One School, One Classroom: Student Perspectives on International Education

Tuesday, 06 Jan 2009

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One School, One Classroom: Student Perspectives on International Education

Who are we?

ISB is like many international schools around the world with 1500 students, aged 2 to 19, from 70 countries. 59% of us have first languages other than English, 15% of us have mild to moderate learning difficulties, 1% of us has severe learning difficulties, and 10% of us might be called ‘highly able’. Each year, a quarter of us move on to new learning experiences elsewhere. Each of us, though, has our own learning style, skills, interests, passions, personality, hopes and dreams. Each of us are unique in our own way.

“ISB is just one international school and we are just one classroom. We are sure many commonalities exist between the international schools of the world. But, we all are happy to have had the opportunity to attend school at ISB if even for just

What does learning look like in a typical middle school classroom?

In one class alone, we represent countries from almost every continent including Ireland, South Africa, America, Belgium, Pakistan and India. Together, we speak French, English, Spanish, Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi. Not everyone who joins ISB can speak English when they arrive. One student in our class, though, has moved from beginner to advanced ESL in just two years. This is common at our school.

Saying goodbye to friends is also a common experience. Two students will be leaving ISB at the end of this school year, one after only one year at the school. This reflects how an international school can also be a bit depressing, with best friends leaving almost every year.

To us, an international school means many things. It means the students, teachers and the curriculum are – surprise, surprise – international. Perhaps more than anything else, this means that the classroom is characterized by a spirit of acceptance and open-mindedness. Everyone is welcome, along with their ideas and you don't discriminate. If you are passionate about something, there will always be someone to listen to you and someone with the same passion.

An international school is also a place where you meet different people from around the world, from different cultures and religions and learn how to be a good international citizen. It is important that we learn how to make a positive impact on the world.

Ultimately, though, ISB is a school where we feel safe, accepted, diverse and challenged. Here, our uniqueness is celebrated and embraced and this is what makes our school a place where we can discover who we are and what our place is in this world.

ISB Middle School Students: Ciarán Daly, Gabrielle Flowers, Mubah Rafi, Max Pässler, Erum Khalid, Mikala Skelton and Mackenzie Sambuco.

Newsweek Showcase Archive Articles:

Transforming international education through technology

One of the many challenges faced by today's international schools is how technology, coupled with other developments in instructional practice, can improve learning for........
Michael Crowley, Head of Middle School, International School of Brussels andDoug Stone, IT Director, International School of Brussels

A student view on the experience of international education

The benefits of an international school are varied and far-reaching. Whether you're learning to appreciate exotic cuisine........
Aisling Daly, ISB Class of 2008

International Education: an industry, an ideal, an individual choice

The origin of international education was largely pragmatic. With the post-war growth of an expatriate workforce, the need arose........
Kevin Bartlett - Director, International School of Brussels & William H Gerritz - Director, International School of Bangkok

The Benefits of an International School Education

International schools are no newcomers to the educational marketplace - but there are ......
Newsweek Showcase

The 21st Century Dispositions

Hard-nosed vs. soft-hearted, financial focus vs. academic focus, the real world vs. the rarified world - these are just some of the traditional ways that have characterized the world of business vs. the world of academia........
Kevin Bartlett, Director, International School of Brussels, Belgium

Campaigning to Change the Landscape of Energy: International schools and the fight against climate change

In 2005, the Directorate-General for Energy and Transport of the European Commission launched Sustainable Energy Europe 2005-2008, an unprecedented campaign aimed at ensuring greater public awareness, understanding and........
Kevin Bartlett, Director, International School of Brussels, Belgium

The New Eurotrotters: Freedom to Work, Freedom to Learn

A United Europe provides its citizens with unprecedented freedom of movement. European universities compete for students. International companies compete for........
Kevin Bartlett, Director, International School of Brussels, Belgium, Chair, Board of the Council of International Schools. Kari Kivinen, Director, European School (Uccle), Brussels, Belgium

Corporate investment in the future of our schools

There are no longer blanks on the world map. Old atlases with areas of pink indicating uncharted land have been replaced by satellite .......
Robert Brindley & David Willows

Setting Standards, Improving Schools - How accreditation drives quality in international education

There are no longer blanks on the world map. Old atlases with areas of pink indicating uncharted land have been replaced by satellite .......
Kevin Bartlett and Richard Tangye - Council of International Schools

Moving on, but never forgotten:

International schools across the world are typically defined as places of transition. With many expatriate families staying in one location for only three to four years at a time, these school communities are .......
Kevin Bartlett and John Lippincott

The world is their oyster:

Worldwide, college/university application numbers are up and the admissions process has become increasingly competitive. While most students tend to choose higher education .......
Rick Cameron & Phil Moss

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