Excellence Through Bilingualism
At FASRI the most important benefit of a bilingual education is how it opens a child’s mind to the world; building a deep understanding of differences and universal similarities. Bilinguals have a more informed, enlightened and empathetic view of people and cultures and this makes them better citizens of the world.
Younger children have a superior ability to learn a second language and the advantages of bilingualism are clear. Not only does speaking multiple languages help us to communicate with a wider range of people, but bilingualism, or multilingualism, confers distinct cognitive advantages to the developing brain.
Research shows that an international education fosters greater self-awareness about identity and culture, and sensitivity and respect for differences in ethnicity, race, gender, class, religion, physical ability or sexual orientation.
An International Edge
The FASRI experience is about more than the ability to say things in another language. Our school provides a unique training ground where young learners develop into intellectually agile and culturally competent thinkers. An international education allows students to transcend borders and engage with the world.
Whether their families come from Rhode Island or from another country in Europe or Africa, our students benefit as they connect each day with people from other nations and cultures. Our educators and staff come from Belgium, Estonia, France, the UK, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal and the US and have worked and lived all over the world. Each member of our community contributes their own ideas, perspectives, and expectations and students gain the ability to engage and communicate with people across cultures and language.
Our graduates are prepared to function within an interdependent global society: language is a key vehicle for this transformation. Thoughts undergo changes from language to language and from country to country and an international education not only allows students to perceive the world from multiple cultural vantage points, but it challenges them to define their ideas with greater precision. The ability to think in another language, beyond mere translation, provides a deeper understanding of the ideas that are expressed through language. By the time our students reach the Middle School, they are able to grasp complex and abstract ideas, synthesize information and form opinions in three languages.
The development of globally-minded thinkers lies at the heart of our mission. Our students will enter an increasingly internationalized environment, in their college careers and beyond, and they will be ready. They will approach thinking and problem solving collaboratively, they will seek out and apply an understanding of different perspectives to problem solving and decision making. Whether they ultimately pursue politics, diplomacy, science, work for an NGO, get a job in the arts, or enter the world of international business, they will have the ability to work and live thoughtfully and productively with people from many cultures.
Katika FASRI, faida muhimu zaidi ya elimu ya lugha mbili ni jinsi inavyofungua akili ya mtoto kwa ulimwengu; kujenga uelewa wa kina wa tofauti na kufanana kwa ulimwengu. Watu wanaozungumza lugha mbili wana maoni ya habari zaidi, mwangaza na hisia-mwenzi juu ya watu na tamaduni na hii huwafanya kuwa raia bora wa ulimwengu. Watoto wadogo wana uwezo mkubwa wa kujifunza lugha ya pili na faida za lugha mbili ni wazi. Si tu kwamba kuzungumza lugha nyingi hutusaidia kuwasiliana na watu wengi, lakini lugha mbili, au lugha nyingi, hutoa faida tofauti za utambuzi kwa ubongo unaokua. Utafiti unaonyesha kwamba elimu ya kimataifa huendeleza ufahamu mkubwa wa utambulisho na utamaduni, na unyeti na heshima kwa tofauti za kikabila, jamii, jinsia, darasa, dini, uwezo wa kimwili au mwelekeo wa kijinsia. Uzoefu wa FASRI ni zaidi ya uwezo wa kusema mambo katika lugha nyingine. Shule yetu hutoa uwanja wa mafunzo ya kipekee ambapo wanafunzi wachanga kukua katika wasomi akili agile na utamaduni uwezo. Elimu ya kimataifa inaruhusu wanafunzi kuvuka mipaka na kushiriki na ulimwengu. Wanafunzi wetu, iwe ni wa Rhode Island au nchi nyingine ya Ulaya au Afrika, wanapata faida kwa kuwa kila siku wanawasiliana na watu wa mataifa na tamaduni nyingine. Walimu wetu na wafanyakazi wanatoka Ubelgiji, Estonia, Ufaransa, Uingereza, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal na Marekani na wamefanya kazi na kuishi duniani kote. Kila mwanachama wa jamii yetu huchangia mawazo yao wenyewe, mitazamo, na matarajio na wanafunzi hupata uwezo wa kushiriki na kuwasiliana na watu katika tamaduni na lugha. Wahitimu wetu ni tayari kufanya kazi ndani ya jamii ya kimataifa interdependent: lugha ni gari muhimu kwa ajili ya mabadiliko haya. Mawazo hubadilika kutoka lugha moja hadi nyingine na kutoka nchi moja hadi nyingine, na elimu ya kimataifa hawaruhusu tu wanafunzi kuona ulimwengu kutoka kwa maoni mbalimbali ya kitamaduni, lakini pia huwajaribu kufafanua mawazo yao kwa usahihi zaidi. Uwezo wa kufikiri katika lugha nyingine, zaidi ya kutafsiri tu, hutoa uelewa wa kina wa mawazo ambayo yanaelezwa kupitia lugha. Kufikia wakati wanafunzi wetu wanapofika Shule ya Kati, wanaweza kuelewa mawazo magumu na yasiyoeleweka, kuunganisha habari na kuunda maoni katika lugha tatu. Maendeleo ya wasomi wenye mawazo ya kimataifa ni kiini cha utume wetu. Wanafunzi wetu wataingia katika mazingira ya kimataifa zaidi, katika kazi zao za chuo kikuu na zaidi, na watakuwa tayari. Wataweza kufikiri na kutatua matatizo kwa ushirikiano, wataweza kutafuta na kutumia uelewa wa mitazamo tofauti kwa kutatua matatizo na kufanya maamuzi. Iwe wanatafuta siasa, diplomasia, sayansi, kufanya kazi kwa shirika lisilo la kiserikali, kupata kazi katika sanaa, au kuingia katika ulimwengu wa biashara ya kimataifa, watakuwa na uwezo wa kufanya kazi na kuishi kwa uangalifu na kwa uzalishaji na watu kutoka tamaduni nyingi.