectives. This is the daily life of an international school.
If you have this misconception that international schools are only ideal for expatriate families, kindly know that this school system offers numerous benefits for children of every background. To help parents make an educated decision for their child, we are going to discuss fourteen major benefits of international schools. These benefits will tell you why this school system is better than private and public schools.
Cultural Diversity
International schools are famous for their diverse student bodies. Here, children from different nationalities sit with each other in the same classroom and collaborate on different projects. For example, Taejon Christian International School’s student body contains learners from almost 22 different nationalities. Similarly, The British School of Bahrain has learners from 92 nationalities.
Researchers believe that this kind of multicultural environment has major benefits for learners. It can boost a child’s social skills, foster open-mindedness toward different perspectives, and develop empathy in them. These children are less likely to develop prejudices against any color or culture in their lives.
Multilingual Education
One UNESCO survey concluded that at least half of the global population is bilingual. Research shows that multilingual individuals have strong brainstorming and communication abilities. This is why international schools provide multilingual education to help students thrive in the practical world.
English has become essential for securing better jobs and pursuing higher education. So, various international schools prioritize teaching English, along with student’s mother tongue or other languages.
For example, the French International School of Hong Kong emphasizes both English and French, enabling students to become bilingual citizens of the global community.
Expert Staff and Educators
We all know that teachers play an important role in shaping children's character and future. This is why every learner should have an experienced and passionate teacher.
That's why international schools prefer highly qualified educators and staff members. Teachers in these schools hold international teaching certifications and have years of experience under their belt. They focus on modern teaching methods that encourage independence and creativity in students.
In place of relying on rote learning, these teachers emphasize hands-on learning to develop leadership qualities and social skills in learners.
International Curriculum
To determine the educational quality of any school, you have to check its curriculum. Each International school around the globe offers curricula based on global standards that are certified by reputable educational organizations.
Some of the leading educational programs available in these schools are:
The French National Educational Programme:
This international program revolves around building a solid foundation of learners in core subjects such as writing, arithmetics, and reading. It also covers English, French, mathematics, art, music, physical education, history, and technology. It gives learners a personalized learning experience.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme:
The IB is the longest running and famous international educational program. It is designed for children aged 3 to 19 and consists of four programs. Here, learners can choose from a broad range of subjects. These include humanities, science, mathematics, language acquisition, and literature. Almost 3,000 schools are using this program across 140 countries.
British/Cambridge Programme:
This programme emphasizes the English language, making you a pro-English speaker. It features subjects similar to those in Vietnamese educational programs. Students from Year 1 to Year 13 can enrol in this educational program to get globally recognized qualifications.
American Programme:
This program provides school-issued diplomas in place of degrees. It covers a wide range of subjects, including arts, English, mathematics, science, and social studies.
Extra-curricular Activities
You can find a wide range of extracurricular activities in different international schools. These activities develop a love for learning in students, helping them in the long-term retention of knowledge. Not only this, but they help your child boost their skills. They can learn different soft skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving.
With all of this, extracurricular activities boost physical health, enhance academic performance, and provide a safe environment for the children of working parents.
You will find a range of extracurricular activities in each international school. For example, Yago School, located in Seville, provides facilities such as a swimming pool and dining room, alongside clubs for football, volleyball, gymnastics, music, piano, violin, Spanish guitar, photography, languages, acting, drama, street dance, classical ballet, technology, and chess, among others.
Advanced Technology
The 21st century is the era of technology where advanced tech skills are essential for success. Recognizing this, international schools integrate advanced technology into their education systems.
These schools offer facilities such as state-of-the-art laboratories, coding or robotics education, and technology clubs, ensuring students get hands-on learning. Their classrooms are well-equipped with advanced educational tools to enhance the learning process.
For instance, Bavarian International School offers 1:1 deep learning programs, device-based learning initiatives, and technologically trained teachers and staff to seamlessly integrate technology into teaching.
Developing Critical Thinking
In place of teacher-centred learning, international schools prefer student-centred teaching approaches. This approach, along with extracurricular activities and globally recognized curricula, ensures that learners develop essential life skills.
Group projects and hands-on learning activities are part of learning, encouraging students to apply their knowledge to real-world situations. It develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills in learners, moving the knowledge beyond textbooks.
Many international schools are encouraging critical thinking in different ways. For example, the Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) is providing a variety of art courses to their interested learners. These courses aim to develop their creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
Moreover, research finds that students enrolled in The IB Programme have advanced critical thinking abilities. This is because the IB program focuses on developing critical thinking skills in its students.
