What is an International Education?

An International Education at Tessa

A truly international education is a combination of various factors. At Tessa we focus on three main criteria to prepare our students to become bilingual, adaptable and active citizens: Bilingualism, Interculturalism and Diversity.

Bilingualism

Research indicates that the brain circuits associated with language learning are more flexible at a young age. That is why at TESSA, we start learning French, Spanish or Mandarin as early as 2 years old with 80% of learning in the target language. Rather than “teaching the language”, we teach in the language. Our students soon become fluent in several languages:

According to NPR.org, a bilingual education shows benefits that will be utilized and carried throughout your child’s lifetime. Bilingual instruction is unparalleled to any other learning approach available. Some of these benefits include:

Cognitive advantages:

• Enhanced creativity and flexibility
• Expanded literacy skills, metalinguistic awareness
• Greater cognitive control

Social advantages:

• Deeper cross-cultural understanding
• More positive attitudes, fewer negative stereotypes
• Adaptability, appreciation of diversity
• Competitiveness on the job market

Personal advantages:

• Enhanced self-esteem and identity
• Family connections
• Pride in heritage, participation in cultural traditions
• Potential for reduced alzheimer’s late in life

Each language also has its own benefits. Research shows that Chinese, for example, uses simpler number words and expresses math concepts more clearly than English, making it easier for small children to learn counting and arithmetic.

Learn more about the benefits of Bilingualism on our website.

Interculturalism

At Tessa, Interculturalism is at the heart of our curriculum, and we believe immersing our students in different cultures is a key factor in their development. Our program promotes the understanding of different people and cultures, the respect of the normality of diversity in all areas of life. We want to sensitize our students to the notion that we have naturally developed in different ways.

Diversity

What makes cultural immersion possible at Tessa is the amazing diversity among our team and families. It is a big part of our identity as a school, as well as a community and we take much pride in it.

Teachers, students and their families get to share their country of origin’s traditions during celebrations, school events or before holidays.

We recently started mapping this diversity among our community and it simply looks amazing!

This wonderful mix of backgrounds, along with our curriculum is what makes our school, and your child’s education, truly international – and special!

The benefits of an international education are bountiful. From teaching a global curriculum such as that of the IBO, to joining our families and staff who come from more than 50 different cultural backgrounds, an international school experience positions your child for the future that they will live in.

Our students are encouraged to think independently and drive their own learning, take part in programs of education that can lead them to some of the highest ranking universities around the world, become more culturally aware through the development of a second language, and are able to engage with people in an increasingly globalized, rapidly changing world.

International education fosters openness, intellectual curiosity, tolerance, and an appreciation of diversity–skills much needed for our world.