After-School Activity Programme

In our aim to develop the individual potential of each student we offer a diverse extra-curricular programme after school hours.

Mother tongue tuition

At the International School of Lausanne, we encourage students to understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, as well as those of others, and to be open to differing values, perspectives and traditions.

In this way, we recognize the importance of mother-tongue maintenance and development. Maintaining and developing language and literacy skills in the mother tongue ensures continuous cognitive development, and in parallel with the competence in the language of instruction, leads to additive bilingualism.

Moreover, it is also crucial for maintaining cultural identity and emotional stability by enabling students to remain in touch with, and maintain esteem for the language, literature and culture of their home country.

Finally, it makes it possible for students to readjust to life in their home community and education system should they return to their home country. 

In short, bilingual children perform better in school when the school effectively promotes the mother tongue. At the International School of Lausanne, we work in partnership with the various language communities to develop literacy in that language. To this end, a yearly on-line Mother Tongue Survey is issued. Based upon the data received, we facilitate mother-tongue lessons after school by helping to find mother tongue language teachers and making the premises available.

We currently offer mother tongue tuition in Danish, Dutch, German, (Italian), Spanish and Swedish.

Aims of the programme include:

·         The development of orthographic and grammatical control

·         The extension of lexical range, enriching vocabulary

·         The development of literacy, through written comprehension and extended reading

·         To raise students’ awareness of and respect for their native cultures by expressing idea and information confidently in their mother tongue

·         To equip students for the future, for a time when they may need or wish to use their mother tongue or study their native literature as a native speaker

Typically, the classes last for between one and one and a half hours per week, providing an opportunity for students to relate to, and learn from, teachers and other students from their cultural background. Our mother tongue teachers are native speakers of their language; they all have university degrees and most of them have extensive teaching experience.

For more information about the programme and to enroll, please contact aidan.macdonald@isl.ch, who will be happy to answer any questions you may have regarding this exciting initiative.

Sport and other activities

Soccer, basketball, cross-country, rugby, swimming, softball, track and field, rock climbing and abseiling, canoeing, art and craft, drama, yearbook, technology, film-making, stage band and choir are among the many activities that have been offered.

An active and successful ski team also trains on Saturdays during the ski season.

Timetable:

Danish for native speakers with Ms Hahnemann

·         on Mondays from 15.50 to 16.50 for Years 1-5

·         on Tuesdays from 15.50 to 17.20 for Years 7-10

Dutch for native speakers with Ms Goos

·         on Mondays from 16.00 to 17.00 for Years 4-6

Dutch for native speakers with Ms van Hulzen

·         on Thursdays from 15.50 to 16.50 for Years 6-9

French for native speakers with Ms Rey

·         on Wednesdays from 15.45 to 16.45 for Years 2-5

German for native speakers with Ms Schweizer

·         on Thursdays from 15.50 to 16.50 for Years 1-6

Spanish for native speakers with Ms Renteria

·         on Thursdays from 15.50 to 16.50 for Years 7-9: temporarily suspended, awaiting further interest

Dutch reading group in the Library

·         on Mondays for Years Y7-10

We would like to start a short, French reading group for native speakers in the Library for children in R4 to Year 2. If you would like to help run this initiative, please contact aidan.macdonald@isl.ch

Swedish for native speakers for Years 1 to 6

Swedish for native speakers for Years 7 to 13