Elementary school

BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY CLASSES

Each bilingual elementary class at Samui Bilingual School hosts a maximum of 20 children aged 6 to 12 years, from 1st grade to 5th grade.

Our teachers are certified and experienced professionals who have been trained at Samui Bilingual School in innovative methods, including behavioral sciences, and will continue to benefit from ongoing training. French-speaking and English-speaking teachers work in complete coordination.

Academic learning takes place in the morning. The afternoon is dedicated to Arts, Sports, and some small group activities around research and reflection topics (deepening a historical subject, writing the school's newspaper, theater games, etc.).
At Samui Bilingual Elementary School, artistic and sports activities are fully integrated into our pedagogical curriculum and are an integral part of learning.

In our bilingual primary classes, we lay the foundations that prepare your children for a successful secondary schooling. The spirit of teaching at Samui Bilingual School could be summarized as follows: it is innovative without being experimental, and while not entirely classical, it seeks your children's success.

We believe that the fundamental challenge of education is to build complete and fulfilled individuals, and we will keep this direction as a compass in all the moments your children share with us at Samui Bilingual School. The trust you place in us is a commitment.

PEDAGOGY

Samui Bilingual School aims to adhere to the common core of the French National Education but also goes further in learning around major axes:

Quality mathematics learning, because we know all children can master this discipline and that the quality of primary education conditions success in secondary schooling.
Bilingual teaching initiated in bilingual kindergarten class and the presence of two teachers allows for a number of subjects to be taught in English. In particular, reading in English (original English-language works) also allows addressing historical and cultural topics of many English-speaking territories.
Art and Sport as full pedagogical tools, enhancing openness to the world, respect for others, self-confidence, and acceptance of effort.
A detailed vision of our pedagogical work can be found by consulting the "teachings" pages.

The work initiated in Bilingual Kindergarten continues into the primary cycle with new activities emerging around reading and writing (as tools for creativity and support for spelling). Some teachings are reinforced, like Humanities.
Children are encouraged to express themselves, whether in writing through many collective works (school newspaper, centuries journal), or individual works (short stories, essays) or orally through numerous presentations made in small groups.

At Samui Bilingual School, we encourage children to always go further. After each classroom learning, a quick self-assessment is made allowing the teacher to verify that everything has been understood. These assessments are made to understand mistakes and improve, thanks to the teachers' support. Having a good grade is not an end in itself; what matters is that concepts are acquired and understood to create a robust foundation for secondary years. The teaching team helps children understand that making mistakes is an unavoidable step in learning, a necessary path. This perspective makes children more serene with their learning, more confident, and also helps them take more risks, not to limit themselves, to be persevering. Our educational creed on the status of error could be summarized with this beautiful quote from Samuel Beckett: "Ever Tried. Ever Failed. No Matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." A child struggling in a subject is supported to overcome these difficulties. A child who excels in a discipline is encouraged to go further with exercises adapted to their high level.

THE CANTEEN

Mealtime is a moment of sharing and discussion with teachers (who eat the same meal as the children, with them, at their table). Varied menus, mostly prepared with products from short supply chains and organic agriculture, are delivered each morning and served at school.

SCHEDULE

For the start of the day at Samui Bilingual School, the school doors open at 8:30 AM. We encourage children to respect the schedule.
The morning: children work on academic subjects with a rhythm of about 45 minutes per learning session followed by breaks and relaxation.

Recess: every morning, children can enjoy our playground to get a breath of fresh air and play with their friends.
Mealtime: at 12:00 PM, it's time to share a meal together.
The afternoon: it will be time for artistic activities and sports activities in our rooms dedicated to Art and Sport or for group activities.
End of the day together: at 4:30 PM, the school day ends.

 

The school offers bilingual (French – English) education in small class sizes at the elementary level. The school's traditional methods allow students to thrive and continue their education in the best institutions, in France and abroad.

For those who wish, Wednesdays are full-day sessions from 9 AM to 6 PM with workshops in the afternoon.

IMPORTANT: It is not necessary to be bilingual to join Samui Bilingual School. One must simply have the desire to become bilingual.

Bilingual program classes with limited enrollment (about 18 per class): 1st Grade-Grade 1; 2nd Grade-Grade 2; 3rd Grade-Grade 3; 4th Grade-Grade 4; 5th Grade-Grade 5

Significant educational support: a principal, high-level teachers, educational assistants, and supervisors.
Teachers oversee all recesses and evening study sessions.

The  Method: Back to Basics

Transmitting the joy of learning and discipline
Teaching is delivered in accordance with the official programs of the National Education and often goes beyond.
The use of the syllabic method guarantees excellent spelling and a very good understanding of texts.
Demanding English teaching (preparation for the Cambridge tests) "University of Cambridge: Esol examinations"
Specific support for non-French-speaking children
Children are happy and trained in the best work methods

A typical day in our elementary school

Start of the day at 9 AM to respect the biological rhythm of the child (reception possible from 8:15 AM)
Alternation of classes in French and English
Work modules lasting about 40 minutes each, corresponding to the attention span of young children

School Hours

School: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM and from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM;

Wednesday from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM or until 6 PM as an option
Lunch in the cafeteria + recess: from 11:30 AM to 1 PM
Educational daycare: from 4:30 PM to 6 PM