EN-Pédagogie - BIS - Bordeaux International School

The educational philosophy at BIS

Bordeaux International School, run by an educational cooperative*, offers a caring, multicultural, academic environment where students become bilingual independent thinkers, active learners and responsible global citizens.

For more than 30 years, Bordeaux International School (BIS), the only bilingual school in the Aquitaine region, has developed an international approach to education with a rigorous, differentiated and inclusive pedagogy, following individualised and multilingual pathways. During their journey, our students acquire the skills and tools necessary to understand the challenges of a global society, in order to find their place and have a positive impact.

BIS welcomes students from 3 to 18 years, offering bilingual French-English Early Learning, Primary and Secondary sections, as well as an international Upper Secondary.

BIS addresses the needs of students wishing to benefit from a truly bilingual international programme, whether they be from French families residing in the Bordeaux area or returning after a period of expatriation, or from non-French families from elsewhere in the world.

Whether their first or ‘mother tongue’ language is English or French, the school oversees the fortification and mastery of each language, thanks to immersive bilingual measures. At BIS we have developed our own pedagogy, bringing together groups to follow a programme of classes, half of which will be in English, half in French.

Each year BIS ensures that students from 25 different nationalities share an exceptional educational experience, uniting rigorous official programmes, language-learning, and multicultural understanding, as well as educating them as citizens on a local and international level.

We are fortunate to have an international team of qualified, benevolent teachers. They are creative, passionate, and trained in collaborative working in a multilingual context. Our teachers bring together enthusiasm and effort, for the fulfillment of all our students, instilling a humanist spirit of collective values and international citizenship.

Bilingualism

To be bilingual is to have the ability to express oneself easily in two languages. Bilingualism is increasing throughout the world, and today it seems essential to be in command of two languages.

At Bordeaux International School, each class in Early Learning and Primary has two main teachers, one francophone and one anglophone, who share teaching hours or give “team teaching” lessons. Our students also benefit from one Spanish lesson per week from the age of four.

In learning a language, we also learn about a culture, allowing students to have access to multicultural knowledge and to different learning approaches and ways of thinking. “Each language speaks about the world in its own way”, said the pedagogue Rudolf Steiner, creator of the pedagogy of the same name.

It takes time to be able to express oneself easily in a foreign language. We have defined the means for rigorous progression and put in place the various resources to bring our students to a bilingual level. A child must be exposed to a language at school, but also outside of school: at home via different means, out and about with friends who communicate in this other language. Bordeaux International School offers the ideal context to enrich their academic learning.

The benefits of bilingualism are numerous, but we count among the most important the acquisition of greater mental flexibility, greater capacity for concentration, increased ability to learn a third language, better problem-solving skills, greater creativity, a more open spirit, better communication with others, and a better understanding of the world.

After School Clubs

Chess

Chess Club takes place every Thursday after school for all interested Primary pupils. The game allows students to develop a number of skills while having fun. They become strategists, thinkers, and communicators, honing their intelligence while exchanging with comrades.

Chinese

Being the most-spoken language in the world, it has seemed natural these last few years to offer our students the opportunity to gain a new skill. Chinese club takes place twice a week (classes, open to Primary and Middle School, are organised according to level). Students can discover the Chinese language and culture or continue their learning begun previously.

After School Clubs

Chess

Chinese

Robotics

BIS has chosen Digit’OWL, the first ‘nomadic’ digital school, to lead the robotics club for Primary and Middle School students. Digit’OWL has developed its pedagogy around STEAM education (Science Technology Engineering Arts & Mathematics), so as to teach all students the skills of digital thinking, robotics, and programming.

Cambridge Club

This English club is open exclusively to English Second Language Advanced Level Primary students, wishing to gain the official Cambridge certificate. A certified BIS teacher runs the programme specific to the preparation of this exam. Sitting the exam is optional.

Piano

We have the great pleasure of offering our students individual lessons given by “L’atelier des pianistes”, created by two talented professional pianists: Paolo Rigutto and Audrey Lonca-Alberto.

Robotics

Cambridge Club

Piano

We have the great pleasure of offering our students individual lessons given by “L’atelier des pianistes”, created by two talented professional pianists: Paolo Rigutto and Audrey Lonca-Alberto.

School Music Band

French Club

This is an excellent opportunity for our foreign students to improve their French in a non-academic setting, and to become more familiar with the culture of their host country, France! They cook, make a variety of sustainable objects, discuss books and films in French, play games… the club programme adapts each year depending on the interests of its Middle School members.

Road Safety Club

This club aims to prepare for the ASSR (School Attestation of Road Safety), at level 1 and level 2.Candidates must understand and anticipate situations of risk in order to make the right practical decisions, and avoid putting themselves or others at risk.

School Music Band

The BIS band aims to bring together Secondary students who already play a musical instrument and want to play pop and rock songs together. The group plays in public during end of term concerts, Open Day, the graduation ceremony, and sometimes the French ‘fête de la musique’!