Collège /Middle school
Reinforcing autonomy and independent, critical thinking
Time management and independent study habits are instilled throughout the school, preparing students to become accomplished, thoughtful individuals who are able to adapt to society. This is also the time to start thinking about future directions and to practise preparing for real exams. All of these elements make Collège both an exciting and demanding journey for our students.
Reinforcing autonomy and independent, critical thinking
Time management and independent study habits are instilled throughout the school, preparing students to become accomplished, thoughtful individuals who are able to adapt to society. This is also the time to start thinking about future directions and to practise preparing for real exams. All of these elements make Collège both an exciting and demanding journey for our students.
Pedagogical organisation
Cycle 3
Consolidation cycle: Sixième
Cycle 4
Development cycle: Cinquième, Quatrième, Troisième
6ème – 11 years old
5ème – 12 years old
4ème – 13 years old
3ème – 14 years old
Pedagogical organisation
Cycle 3
Consolidation cycle: Sixième
Cycle 4
Development cycle: Cinquième, Quatrième, Troisième
6ème – 11 years old
5ème – 12 years old
4ème – 13 years old
3ème – 14 years old
Structure from Sixième to Troisième
Collège is the point when students start their secondary education. They are taught by subject-matter specialists who have been trained in France. Ranging from Sixième to Troisième, Collège covers educational cycles 3 and 4 when students start to explore their knowledge in depth. Creativity is stimulated by working on personal projects.
Teachers collaborate across classes and subjects to co-ordinate lessons in innovative ways, encouraging students to cultivate creative techniques for problem solving and independent or group thinking in group work, while supporting them through the challenges of adolescence and the transition to the Lycée.
Teaching is structured by subject: French, English, German, Mathematics, History and Geography, Civic Education, Science, Art and Music, Physical Education and a new modern language (Spanish) or another option, Latin.
At the end of Collège, students sit their first exam (Diplôme National du Brevet) and make their first decisions regarding their future direction.
All students in Collège have at least 26 hours per week of compulsory lessons, in addition to which they may also add optional subjects.
The common base of knowledge, skills and culture
The common base of knowledge, skills and culture covers everything a student needs to know and fully understand by the end of Collège. Mastering the curriculum is key in achieving the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB).
Curriculum - five key areas
Multilingualism
Learning a foreign language requires an enquiring mind and a deep respect for the nationalities and cultures of others
Mastering French, English and one or more other modern languages is key for student to succeed as future world citizens. The multicultural environment that our students experience on a daily basis encourages language learning.
French
French plays a major role in our school, it is used to teach several subjects other than languages and is used for many of the examinations that our students work towards.
English
Taught as a modern language: students are taught in two ability groups. Students with a good level of English will join the English + Collège group which follows the Enseignement de Langues et Cultures Européennes programme (teaching European languages and cultures). This group prepares students for entry into the European English section in Seconde.
Latin is also offered from Cinquième and Spanish from Quatrième.
German
From the start of Collège, students are divided into three language ability groups as this allows for a more individualised teaching approach. Within these three groups, the Deutsch+ Collège follows the German curriculum and works with the same tools and materials as a German Gymnasium.
The groups are flexible and students can move between them to progress at their own pace.
This group prepares students for the bi-national French-German section (AbiBac) in Seconde. The aims is to develop student ability and knowledge in the language and culture of the partner country. Education in the bi-national section results in the dual award of the baccalauréat général and the German equivalent, the Arbitur.
International American Section - IAS
The Section Internationale Américaine is a bi-cultural linguistic programme established by the French Ministry of National Education in co-operation with the United States. The special feature of this programme is that it incorporates American culture into the curriculum as well as language.
The education delivered in the international section aims to facilitate the integration and immersion of foreign students into the French education system while providing those from the French system with an in-depth knowledge of English, notably by teaching history-geography in English.
The international American section is aimed at native English speakers or those who have already completed part of their education in an English-speaking country or at students who have a sufficient level of ability in English.
My child does not speak French
Mastering French for better integration
For students who have little or no knowledge of French, we offer an enhanced learning programme called Français Langue de Scolarisation (FLSco – French language for Education). This language support framework addresses one of the concerns of our teaching staff and aims to facilitate integration of all students into our school.
Sport
Physical education and sport grants access to many important practices for individual personal and social development. It helps adolescents to explore wellbeing and to take care of their health. All are involved, including allophone students and those with special educational needs and disabilities.
Coherent, diverse and balanced training is offered, while allowing sufficient time for students to acquire the skills defined in our programmes.
A project-based pedagogy
Our students can grow and supplement their experiences by choosing from the various cultural activities available in French, German and English. Sport, cultural and artistic activities have a major impact on student wellbeing. Arts and culture are essential in developing creativity and sharpening critical thinking.
Our school is an active participant in a range of international projects led by the AEFE, such as Ambassadeurs et Ambassadrices en herbe (budding ambassadors) where students apply their multilingual skills of oral communication and debating. Our student are able to become young international reporters (or JRI), they can also take part in the science Olympiad (which includes the “Alkindi” cryptanalysis competition), the International Youth Games (JIJ)…
Clubs
Striving for excellence is the main thrust of our academic programme. We aim to develop critical thinkers, helping our students to become independent, attentive and open to others in our complex and competitive world.
Outside of lessons, students can choose to develop their acting skills in our theatre workshop, discover China through language and culture in our “Daily life in China” workshop or learn about mathematical research with “Maths in jeans”, working in small groups, enjoying working out complex and varied mathematical conundrums.
MATH. EN. JEANS
- Monday, 12.30 pm- 13.25 pm
A research workshop for willing students in years Sixième to Terminale. The session is led by mathematics teachers Mr Morales ad Mr Bourgeois. Mrs Scheibke and Mrs Kaiser, two assistant researchers in Duisberg – Essen University’s Mathematics department, came to LfiSV in October to deliver an entertaining presentation for students to reflect on. Working in small groups, students chose a subject. They were then asked to generate ideas and shape them into solutions to a set of questions. They were guided by teaching staff as well as the researchers, who return to help students once or twice during the school year.
This work helps students to develop autonomy, teaches them about working in a group, develops creativity and builds an appetite for mathematics. At the end, they were asked to deliver their research project in a presentation, or using a display board, to present their research and summarise their findings in front of an audience of fellow students
Daily life in China
- Wednesday, 12.45 - 1.25 pm
This workshop is run by mathematics teacher, Yann Bourgeois. In this session, Mr Bourgeois aims to pique interest in China and Chinese culture through learning about its geography, history, traditional celebrations and customs.
This is also an opportunity to practise speaking Mandarin when discussing daily life in China. Students also have an introduction to writing Chinese characters. The language learning is brought to life through a range of recordings and videos.
Theatre Atelier
M.Séguy, literature teacher, leads the LfiSV theatre atelier.
This year’s project is an adaptation of Molière’s “Malade imaginaire”, performed during the European Physical Education Games organised at the LfdD, from 31 May to 4 June 2022.
