Academic Programmes

Vietnamese Language and Culture

Strong Sense of Community

Strong Sense of Community

With a student body of 40 nationalities, Australian International School in Ho Chi Minh, (AIS) seeks to create and foster a strong sense of community through understanding, respecting, and celebrating our varied beliefs, nationalities, and cultures.

Importantly, AIS children are encouraged to understand more about our host country, Vietnam.

All enrolled students, from Kindergarten to Year 6, study Vietnamese. Vietnamese students complete the Vietnamese National Curriculum, and non-Vietnamese students undertake Vietnamese Language & Culture.

In Years 7-11, in addition to taking Vietnamese as a subject, Vietnamese students* study Vietnamese National Studies after school. During these lessons, students cover a set curriculum throughout the academic year, which includes four key areas: Vietnamese Culture, History, Geography and Literature. The entirety of this curriculum is taught in Vietnamese.

In AIS’s Senior School, older students can decide to complete their IB Diploma using Vietnamese as their Language A. This entitles them to a bilingual diploma.

The school also fully participates in national celebrations, including Tet and the Moon Festival. The annual AIS Tet festival is a highlight in the calendar, with decorations and Hoa-Mai trees placed throughout AIS’s three campuses.

*Applicable to Vietnamese National students only

Digital Learning

Developing Digital Learning and STEAM

Australian International School (AIS) is committed to developing digital learning and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) programmes of study in a commitment to teaching and learning across a broad, dynamic, and innovative environment. The digital learning syllabus is supported by quality infrastructure, including fast internet speed, comprehensive wireless access, and digital resources and tools to support teaching and learning.

Our children are facing a future that is exciting, constantly changing and technology-rich. At AIS, we strive to prepare our students for this future by enabling them to develop the digital skills necessary to best cope with such an environment. We believe that technology, when used appropriately, provides opportunities to support, engage, enhance, and transform student learning.

‘Transformational’ use of digital technologies

At AIS, we are exploring not only how technology can supplement traditional ways of teaching, but also how it can open new and diverse ways of learning. When integrating and using digital technologies in the classroom, we reflect on Puentedura’s SAMR model. Our aim is to move from ‘Enhancement’ use to the ‘Transformational’ use of digital technologies.

The goals of the digital learning programme include: 

Increasing student learning outcomes and engagement 
Developing STEAM skills needed for the future
Enhancing digital citizenship 
Ensuring that students have the capacity to thrive and be safe in a digital world.

AIS has a dedicated digital learning programme, which runs from Primary School all the way up to Secondary School.

English as An Additional Language

Proficient English Language Users

The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Department supports children in becoming proficient English language users. This is an essential skill, which will enable students’ social development and academic success across all areas of the curriculum.

All children for whom English is not their first language, are required to take a language assessment before admission to the school is confirmed. A decision is then made as to whether they have sufficient communication skills to enter the school, and whether additional EAL support is required. For these students, AIS provides a world-class EAL curriculum from Year 2 to Year 11. This programme helps students become confident in English, so they can fully immerse themselves into the Cambridge (I)GCSE or IB programmes.

The progress of the children is continually monitored and assessed. Once students reach a level of English proficiency whereby they no longer need extra EAL support, they will be no longer be required to attend the programme.

Some of the secrets to AIS’s success with EAL include:

- Providing a Cambridge curriculum and assessment system which sets the students up with the highest level of practical skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

- World-class teaching staff, who are internationally-trained and are native English speakers. They teach every level of English from A2 to (I)GCSE and understand what is required to succeed.

- Providing the skills for academic success, upon graduation from the IELP or EAL programs, students can excel in the mainstream curriculum independently.

- English immersion within an international environment, which accelerates and consolidates learning of students on the course.

EAL and IELP Programs

In Secondary School, AIS caters for EAL students with two different programs, depending on how much support is needed.

English as an Additional Language (EAL) - focuses on developing English language skills including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There is in emphasis in the EAL lessons on the understanding of vocabulary from relevant subject areas, including: science and humanities.

The Intensive English Language Program (IELP) - aims to develop the students’ English skills to a level where they are able to access the mainstream curriculum. This means the students will be in English lessons for twenty or more periods per week, with an EAL specialist teacher. The lessons are very structured and follow the Cambridge Second Language Course curriculum. The programme enables students to have a solid foundation of English literacy skills.

Questions about AIS's EAL programme?

Please fill out the enquiry form below. The Admissions Service will contact you regarding your query.

At AIS, we are proud to be the leading premium international school, supporting students in English immersion, providing skills for academic success.

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Watch the video below to find out more about the EAL program with Dr. Garry Seabrook

Learn more about AIS's EAL programme