Tasoula Katsiami: THE HEAD’S FOREWORD….
U-LEARN students and young children are at the heart of everything. It is our job to equip them to face an unknown future.
They need to understand the importance of sustaining their own environment and as citizens to take ownership and responsibility for their futures and the futures of those that will follow. We will build into their daily lives problem solving activities, situations where they can use the ability to think for themselves, to be proactive rather than reactive and take control of their own destinies. I believe, students and especially young children need to start to understand the world outside of their own community.
We will need to develop a better understanding of the world and stress the priority of being linked with other communities. Learners of all ages, must have an understanding of the freedoms they enjoy and how their behaviours impact on others.
We will always aim to offer the academic knowledge that 21st century learner need to go out there and become active citizens but also it is my firm belief that as educators we must build characters and humans. We must equip learners with life skills, ideals and values which will enable them to become autonomous, visionary, problem-solving and leaders for a better tomorrow.
LEARN today then for a BETTER TOMORROW. We are here to deliver the best of service to you.
Thank you all for teaching and learning from each other. English is introduced as part of the school daily routine of the children. English is also introduced gradually with a lot of interactive activities starting from 60 to 90 minutes twice a week. We focus on the communicative approach with a democratic and free learning environment. There is a frequent recycling of the new language. Learning is achieved in a pleasant way which gives opportunities to all the children and which caters for their learning styles and needs. The CLIL method is also integrated into the curriculum and children of this age (5-7 yrs) are encouraged to use language through arts, interactive boards, crafts, modelling, songs, stories and drama. These activities establish a friendly and entertaining environment which is in accordance with the learning objectives set. We emphasize on communication by developing the speaking skills and some pre-reading and pre-writing activities.
At U-LEARN centre our main aim is to develop the autonomy of the children and the development of certain learning skills which will eventually teach them to become active and independent learners.
The main focus is on learning as expressed by the name of our centre. We strive to facilitate learning and to teach certain life skills, to mediate and also to build characters and to help children to evolve. The syllabi, our approach and the open learning system we aim to promote cater for the learners individual styles, needs, progress and expectations.
Approach and Methodology
To establish a friendly learning environment which involves all the children and promotes the use of the foreign language in daily life/real life contexts. Every life experience is a learning opportunity for all of us. Some of the techniques used are: games, songs, dancing, action songs, stories, drama, role-play, miming, arts and crafts, puppet shows, cooking and baking as well as lectures/seminars/workshops given to both parents and children.
Technological support
A variety of technological devices is used such as computers, computer software (phonics, songs, literacy), E-blocks, Interactive boards and software, Dvds etc.
Assessment Methods
Besides the traditional assessment methods (written and oral tests), alternative methods of assessment are used. These include: