Page 7 - ELG1707 Jul Issue 449

NEWS

INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS KLINGON
CLASSES
TO ‘MUSHROOM’ IN INDIA ON THE
VULKANPLATZ

By Claudia Civinini international schools that charge regardless of their fees. Klingon, a fictional language from
Enrolments in international mid-range prices of between Anuradha Monga, chair of the Star Trek universe, is being
schools in India are booming, $4,000 and $10,000 are on the Association of International taught in Switzerland’s largest adult
rising by more than 70 per cent in average at 79 per cent of their Schools in India, said: education institution, according to
the past five years – and demand capacity, whereas schools with ‘International schools are USA Today.
is expected to grow fast, a new higher fees (over $10,000) are 81 mushrooming in all the tier-one Klingon was invented by
report reveals. per cent full. cities in India. American linguist Marc Okrand in
The boom means schools are But the data suggests that In Bangalore, we see a lot of 1984 and contains just 3,000 words.
‘mushrooming’ in the biggest within four years the mid- institutions that are trying to Rather than teaching online
cities, with new schools opening priced schools will have reached get on the bandwagon simply by courses, teacher André Muller
and others riding the wave by capacity, and some schools adding the word ‘international’ currently leads one of the rare
adding ‘international’ to their already have waiting lists at to their name.’ in-person classes that teach the
name, experts say. primary level. She added that the reasons language at Migros Club School.
‘India is one of the world’s The demand is driven not by for this trend might lie in the In fact, he is the only instructor
fastest-growing economies today, expats but by children of local fact that international schools for the whole of Switzerland, and is
and a country with a huge thirst families who make up 75 per offer a model of education that is part of a small group of up to 200
for international education,’ cent of the enrolments in mid- more attractive to parents, with fluent Klingon speakers worldwide.
said Richard Gaskell, director of range international schools smaller classes. The class has been in high
schools at ISC Research, which and 43 per cent of higher-fee demand since it was promoted at
produced the report. schools. Statistics suggest Fantasy Basel, Switzerland’s comic
ISC found that enrolment rates that mid-range schools convention held at the end of
at international schools with fees will experience the April, attended by nearly 50,000
over $4,000 a year have increased highest demand in 75 % visitors. The class tends to draw in
more than 70 per cent over the years to come. a diverse group of students, ranging
last five years. India’s young and In terms of from 14 to 61-year-olds.
growing population, economic curriculum, the percentage of More Klingon classes are already
growth and ‘aspirational’ families International scheduled
are highlighted as important Baccalaureate students in Indian for the
factors. is the most autumn,
Meanwhile, India’s private popular among mid-range including DETLEF KROEZE
schools have seen a drop in the sample a 20-lesson
enrolments. In response to a of schools, international schools i nte ns i v e
higher demand for international but the British who are from local course that
qualifications, several of them curriculum is will be held,
are adopting examinations such usually the most families rather aptly,
as IGCSE. common in all on Zurich’s
The research found that international schools, Vulkanplatz.

WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT WILL

CELEBRATE LONDON’S DIVERSITY

PROEWAN MUNRO By Claudia Civinini diversity of the language schools
English UK London and student
in London.’
The
organisers
so
have
accommodation agency London
around
far
sixty
Nest are organising a language
covered
lesson with the highest number
of nationalities, in honour of the nationalities, but aim to reach a
hundred.
city’s diversity and openness. They are looking for people
The world record attempt from Asian countries, Far East
will take place at the English Asia and Central and Southern
UK summer garden party at America.
Calthorpe Project Community To join in, please visit www.
Gardens in London on 21 July. londonnest.com/record.
‘London is the world’s The record for the biggest
classroom,’ said London Nest English language lesson was
director James Herbertson. broken last year when over 3,000
The world record attempt will
take place at the Calthorpe ‘This record attempt is a fun, students gathered at Bondi Beach
Project Community Garden positive way to celebrate the in Sydney.
editorial@elgazette.com 7
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