Multilingualism

Preparing for the Future

George Washington Academy prepares students for an increasingly multicultural, global workforce through a unique, multilingual educational program. Using research driven methodology, our students receive an immersive English education along side French and Arabic instruction.

Discovery

Our English immersion Discovery program develops oral English skills using constructive play, stories, crafts, and thematic units. Certified, native-English speaking teachers lead instruction while multilingual assistant teachers ensure students' needs are met.

Pre-K & Kinder

Core classes, including Math, Science, Social Studies, and English are taught by certified, native English teachers. Native French teachers instruct literacy development, including oral language, letters, sounds, and writing for 90 minutes daily.

Grade 1

Students continue their development in core subjects with a certified, native English teacher. Their French literacy expands to 120 daily minutes of instruction, laying a strong foundation for reading and writing in French by the end of the year. Oral, classical Arabic is added twice-a-week.

Grade 2 - 5

Because students already have solid reading skills in French at the end of grade 1, the skills necessary for English reading transfer naturally. Students are on-level with American peers by the end of fourth grade. French and Arabic instruction continue. After grade 5, they are competent in three languages.

Middle School

Push-in and pull-out English instruction is provided to assist English language learners in the middle school. English language teachers work closely with classroom teachers to align English support with required curriculum standards and the WIDA standards. All students take one full credit equivalent of English, French, and Arabic language per year.

High School

GWA's IB Language options are loaded with 5 levels of French and 4 levels of English. Students will be able to choose a standard Arabic option while also taking the IB Diploma Program. IB students have the option of graduating with an English and/or French IB Diploma. American diploma students are also required to take 5 credits of French and/or Arabic courses to graduate.

Additional Information

English

As an American accredited school, we use English as our primary language of instruction. From our Nursery program for two year olds to our seniors in high school, our native English speaking teachers foster an environment rich in English language instruction. Our students receive high quality instruction through the adoption of the Common Core State Standards and utilization of diversely rich texts and American-based curriculum. From our youngest scholars to our graduates, we seek to prepare global citizens equipped to impact Morocco, the United States, and the world.

All core subjects, including math, English oral language and non-reading literacy skills (i.e. story structure, sequence of events, and understanding characters) are taught in English. Additionally, all specials-physical education, computers, music, and library, are English based. Our classroom teachers are native English speakers and the environment is rich in English.

French

Most of our students enter school with French as the language of the home and environment. In our preschool and Elementary programs, French is the language of initial literacy development. Initial reading and writing skills are developed first in French classes with native French speaking instructors. Pre-K and Kinder students will receive 90 minutes/day of French instruction.

In 1st Grade, students develop literacy in French. Our instructional practices focus on learning centers with small group interaction with their teacher. By the end of the year we expect most students to be able to read age-appropriate French texts and write sentences and basic paragraphs. Students receive 120 minutes/day of French instruction.

In 2nd-5th grades, our French program continues to develop French literacy, but also develops the oral and academic grammar and French skills necessary to be successful in the French-speaking world. Students receive 50 minutes/day of French instruction through 5th grade.

Beginning in second grade we provide French resource for our non-native French speaking students who need additional support.

Arabic

Standard Arabic is the third language taught at GWA beginning in 1st grade. As with natural language development, we begin with oral language skills and over the course of the elementary years add in the literacy system so that by the end of 5th grade, students are able to decode, write, speak, and understand simple Arabic. Arabic is taught twice a week beginning in 1st grade and increased to three times a week in 4th & 5th grades.

Beginning in fourth grade we provide Arabic resource for our non-native Arabic speaking students who need additional support.

English Literacy Track

The English literacy track is for those expat students moving from country to country in English speaking schools as well as a minority of non-French speaking students in grades Pre-K through 1st, who need to develop sufficient English skills to be successful in learning to read in English before moving on to another English speaking country. These students will not have the opportunity to participate in the full GWA French literacy program through the Preschool and Elementary years. Application to the English literacy track is available through a meeting with the Principal.