Our approach to learning at Tandem IMS recognises that children learn best when actively engaged in building their skills, knowledge and understandings. Multilingual and enquiry-based, we embrace the notion that students thrive when they have a sense of agency in their learning. Topics are explored ...

Do you know couples who speak different languages? As the world becomes increasingly globalised, many families find themselves in situations where parents speak different languages. This can create unique challenges when it comes to raising children and communicating effectively as a family. Yes, ch...

«…no school can work well for children if parents and teachers do not act in partnership on behalf of the children’s best interests. Parents have every right to understand what is happening to their children at school, and teachers have the responsibility to share that information without prejudicia...

Have you ever heard of a school having a dog to help children concentrate better, to strengthen self-esteem, improve social competencies, learn empathy and encourage motivation to participate and learn? Our Pre-School teacher, Michaela, presented her concept for a «school dog» in 2021. Two years lat...

Version originale (français) In most countries around the globe, index or flash cards are often used to teach children. However, not only do they serve the conveyance of basic concepts, they also support memorising vocabulary, dates and historical facts, and even help when learning a language.

Another school year begins in 6th grade, and everyone involved knows that this will be a different experience for the child, since the thought of possibly entering the Gymi afterwards is just around the corner. The expectations for 6th grade are rising as it is, but on top of that, in about half a y...

Do you remember your first day at school? What feelings rise up in you when you think back to it? Many people still remember this moment years later, because it is a big step for every child. A step on the way to growing up. As parents, it is important to make this day and the transition from kinder...

For the past two years, despite an ongoing global pandemic, a small number of the students of Tandem IMS have been meeting at least once a month to represent their peers, promote positive action and decision-making within the school, engage in the community and learn about the democratic process. We...

As the students at Tandem IMS' Primary School shuffle in from their break, there is a buzz of energy that moves with them. They are still chatting about their lives, what has happened during their outdoor break time and what their plans are for the weekend. Listening closer to their words, they are ...

Our curriculum for Early Years and Pre-School is a strong partnership between two important ideals within a child’s development: Social and emotional growth, a strong component of the Swiss «Krippenmodell», is combined with the need for learning through discovery and exploration. These areas of deve...

Are you aware of the difference in the curriculum between a Swiss and English Kindergarten? When one thinks of the word «Kindergarten», different images come to mind for people in different parts of the world. For those coming from a Swiss background, Kindergarten is a very social time. Teachers cre...

First things first: every child is unique and language acquisition proceeds at varying speeds and in different ways for each child - regardless of whether the child acquires one or more languages at the same time. However, regarding multilingual education, there is a persistent prejudice that the br...

Our French teacher Amaia Areitio writes about her experiences in language teaching - from the children's first contact with a new foreign language to the first language exam DELF Prim. She explains what such an early exam experience means for the children's personality development, for their school ...

Have you heard the term Enquiry-Based Learning (or Inquiry-Based Learning) and wondered what teaching method it is, what its benefits are and what the difference is between this teaching method and the frontal (traditional) one? Let me look back at my 20 years of teaching.

The Swiss school system can appear confusing (and even intimidating at times), especially for parents who have not gone through it themselves. The path your child can take after primary school is more like a network of branches reaching high for success. Success and the routes along the branches com...