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The German Swiss International School (GSIS) in Hong Kong has long been recognised for the quality of education and breadth of opportunities it provides. 

Admitting applicants of all nationalities from kindergarten through to the completion of secondary level, the school offers two streams both of which lead to globally accepted qualifications, while developing bilingual proficiency and familiarity with different cultures and outlooks.      

Students in the German International Stream (GIS) work towards the Deutsche Internationale Abitur (DIA) diploma, which opens the way to university places in Europe and around the world. 

Moving in parallel, those in the school’s English International Stream (EIS) prepare to take IGCSE exams and then the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), providing a similarly wide range of subject choices and options for further education.  

To attract students from diverse backgrounds, GSIS does not make prior knowledge of German a prerequisite for entry. Instead, the GIS runs three specialised programmes for different age groups, helping new joiners learn effectively and fit in quickly. 

In kindergarten, perhaps the ideal starting point for children to pick up a new language, the classes are bilingual, with teachers switching between German and English. The environment is deliberately nurturing, with a focus on participation and holistic development. The programme also emphasises creativity, social skills and reasoned thinking, which helps youngsters to acquire vocabulary and express their thoughts and ideas. 

For pupils aged six to eight, there is the Cultural and Language Integration Programme in Primary Years (CLIPPY). Its immersive bilingual curriculum centres on language-rich lessons which cover course content while also enhancing personal growth. 

The aim is to empower the students, giving them confidence to speak up, as well as to start thinking in more detail about what they see and hear in the world around them.   

In addition, for slightly older pupils, joining the secondary section at GSIS, there is the Fast Track programme specifically designed for 11- and 12-year-olds with little or no previous exposure to German. 

They are given an accelerated introduction to the language, with extra lessons sometimes scheduled before or after the normal school day. In essence, though, they learn it as part of an interdisciplinary curriculum alongside German-speaking students, which allows them to move towards native-level fluency and idiomatic usage more quickly and easily. 

This approach, encouraging practical day-to-day exchanges in a well-paced learning environment, also develops critical thinking skills and, by doing so, prepares students for academic success and enhances their ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.  
 

As parents, Cherry and Jonathan Cheung are firm fans of these methods and have no doubt that full proficiency in multiple languages will greatly benefit their children’s all-round development and future prospects. 

Their kids, 14-year-old Jayden and Coleman who is 13, are both in the German International Stream at GSIS, having previously attended a primary school elsewhere known for a free and unrestricted style that worked well for them as younger pupils.     

Since transferring, though, on reaching secondary level, they have come to value the benefits of the GSIS system, with its greater emphasis on necessary discipline, self-regulation, focus in class, and active participation.  

“These are qualities and attributes we see as essential at this stage, and GSIS provides excellent support and guidance in these areas,” Mrs Cheung says. “That was a major reason for choosing the school, but when we also discovered the Fast Track programme, we could see that it was perfectly aligned with our beliefs about education and would give our kids bilingual skills that will help them later on.”

As members of the German International Stream, both boys have made rapid progress in mastering the language, with their teachers always ready to offer special help as and when appropriate. 

For instance, steps were taken to arrange a six-month exchange programme with the German School of Geneva, which proved both eye-opening and instructive. 

“That experience broadened the children’s international perspectives in meaningful ways,” Mr Cheung says. “Being active teenagers, they also appreciate the good balance at GSIS between academic demands and having the opportunity to try different sports and outdoor activities.” 

In particular, there is now a regular series of inter-school sports competitions between the eight German international schools in East Asia. Recently, this included the chance of a trip to Japan, which created any number of memorable experiences for all those involved.         

“That is one more reason why we admire GSIS and what it does for students,” Mrs Cheung says.