Gateway program
Resolutely open to students from all nationalities, EFI is able to welcome students who are non- or only slightly francophone (more often expatriates from third countries), regardless of the schooling level in preschool or elementary. To succeed in this integration, the school organizes a smooth transition and puts in place a "gateway program" that assists in a rapid acquisition of the French language (that is our first language) and a harmonious insertion into our curriculum.
The "gateway" program at EFI rests on a set of pedagogic measures elaborated by the teaching staff and accepted by the family. It allows the school to welcome student s who are non- or only slightly francophone (expatriate from third countries) whichever the stage of schooling in primary: preschool or elementary.
Before the integration of these students, a precise language evaluation is conducted and serves as a base for continuous monitoring of student progress. The students then join a regular class in which they are "immerged" but their schedules are adapted according to measures inspired by the recommended "primo-arrivant" measures established by the French national education and the "immersion classes" of EIB Paris.
Each day a teacher specialized in the teaching of French as a second language (FLE) takes over a group of 5 or 6 students during 1.5 to 2 hours to guide them through intensive French language teaching. This time is principally borrowed from the English language instruction period, which is reduced to accommodate French language acquisition.
This program allows students from far outside the French educational system to acquire French language in a few months thanks to assimilation strategies while developing competencies in listening and reading. Their confidence will progress and they will then begin to develop competencies in written production and verbal communication. Additionally, a constant liaison with the families will allow for exchange around the stakes and constraints, and to enter into an enlightened educational partnership.
Directly inspired by the practices at EIB Paris, this program has shown proven results for many years, allowing students, in about one academic year, to join a glass in the regular curriculum.
