What is Bilingual Program?

What is Bilingual Program? Bilingual education, as the term suggests, is education in two languages. This means more than just the inclusion of a foreign language in the school curriculum. For bilingual education to occur students must be studying key learning areas of the curriculum in two languages. Usually this means that core content areas, such as Mathematics, Science or Computer, are taught in both languages. Immersion, when it refers to students learning a subject in a foreign language, such as English, is a means of delivering bilingual education, but is different from learning bilingually. In a broader sense, immersion refers to the kind of experience a Thai student might have at a fully English-medium school, such as an International school. In this kind of education the Thai student’s mother tongue is not developed at school. The student is immersed in English. Is bilingual education the same as "English Program (EP)”? The term ‘English Program’ has come into use in Thailand because policy makers felt it may be easier to understand than ‘bilingual education’ or ‘bilingual school’. In probably most cases EP schools are providing a form of bilingual education. However, if students are learning perhaps certain key subjects in English only, it is a limited form of bilingual education. It is also a limited form of immersion. English Program Schools Career Opportunities The alumni of English Program schools are typically more mature, broad minded and confident than other children of their age. This is a consequence of having been exposed to new cultures so young and the confidence they gain from being able to express themselves in more than one language. Especially in Thailand, there are a lot of opportunities for who knows English in advanced level. The Importance of Learning English As students near the school leaving age, they become more concerned with their future opportunities. Which university should I attend or which career should I follow? But, with more students vying for these positions, competition is increasing. Universities and employers can now afford to select the best individuals who they think will be beneficial to their organization. Consequently, secondary schools across the country have converted to bilingual, trilingual and English programs to produce students with the necessary English skills to meet the demands of today’s market. At Chindamanee School, our English Program develops the English skills our students will need to gain places at the most prestigious universities or gain employment with the top companies. Our English Program develops the academic English skills required to enter Thailand’s best universities and the English communication skills required for the business sector. In addition to these benefits, Chindamanee School is a truly multicultural school with teachers from Turkey, the Philippines, England and America supporting our Thai teaching staff. Hence, the last benefit that studying English provides is a greater understanding of other cultures. In today’s world, with globalization bringing down the barriers between countries, an improved cultural understanding is a vital aspect of success in the business world. In this way, studying English in Chindamanee School’s English Program provides our students with an advantage over students coming from the standard Thai education system in three main areas; tertiary education, employment and personal development.