Curriculum Overview

Adoption of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR)

The Awty International School uses the CEFR as a common basis for teaching, learning, and assessing the acquisition of languages. Our school has a unique identity, in which we are an International Program leading to the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IBD) as well as a French Accredited Program approved by the French Ministry of National Education. We consider this modern European approach to learning, assessing, and teaching languages to be the most suitable vehicle for developing our language program.

The CEFR describes what skills language learners have to acquire to use the language for communication. The descriptors also acknowledge the importance of cultural competence as an essential element of language comprehension.

Finally, the framework also defines the levels of proficiency, allowing measurement at each stage of language acquisition. The CEFR differentiates three distinct learning stages (Basic, Independent, and Proficient) with two levels each: Basic User (A1, A2), Independent User (B1, B2), and Proficient User (C1, C2).

Our courses in Spanish and French are structured around these levels, providing a course in Language and Literature for our native or highly-proficient students in Middle and Upper School, as well as the IB Program.