SBEC INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL TOPS 2008 FRENCH INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATION - DELF A1 JUNIOR

SBEC International School with the vision of Shaping World Changers in The Gambia, in her first attempt, has topped this year’s DELF A1 Junior examination in The Gambia. The highest score of 97.5% in this year’s DELF (level A1 Junior) was attained by a student of SBEC, in addition to a total success rate of 84% in the school.

SBEC, an international bilingual school, and an accredited member of the Association of International Schools in Africa (AISA), prepares students to take the French International Examination - DELF at Alliance Franco-Gambienne, The Gambia.

Speaking to our reporter, the Public Relations Officer of SBEC, Mr Lewis Brown, took the opportunity to thank the French Department of the school and the French Co-operation in The Gambia for their relentless efforts and encouragement. Mr Brown also thanked SBEC parents for their support toward the attainment of these outstanding results, adding that with their continued support, SBEC will always excel.

Interviewing some members of staff from SBEC, this is what they had to say:

+ Mr. S.A.S. Kamara is the Head of the High School which sent 17 students to take the DELF examination.


Q1. SBEC International School is widely known as a bi-lingual school, could you please comment on the bi-lingual structure of the school?

ANS: Our bi-lingual structure starts right from the Daycare/Nursery section, up to the High School. We are effectively running two schools in one, with a view to giving equal spaces in the timetable to both the English subjects and the French subjects.

Our future goal is to teach all subjects taught in English, in French. So essentially, we will be teaching subjects like Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, History, Social and Environmental Studies in French, in addition to French as a language. In the Daycare and Nursery, the Junior School and the High School there is diversification into non-linguistic subjects taught in French.

This kind of structure is looking forward to our students taking the IGCSE, AS and A2 Cambridge conducted examinations and the DELF A1, A2, B1 and B2 French examinations. In effect our students will end up taking two sets of examinations as they graduate out of High School.

Q2. What can students benefit from attending a bi-lingual school as SBEC?

ANS: Our students first of all enjoy the benefit of being taught the same subjects in two languages-English Language and French. In a way, what is taught in one language is reinforced by the second language and this deepens our students’ understanding in the non- linguistic subjects.

Because our students are exposed to two sets of examinations at the end of their High School, it gives them a choice to either opt for a university education in English speaking countries or French speaking countries. So their scope of choosing university education is wide.

Also, with our bi-lingual education the chances of our students getting international jobs are great. As you may be aware, most international jobs today require competence in more than one international language and both French and English are international languages.

Q3.What are your comments about the school’s enviable success in this year’s DELF level A1 Junior Examination?

ANS: I think the students who represented the school and the proper tuition of their teacher, Mr. Momodou S. Jallow, have done extremely well. Considering the fact that this is the first time SBEC International School is sending students to take the DELF examination, I think a success rate of 84% is quite enviable. In the future we shall strive for a 100% success rate and maintain it at that.

+ Mr. Momodou S. Jallow Head of French Department is a veteran French teacher through whose tenacious effort and with the support of teachers in the French Department, produced such an enviable pass rate.

Q4. How did you manage to get such a good result?

ANS: There is a combination of factors leading to such a success rate. First, the management team of SBEC was very supportive of the French Department and within the department we always worked as a team. Our students also were very attentive, disciplined and participative in class. With all of these positive supports around me there was no way one could not have recorded such a tremendous success.

Q5. What is special about the teaching of French in SBEC?

ANS: SBEC being a bi-lingual school, it is important to note that our students start learning French at a very early age (from 2 years). Also French is given an equal importance as English Language in the timetable. In addition to that our students are also taught non- linguistic subjects like Mathematics, History and Science, in French, at all levels of the school. This makes it very interesting to teach French in an environment like this.

+ Mr. Julien Badjie is a teacher in the French Department. He is also the French Public Relations Officer of SBEC.

Q6 What method of teaching French do you use in class?

ANS: We basically use the direct method, which consists in teaching the French language in French as opposed to the indirect method where French is taught via the English language. This gives the children the advantage of hearing French throughout the lesson, thinking in French and trying to respond in French.

Q7. How do your children respond in class?

ANS: As I just said, they try their level best to respond in French. This puts them in a situation where they are compelled to use the French language to communicate everything they want to say with me.

+ Mr Ebou Jammeh is the Academic Supervisor of SBEC.

Q8. How do you feel about the French results?

ANS: I am extremely delighted. As the Academic Standards Supervisor responsible for the academic affairs of the school, results are my utmost priority. I must say it is a good beginning for the French team for producing the best result and this should continue.

Q9. What led to such great success?

ANS: Team work and following the curriculum have been my goal throughout this year. As teachers we should always work as a team from one another and exchange ideas.

Q10. Where you expecting such results?

ANS: Oh yes the teachers are good and hardworking. As the supervisor there is always continuous monitoring to put every teacher on their toes. Remember, hard work brings success.

Q11.As a bi-lingual school are your students up to standards to continue producing such results?

ANS: Both English and French are strong since we follow two curriculums. Teachers meet monthly in workshops to discuss relevant points. The students are also well assessed and prepared for any exam.

+ Mr. Samuel Kamara gave the last remarks.

SBEC International School is aiming at reaching a very high level of excellence and competence in both languages-French and English. Our vision as earlier on stated is to shape world changers and we see our students at SBEC as pupils who are imbued with the potentials of making this world a better place through very sound education and modern methodologies of teaching. We are grateful to all external support given to us to boost our bi-lingual structure and we hope to keep our flag of success flying high.