Preparing for Global Citizenship
International schools prepare your child for global citizenship. But who is a global citizen? They are those people who have critical thinking abilities and advanced communication skills. Moreover, they are proficient in technology to survive in the world. Not only this, they are bilingual with a strong command of the English language.
How are international schools making learners global citizens? Their advanced curricula, modern teaching approaches, and extracurricular activities are developing essential skills, and equipping their learners to become global citizens.
St. John’s International School in Waterloo conducted a survey that highlighted the role of international schools in reducing world conflict. In it, 86 percent of participants believed children who attend international schools are less likely to engage in any conflict. It is because they are fully prepared to become global citizens.
They have spent time in a multicultural environment, made friends from different nationalities, and learned the history and culture from different perspectives. It helps them in embracing diversity.
Moreover, extracurricular activities further enhance communication skills, teamwork, conflict resolution, and patience. These skills help learners to work effectively in any environment and with people of different nationalities.
Small Class Sizes
International schools have relatively smaller class sizes than public or private schools. The size typically ranges from 15 to 22 students.
For instance, J. Addison School in Canada has a 1:15 teacher-to-student ratio. Similarly, Stanstead College in Canada has a 1:7 while Keystone Academy in China has a 1:8 ratio.
These smaller class sizes enable teachers to provide personalized curricula and tailor activities to help students polish their unique talents and nurture their abilities. Educators can keep a close eye on each student, providing them assistance whenever they are in need.
Gateway to the World’s Best Universities
International schools are a valuable asset for those families who are living in a non-English environment but aspiring to provide their children with higher education opportunities abroad. Many local schools in regions such as Argentina, North Korea, Afghanistan, Pakistan, South Asia, and other countries offer localized curricula that are not accepted by global universities. So, families in these areas or countries often enrol their children in international schools to ensure they gain high-quality education and access to prestigious foreign universities.
Moreover, most international schools focus on helping students become fluent English speakers, a key advantage when applying to some of the world's best universities. These schools often offer internationally accepted exams, such as the International Baccalaureate, which are a big asset for international university applications.
Better Job Opportunities
Different surveys proved that various companies around the world prefer employees with internationally recognised qualifications. They want numerous hard and soft skills in their employees to ensure the growth of their companies.
These schools focus on the skill and personality development of their learners. They ensure they excel in different areas such as multilingualism, problem-solving, creativity, and technological expertise.
Graduates of international schools have numerous opportunities, including building their international start-ups, relocating to other countries for better job opportunities, or securing high-quality positions in the local areas. So, international schools are building the foundation, enabling students to succeed on a global scale.
Global Mobility for Families
We all know how hard it is to move to a new country. You have to face a lot of challenges in the new place. Among these, ensuring a friendly and quality educational environment for children becomes a priority.
Fortunately, international schools provide a welcoming academic environment to your children, ensuring they have a healthy and cheerful learning journey. Its small class sizes, experienced educators, and enjoyable extracurricular activities help children adjust to their new school. Moreover, their international curriculum ensures continuity in the education of your child. It means your child doesn't have to start over the learning journey.
For example, if your child previously studied in the school offering the IB program, you can find international schools in your new area that follow the same program.
In this way, you can ensure your child will remain okay if you are repatriated to your home country or move to any other destination.
Range of Facilities
Notable international schools have a wide range of advanced facilities and modern infrastructure to prepare students for future challenges.
They typically include laboratories and advanced photography rooms. Along with it, there can be art and culture theatres, sports fields, libraries, gyms, different playgrounds, subject specific rooms, and dining facilities.
We all know it is hard for children to move from one country to another. To ease this transition, international schools offer several classes per grade along with diverse playground options. The small class size and various playing options help them find new friends, get the proper attention of the teacher, and adjust to the new environment.
For local students, these modern facilities help them polish their skills and prepare them for the global marketplace.
International Community for Parents
Transitioning to a new country is equally challenging for parents. They need to adjust to a new environment, establish social connections, and understand the cultural or ethical values of the nation around them.
To help parents, various international schools provide different opportunities to engage with an international community, learn about other cultures, and represent their countries.
For example, many international schools provide a welcome committee for new families, opportunities to volunteer at the school, and chances to become representatives of their countries. These communities foster a sense of belonging in parents and create a supportive community.
