Last updated: November 2017

Organization and Management

FIS offers two types of voluntary First Language programs: one occurring during regular school hours (language courses with specific curriculum and schedule approval) and one occurring after school hours and/or on weekends.

Application for the regular First Language school program is offered to new families during the admission process and to existing families through the re-registration process. The FIS Finance Office sends invoices for the First Language regular school program to the parents. 

Staffing

Teachers of the regular school program will either be qualified teachers in their country of origin or be able to produce documentation of successful teaching experience. They will:

• Complete the standard online school application form

• Be interviewed by the division principal

• Current First Language teachers may be invited to participate in the interview process

• REAL First Language teachers are not required to have the same qualifications as full-time FIS teachers.

Due to many transient factors such as enrollment figures, teachers of the First Language programs may be employed under the same conditions as FIS contracted teachers or may be contracted as external consultants. 

Contracted First Language teachers will be paid by the hour and for the number of courses they are scheduled to teach. If the schedule is altered by FIS (for instance due to field trips), the First Language teacher will be paid for that time. Flexibility will be offered to the teachers in these circumstances. 

Staff Development

Where appropriate, First Language teachers will participate in the regular orientation for new teachers. They will have recourse to all relevant local in-service training, conferences and workshops. They will receive training in, and be required to maintain and update, all technological programs related to curriculum and syllabus development (e.g. Rubicon Atlas).

Financing

The First Language program is financially supported by parents, national subsidies and FIS. Financial obligations on the part of parents will be communicated to them by the Finance Office as part of the normal invoicing process. Fee levels are set according to age groups, and are consistent across all languages. 

Resources

All First Language programs will have access to school classrooms.

Curriculum

First Language programs in the Primary and Elementary Schools must support and complement the adopted program of inquiry and pedagogy (currently the IBO PYP program). National programs, whether mandated by supporting governments or not, must conform as far as possible to the FIS program. In the Upper School, in grades 6-10, the curriculum may reflect a national curriculum and/or support an existing FIS module (e.g. humanities) or an FIS curricular goal (e.g. literacy), yet assure successful preparation for the IB course goals and objectives. In Grades 11 and 12, the curriculum must reflect and conform to the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Careers Programme (IBCP) curricular goals and objectives. First Language teachers will be supervised by their division principal.

Community Consultation and Involvement

At the beginning of each school year, a review of the whole school enrollment will be conducted to ascertain the need and interest among linguistic groups, not already included in the First Language programs. Based upon sufficient parental interest, the Assistant Head of School will then post and advertise for suitable teachers.

Special Provisions

In the regular school hours First Language program there will be a minimum enrollment of four students for new programs. Regular school hours First Language class sizes will adhere to the parameters set forth in FIS Class Size Policy 7.7021. A minimum enrollment in the After School Program will be determined each semester. Grade levels may be combined for class formation, with a maximum of three grade or proficiency levels. The regular school hours First Language program will be taught during the school day in the Upper School and Elementary School.

Once constituted, the school will guarantee a regular school hours First Language program at least until a syllabus “break” occurs (e.g. at the end of Grade 5, Grade 8, and Grade 10).