With a focus on comprehensive education and suitable for the context of globalization, many international schools in HCM City have offered International Baccalaureate Programme IB. Many parents are very interested in the IB learning pathway to increase their children’s chances of getting into prestigious universities in the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, etc., to create a solid foundation for their children to become global citizens in the future.
After many years in Vietnam, the bilingual education program models have shown many advantages. “Immersing students in English-only classes for a few periods of the day when every other social and family interaction in their lives is in Vietnamese does not support the majority of language acquisition research. It can also lead to subtractive bilingualism where students believe they should be substituting the acquired language for their native tongue and do not completely develop academic literacy in Vietnamese”! Head of School at Tesla Education – Mr. Tim Vanderpool stated. Therefore, Tesla has decided to implement Integrated International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme to retain students’ national identity in the international integration.
Tesla Education offers Integrated International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme
Accordingly, Tesla School both ensures the output standards of the Ministry of Education and Training and applies the framework and content of the IB programme to the teaching process. Integrated International Baccalaureate Programme at Tesla has a bilingual pathway from primary school and towards to an international programme (monolingual in English, with additional subjects of Literature, History, and Geography in Vietnamese) from middle school and high school.
From KG to Grade 1 (PYP), primary students at Tesla will develop in a bilingual environment of English and Vietnamese. They acquire Extensive English in a totally natural context and cultivate a solid Vietnamese foundation. Students’ knowledge and skills are enhanced through six focus areas: Language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arts, Personal, Social and Physical education.
From grades 6 to 10, students are provided with a framework of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) with eight subject groups, and most are taught in English and prepare students to meet the academic challenges of the IB Diploma Programme (DP). Particularly History, Geography, and Literature are still taught in Vietnamese.
The IB Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year pre-university curriculum, primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 19 (grades 11 – 12) which is taught and studied entirely in English. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities. Compared to students studying other curricula, students studying IB Programme perform better in academic activities. They have strong critical thinking and a very high sense of self-importance in the international environment.
Tesla Primary Students learn in a bilingual environment of English – Vietnamese
Studying in the Integrated International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, Tesla students not only obtain international education certificates and diplomas but also have a solid foundation to maximize their potential through a learning approach that emphasizes interaction, realism, challenge, and focus.
Parents of Ngo The Anh – The brain Vietnam shared that: “After a year of studying at Tesla School, my son became confident, happy, and balanced development in subjects parallel to his favourite subjects”. He stated that Tesla always encourages and motivates students to think actively, ask questions confidently and provide counter-arguments.
In particular, the transdisciplinary learning method has helped students apply knowledge and skills effectively through practical projects. All subjects are interconnected and complement each other. The amount of knowledge they absorb is deepened but not as heavy as in other programs. As a result, students not only firmly grasp the theory but also actively explore, participate, and do not have to bear any learning pressure. Through the transdisciplinary approach, students are cultivated with the core values to develop thinking with an international perspective. They can access and understand global issues at an early stage.
Tesla students have a lot of opportunities to experience real-life in both academic and social environments, thereby discovering their abilities. They are inspired to constantly improve themselves, follow their passions and reach for success. The qualities of a leader are problem-solving skills, communication ability, risk-taking, versatility to adapt to any situation, etc., which are formed gradually in students. The important thing is that the above skills have been cultivated in them from their Primary years at Tesla, creating a solid foundation when moving on to higher education levels.
The transdisciplinary approach at Tesla School promotes students’ thinking ability
Notably, Tesla Education also focuses on integrating technology into teaching and learning to enhance the learning experience and develop necessary skills for students in the 21st century. The school’s facilities meet international standards from the Visual Arts classroom, the Chemistry – Biology Laboratory, the Information Technology Laboratory, and the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technology classroom to the Library, outdoor soccer field, covered multi-purpose field, etc., creating conditions for students to pursue their passions freely, develop comprehensively both physically and mentally. All have created resonance, helping Tesla students be more dynamic, confident, and awaken to their inherent potential.
Tesla Education allows students to celebrate their home culture, develop into multilingual global citizens, and study at Universities worldwide with a prestigious IB Diploma. Opening the door for students to continue learning at top universities while providing a prestigious IB Programme, Tesla tuition fee is much more reasonable. It is a notable starting point when parents want to choose an international school that teaches IB Programme for their children in Ho Chi Minh City.
With a student-centred orientation, a focus on the Integrated International Programme, and teaching methods, Tesla School offers students the opportunity to develop knowledge, thinking, and skills comprehensively in a wide range. It can be stated that choosing the right IB programme from a young age will help students have the courage to integrate with a solid stepping stone to enter the University and succeed in life later.
