The principal International House methodology is the communicative one. Our aim is to teach children to speak English, which is why at the lessons a real interactive language environment is created. Children’s immersion in the foreign language since their young age is especially valuable.
According to their age the children are divided into the following groups:
Infants (3.5 – 6 yrs)
Kids (6-8 yrs)
Juniors (9 – 12 yrs)
Teenagers (13-17 yrs)
INFANTS
At the Infants level there are three groups: Infants 1, Infants 2 and Infants 3. The group division is based mainly on the age criterion, because at this stage of their life children’s skills and habits as well as the speed of comprehension of the new material differ first of all depending on the children’ age. The children are in the interactive language environment which the school creates for them, they get used to the sound of a foreign language, learn to speak it, and gradually acquire English pronunciation in songs and rhymes. At this level children study (and continually repeat) basic vocabulary and grammar. The classes are mostly conducted in the form of games with a large number and variety of activities. Length of class: 45 min.
KIDS
This level is for the children of primary school age (6 – 8 yrs).
Kids 1 start writing and reading English. During the lessons the children learn to speak about themselves and their family, about their likes and dislikes. They listen to short dialogues, nursery rhymes, and also drill contrastive sounds.
Kids 2 increase their knowledge gained the previous year, continue growing their vocabulary, and learn to talk about present and past events. Audio materials become more difficult.
K ids 3 continue increasing their vocabulary and start using in their speech various grammar structures that help them to express themselves in English more clearly. They listen to simple grammar-based dialogues and improve their pronunciation singing drill songs.
Kids 4 master more complex grammar and vocabulary and learn to use in their speech the material studied. Work with audio materials presupposes answering questions to the text, songs and rhymes.
JUNIORS
Age 9 – 12 yrs. Six sublevels.
Juniors 1 have the elementary level of English and are introduced to the basics of the language.
Juniors 2 increase their knowledge gained during the previous year. Basic grammar topics (the Present and Future Continuous, the Present Perfect, modal verbs) are introduced.
Juniors 3 prepare the children to go to the Teenagers level (sublevel 2). The children learn to talk about present, past and future and use modal verbs.
Juniors 4 are 9 – 12 year-old children who have completed Kids 3 or 4 or have a corresponding level of English and can demonstrate it orally and in writing.
Juniors 5 substantially broaden their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and learn to use it while taking part in various games and projects.
Juniors 6 are prepared to move to the Teenagers level (sublevel 3). According to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages it is Level A2.
TEENAGERS
Age 13 – 17 yrs.
At this level knowledge is defined according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages. Only the student’s level of English defines into which group he/she will be enrolled, because mostly in this age apart from the knowledge received at schools the student may get personal experience of communication in English, watching films/TV programs in English, staying in language environment, etc.
Teens 1 are complete beginners who have never studied English.
Teens 2 have elementary level of English. They get skills of communicating in simple situations, start speaking, reading, writing in English and comprehending oral English speech.
Teens 3 and Teens 4 correspond to the Pre-Intermediate level (A2 CEFR). At this level more complex grammar structures are taught, which helps the students to express abstract ideas and notions. On completion of this level the teenagers can use English in simple everyday situations.
Teens 5 and Teens 6 correspond to the Intermediate level (B1 CEFR). At this level the students express their personality through English. They learn to express themselves in various life situations, fill in simple documents, speak on the phone, read books and the press in the original with a dictionary and differentiate between regional variants of English.
Teens 7 and Teens 8 correspond to the Upper Intermediate level (B2 CEFR). This level allows the students to substantially enrich their knowledge of English. At this level the students communicate freely, have good pronunciation and rich vocabulary. Their level of English allows them to discuss complex topics and issues from various life spheres.