EnglishHead of Department:
None
~anne fine, author
The English Department at Haileybury Almaty aims to foster pupils’ enthusiasm for English literature and language learning, drawing on a range of texts from a variety of ages, sources and cultures. The department is committed to promoting life-long learning through developing pupils’ potential as inquiring, risk-taking and internationally-minded individuals. We utilise the United Kingdom National Curriculum to inform our curriculum and to prepare our pupils for the rigours of the IGCSE and A level curricula.
Pupils learn though an engaging range of speaking and listening, reading and writing inquiry-based activities and exposure to a wide range of English texts, including fiction and non-fiction, poetry, print media and moving image.
Native / Near-Native Classes
Work is assessed according to the assessment criteria agreed within the department and classes are expected to regularly produce an assessed extended piece of writing in response to materials being studied in class at the time.
Home learning tasks consist of consolidation activities, reading, developing comprehension skills, research and preparing the extended writing piece.
Pupils visit the library at least once a fortnight, for a scheduled library lesson, and are expected to be responsible for always having a suitable reading book with them at all times.
As there are both native and near native speakers of a high fluency level in the class, all English lessons are conducted in a monolingual environment at all times.
Pupils are encouraged to be proactive in their learning and develop an appreciation of a range of both non-fiction and fiction writing for children; express preferences and use refined strategies to improve their reading skills. Near native speakers are encouraged to either use monolingual dictionaries or use other strategies for improving their vocabulary.
Language Learners
Home learning tasks consist of consolidation activities, reading, developing comprehension skills and research.
Pupils visit the library at least once a fortnight, for a scheduled library lesson, and are expected to be responsible for always have a suitable reading book at all times. They are also encouraged to make use of bilingual dictionaries and vocabulary record books to extend their knowledge of the English language.
To encourage greater fluency all English lessons are conducted in a monolingual environment at all times.
IGCSE
Assessment
Pupils are assessed on the following core English skills:
• Speaking
• listening
•
• Writing
Pupils are assessed regularly through both formative and summative assessment. Pupils can expect to complete at least one summative assessment per half term, based on the materials they have studied, which form part of their English Portfolio: a record of the pupils’ achievements over the course of the academic year and preparation for the IGCSE and IB Diploma courses.
Additionally, pupils sit formal examinations at the end of Term One and Term Three.
Pupils are also given the opportunity to reflect regularly upon their achievements and set individual targets for improvement. The Department meets regularly to monitor, review and moderate the pupils’ work.
Staff
The Department consists of three highly experienced and dedicated English staff, trained in the United Kingdom and with broad international experience.
"Brilliantly organised" "Enormously impressed with what [Haileybury Almaty] has already achieved."
