A student who starts studying at a school abroad where instruction is in a foreign language quickly discovers the difference between everyday communication and the language of the classroom. During break, they understand their peers, but in physics they lose the meaning of a problem because they don't know the terminology. The teacher explains the topic at a pace natural for a native speaker, the textbook contains long texts, and written assignments require a certain structure. Our job is to prepare students for this workload in advance or to support them in the first months of study.
Where We Begin: Assessment and Goal Setting
We assess where the student is now. We check their level across all four language skills, review the school curriculum and subject list, and review previous work where possible. We also check their command of subject-specific vocabulary: mathematical terms, concepts from the natural sciences, and social studies. After that, we draw up a plan with priorities and a clear number of lessons per week. Parents can see which topics will be covered first and what the course is designed to achieve.
Inside the Preparation: What and How We Teach
Language preparation goes beyond a general course. We teach students to read academic texts at the required speed, identify key points, take notes and write essays, understand lectures by ear, answer orally, and take part in discussions. Students learn the academic phrasing that appears in assignments and exams. The subject part depends on the school's programme: for some students, algebra and geometry need strengthening; for others, biology, chemistry, or history. We work through topics in the foreign language, practise problems and explanations, and check whether the student can retell the material in their own words.
Lessons are one-on-one. The teacher selects materials for the specific school and grade, using the textbooks adopted in the programme and additional assignments. We review progress regularly: we look at how the student completes work, what comes more easily, and which mistakes are repeated. We adjust the plan as we go if the school changes its requirements or the student progresses faster. If necessary, we align the preparation with current homework so that lessons don't duplicate what's happening in class.
After the Course: Outcomes and Practical Details
By the end of the course, the student understands explanations in class, can write tests and answer at the board, and reads the textbook without constantly reaching for a dictionary. They know the rules and use the language as a working tool. We work with international students and their families who are planning to study abroad or have already started their studies. Preparation can take place before admission, during the summer before the first academic year, or alongside school lessons if the student needs to catch up.