The English Department of the Instituto de las Américas Bilingüe Plantel Vallarta, is responsible for providing a high quality English Program to Preschool, Elementary and Middle School.

Our commitment is to ensure that students become proficient in reading, writing, speaking and understanding the English language through interactive, engaging activities. We focus on impeccable grammar and pronunciation in English. Children are provided with a well-rounded curriculum, including Language Arts.

Elementary parents receive a Monthly Guide with the topics, content, vocabulary and memory work covered in English each month.

The English Department is committed to assist English speaking families in every way, providing translation of calendars, memos, and meetings when necessary.

Our highly qualified and professional English team motivates, encourages and inspires children to learn English by creating a fun, active and secure learning environment. Teachers are continuously being updated with the newests methodologies in education.

Techniques for communication and information are included as a part of our curriculum. Our classrooms are equipped with computers and projectors.

OUR COMMITMENT

With more than 20 years of experience in the educational field, in 2006 Instituto de las Américas Bilingüe initiated operations in Puerto Vallarta, Jal. Mexico by providing the highest standards in education, humanistic, integral and bilingual programs structured in a professional humanistic approach.

Our teaching approach is designed to the specific needs of each educational level.

Teaching English at Preschool level is a strategy to introduce children to a second language from an early age, harnessing their natural ability to learn languages intuitively. This process prioritizes the strengthening of the mother tongue as a fundamental basis for cognitive, communicative and social development. Children consolidate their skills in their native language, as a solid understanding of Spanish facilitates the acquisition of a second language and avoids possible linguistic confusion. The English language is introduced in a gradual, playful and contextual way, complementing and not replacing the development of the mother tongue.

In Elementary we focus on Bilingual, multicultural, mixed, personalized and secular education. Promotes the cognitive, linguistic and social- emotional development of students. We work enthusiastically in preparing our IADC, Interactive Demonstration Class inviting parents to enjoy and participate with their children.
We are a bilingual school that promotes knowledge and love for Mexico and the environment all over the world. Ecologist awareness and care for our planet is a priority in our programs.

Middle School level, teaching of English focuses on developing advanced communicative skills in students, preparing them to interact effectively in academic, social and professional contexts, respecting the SEP curricula in Spanish. The functional use of language is promoted through real communication situations, integrative projects and the use of technological resources.

At the institutional level, we strive to certify English proficiency, so optional international exam preparation courses such as TOEFL or Cambridge are offered to measure level of language competence against globally recognized standards. This complementary educational offer reinforces the institution’s commitment to comprehensive training and to the students’ academic and professional projection in an increasingly globalized world.

At IAB Dr. Howard Gardner’s theories inspire us as we share his thoughts:

“I want my children to understand the world, but not just because the world is fascinating and the human mind is curious. I want them to understand it so that they will be positioned to make it a better place. Knowledge is not the same as morality, but we need to understand if we are to avoid past mistakes and move in productive directions. An important part of that understanding is knowing who we are and what we can do…”

Howard Gardner – a life

Howard Gardner was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in 1943. His parents were from Nürenberg in Germany. Howard Gardner’s interest in psychology and the social sciences grew (his senior thesis was on a new California retirement community) and he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1965.

Then he began to read the work of Claude Levi-Strauss and Jean Piaget in more detail. He entered Harvard’s doctoral programme in 1966, and in the following year became part of the Project Zero research team on arts education (with which he has remained involved to the present). Howard Gardner completed his PhD in 1971 (his dissertation was on style sensitivity in children). He remained at Harvard. Alongside his work with Project Zero (he now co-directs it with David Perkins) he was a lecturer (1971-1986) and then professor in education (1986- ). His first major book, The Shattered Mind appeared in 1975 and some fifteen have followed. Howard Gardner is currently Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and adjunct professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine.

 

ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD TOEFL