Primary English Program Overview (Grades 1–5)
The Primary English Program is designed to support learners through a natural and carefully sequenced progression of language development while fostering confidence, curiosity, and self-awareness. Students are immersed in an international English-language environment where English is consistently modeled and meaningfully used from the very beginning.
Through integrated learning experiences that combine language, science, nature, and social studies, learners develop not only communication skills but also a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. The program emphasizes collaboration, effective learning habits, and foundational grammar, ensuring students are well prepared for a more academically demanding secondary education.
STRIVE: Building Confidence and Foundations
Strive introduces young learners to English in a supportive, immersive, and interactive international setting. At this stage, students are encouraged to listen, speak, and respond naturally, building confidence through songs, stories, games, and hands-on activities.
Learners are exposed to English through clear language modeling, helping them absorb pronunciation, basic sentence patterns, and everyday vocabulary. Simple grammar structures are introduced implicitly and practiced meaningfully to establish a strong foundation.
Integrated themes from science, nature, and social life help students explore who they are, how they learn, and how they interact with others. Collaboration is embedded through pair work and group activities, supporting social development and positive learning habits.
The Primary English Program aligns with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and supports learners in progressing from Pre-A1 to A2 by the end of primary school. The program immerses students in an international English-language environment, where language is consistently modeled and used for real communication.
Key Focus Areas:
- Natural exposure to spoken English
- Confidence in speaking and listening
- Early grammar awareness through use
- Collaboration and social interaction
- Self-awareness and curiosity about the world
RISE: Strengthening Language and Learning Skills
Rise builds on foundational skills by helping learners use English more independently and accurately in an international learning environment. Students expand their vocabulary and begin to practice basic grammar more explicitly, strengthening sentence structure while maintaining natural communication.
English is used to explore science, nature, and thesocial sciences, encouraging learners to ask questions, share ideas, and think critically about real-world topics. Structured collaboration helps students develop teamwork, communication strategies, and respect for diverse perspectives.
At this level, students grow in confidence as learners, developing effective study habits, self-reflection skills, and a stronger sense of responsibility for their own learning.
Key Focus Areas:
- Developing fluency and clarity in speaking
- Practicing foundational grammar with purpose
- Collaborative learning and teamwork
- Integrated content-based learning
- Growing independence and learning confidence
THRIVE: Preparing for Academic Success
Thrive prepares students for the transition to secondary-level English learning by strengthening academic language skills while maintaining confident, natural communication. Learners refine their grammar knowledge to ensure a solid foundation in sentence structure, tense use, and written expression.
Students engage in project-based and collaborative learning, using English to explore deeper concepts in science, nature, and social studies. These experiences promote critical thinking, problem-solving, and global awareness within an international classroom context.
At this stage, learners develop strong self-management skills, confidence in expressing ideas, and the ability to collaborate effectively—equipping them with the tools to succeed in more academically demanding environments.
Key Focus Areas:
- Accurate and confident spoken and written English
- Strong grammar foundations for secondary readiness
- Critical thinking and project-based learning
- Collaboration and leadership skills
- Understanding self, community, and the wider world
