Our English

Genuinamente Bilingüe. Desde muy pequeños, les enseñamos a pensar y expresarse en inglés, apuntando a dearrollar fluidez y capacidad de comunicación oral y escrita.

Why learn English from a very young age?

Children at St. David’s start learning English from a very young age. Even when they are still learning their mother tongue, learning a second language is very easy for them.  In general, by age 6 or 7 at the most, children have acquired the major infrastructure of their mother tongue, even though many children can acquire it earlier. The same happens with the learning of a second language. With an early start, higher levels of proficiency will be acquired together with a native-like pronunciation which would be harder to obtain later in life.

Our school is very aware of the many personal (cognitive, psychological) and social benefits of learning a second language at a young age. Studies show that bilingual students are cognitively more flexible and creative than their monolingual peers.  There are positive effects on memory and listening skills once they become aware of the existence of other language systems which are different from their mother tongue. They are able to transfer learning skills from one language to the other which increases their neurological connections.

Because language and culture are irrevocably connected, children at St. David’s have the opportunity to expand their understanding of other cultures which will help them to become “global citizens” in our international and intercultural world.  Being proficient in the English language and culture will greatly improve their future career potential.

Our Teaching and Learning Approach

At St. David’s our teachers’ plan their classes based on the valuable research that we have studied and adhere to. Cognitive Psychology is one of the tools on which we focus to understand how our students process, remember and learn.  Based on a Communicative Approach teachers provide the students with real-life situations in which they need to communicate. They make sure that these activities are meaningful and age-adequate so the children will be very motivated and feel the need to express themselves and participate.

Our teaching method makes sure that all four skills LISTENING-SPEAKING-READING -WRITING are used and that the children are actively engaged so they learn and not forget.  Most important, we teach our children to THINK CRITICALLY: the first skill necessary for all possible learning. We make sure that the process of acquiring new knowledge is challenging, enjoyable and meaningful.

Culture and Content Teaching

At St. David’s we are very aware that as children grow their interests and curiosity changes. Therefore we offer them a wide variety of topics, materials and activities that keep them motivated throughout their primary years.   We teach English as a subject as well as History, Geography, Science, Math and Cultural Background in English. Content teaching not only supports their language learning but deepens their general knowledge and creates links to other knowledge they are acquiring in their Spanish classes and in their lives.

Our children have access to a new Computer Lab that together with the other ancillary materials (story books, DVD’s, CD’s, magazines, games, etc.) used in our classes, enhance their learning experience in a fun and culturally immersed way.

International Exams

Students at St. David’s have an integral English education which prepares them to sit for the TRINITY EXAM at the end of 5^th Form, and at the end of 6^th they are ready for the PET (from Cambridge University). These trustworthy and well known tests provide both a motivation and a reward for their efforts and accomplishments and an inspiration to continue their English studies in Secondary Education.