EduCativ Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 The American Section, established just outside Paris over a half-century ago by Dwight D. Eisenhower, offers a unique approach to bilingual and bicultural education for children ages 4 to 18. Students learn from native English-speaking faculty in the American Section. They also follow a full French curriculum within the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a public institution ranked among France’s top-10 schools. With 99–100% success on the prestigious OIB diploma (baccalauréat Avec option international), our graduates go on to the world’s finest universities. Students with limited French can join Français Spécial for one year of language immersion. The Lycée unites students from 14 international sections. The result is a truly multilingual, multicultural experience, with friendships that span the globe and last a lifetime. In a word, our school is exceptional. Located outside of Paris in historic Saint-Germain-en-Laye, the Lycée International is one of France’s top-ranked public high schools and a vibrant international community. All students who study the national curriculum in French are enrolled in one of 14 national sections as well, following an academically demanding bilingual and bicultural program. And while French is the common language, every section’s language and culture is equally valued. It is as if Lycée International is a blend of many international schools. Within this framework, our Section's goal is to provide students with a genuine American educational and cultural experience. All Section classes are taught by English mother-tongue teachers who were educated in North America. The curriculum stresses academic excellence while building students' intellectual curiosity and self-confidence. Ours is a complex institution that expects a lot from its students, with considerable personal investment from students, parents, and teachers. The wide array of co-curricular activities aims at developing leadership, global awareness, and responsibility. There are some 700 students enrolled in the American Section, at three different campuses, ranging from Pre-K (MS) through twelfth grade (Terminale). Over 50 nationalities are represented in the American Section student body, though the majority of our students hold both French and American nationalities or are French citizens who spent considerable time abroad in English language schools. The common denominator is that all American Section students speak age-appropriate fluent English and are motivated to learn in a demanding bilingual and bicultural environment. We offer an academically intense program in English designed to challenge students to maximize their intellectual and creative potential. Lower and Middle School students have six hours per week of American Section Upper School students have eight hours. Starting in fourth grade (CM1), two-thirds of this time is devoted to English language and literature, and one-third to history and geography. All classes are taught in English at advanced-native level except for first and second grade Plus, which are taught in English using an ELL approach. The remainder of the academic curriculum is taught by French teachers, by programs defined by the National Ministry of Education. We do not merely teach English, we teach in English. All admitted students must possess native or near-native English language skills, and most speak both French and English fluently. The school’s Français Spécial program enrolls students who do not speak French upon admission. They receive intensive French language instruction over one year and then join mainstream French classes in their second year. The faculty of the American Section at Lycée International bring the best in American pedagogy to our international environment. Over 90% of our faculty hold advanced degrees, primarily in their field of instruction. In keeping with our statutes, all American Section faculty have degrees from North American universities, are experienced educators, and are citizens of either the United States or Canada. American Section faculty are dedicated to helping students reach their highest personal and academic potential, both inside and outside the classroom. Be it during a history lesson, an advisory session, or co-curricular activity, they go above and beyond, supporting students, encouraging their leadership skills, and nurturing a deep-rooted sense of responsibility to others. We are proud of our low turnover. The average tenure of the Section's faculty and staff is over 11 years, strengthening the stability and institutional history of our school. View full school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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