[EDLING:298] Emphasizing globalism at the Ecole Bilingue

[Francis M Hult]

The Boston Globe

http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2004/09/05/emphasizing_globalism_at_the_ecole_bilingue/

Emphasizing globalism at the Ecole Bilingue
September 5, 2004

Ecole Bilingue, the French-American International School of Boston,
already offers the French baccalaureate, in addition to the American high
school diploma. This fall, the Cambridge-based bilingual school, grades
pre-K through 12, will begin offering the International Baccalaureate
(IB), joining 1,335 schools worldwide that offer the global curriculum.
Ray Holliday, head of school, talks about the program with Marie C.
Franklin of the Globe staff.

What is the IB diploma program?

The IB program has six subjects as its base. They are: a first and second
language, math, social sciences, science, and either a new subject or a
second subject from the other headings. All students take six subjects but
if the person is especially oriented in sciences, that might be their
sixth subject. There is a strong emphasis on globalism. In a world
literature class, the emphasis is on the comparison between different
societies and cultures. Worldwide, no matter where a student takes an IB
diploma exam, the results will have been assessed at the global level. The
exams are sent away to different parts of the world to be corrected.
Papers from a French school might go to Japan. Social studies exams might
go to the Czech Republic.

Is the IB taught in English, French, or both?

We are a bilingual school. The curriculum is in English and French. In the
11th and 12th grades, our school already offers the French baccalaureate.
In other IB schools, it's English and Spanish or English and German. All
IB schools have a base of two languages. Students study the language,
culture, and literature of two countries. At our school, it's always
France and America. Students in upper grades can add Spanish and German.

Your school professes to combine the best of French and American schools.
What are the strengths of each?

The French system has a reputation for the depth of teaching. Programs are
taught throughout France to standards the French Ministry of Education
prescribes. The program is taught at French schools throughout the world.
When universities receive student results, or if a student moves, there is
a parity of comparisons not found in the American system. In the United
States, there is a great emphasis on the individual and experiential
learning and I regard these as important. The American approach is more
hands-on. The French is more theoretical.

Being bilingual isn't just about speaking another language, is it?

It's an understanding of the culture, history, geography, customs, and
politics. We break down our subjects 60 percent in French, 40 percent
American. Learning a language is not just about five hours of English per
week, or five hours of French. Students learn science through English and
French, math through English and French.

What is a typical Ecole Bilingue student like?

We have 470 students who represent 40 nationalities. You can divide them
into three groups; one-third American, one-third French, one-third
international. The vast majority are bilingual, a substantial minority are
trilingual, and a number are quadralingual.

Why would an American parent want to send a child to a bilingual school?

The American parents at our school are looking to give a value added to
their child's education. They chose bilingual education because the second
language isn't learned as a foreign language but as a main language.

Do you expect a surge in applications because of the IB diploma?

We've been told by the IB organization we'll have a host of new requests.
If we have spaces, we would want the student to have a strong basis in
French.

Just having studied the language would not be sufficient. We'd look for
someone who has lived in France or Quebec or been to a French camp and has
a level of language fluidity.

How would you describe the culture of your school?

Looking around, you'd see happy, involved students with an excellent
rapport between students and adults. You'll see a tremendous amount of
friendliness and respect, a great deal of color. In formal situations,
students will have the tendency to speak in English. But you'll also hear
conversations where some students are speaking in English, and others in
French. It's a fluid linguistic bath.

In this era of competitive college admissions, how do top colleges view
the IB diploma?

The IB diploma is highly regarded by American universities such as Harvard
and MIT. You can see the impact on two levels, the advanced placement
credits they receive and the fact that they get into the universities.
Students with the IB are different. They have an international
understanding as part of their daily schooling.