At a glance
- Ages
- 3 to 12
- Language strands
- Oral, visual and written language
- External exams
- None in the PYP
- Final year
- The PYP exhibition, a collaborative inquiry project
- Next stage
- MYP Language and Literature or Language Acquisition
The three language strands
| Strand | Skills | What it looks like in class |
|---|---|---|
| Oral language | Listening and speaking | Discussions, presentations, sharing inquiry findings |
| Visual language | Viewing and presenting | Reading images, posters, digital media; creating visual presentations |
| Written language | Reading and writing | Guided reading, phonics in early years, writing across genres |
Schools build their own language curriculum on this framework, so expectations by year group vary.
Reading and writing in a PYP school
PYP schools teach literacy through real purposes: writing a report for a unit on "Sharing the planet", reading information texts in "How the world works", or presenting findings to parents. In the final year, children complete the PYP exhibition, a collaborative inquiry they research, write up and present, which demands confident reading, note-taking and speaking.
Many children in Gulf international schools speak Arabic or another language at home. That is an asset, but it can mean that everyday spoken English is fluent while academic vocabulary, spelling and written structure lag behind. Teachers' reports may describe progress without a clear reading level, so it is worth asking the school directly how your child reads compared with their year group.
Signs your child may need extra support
- Reading slowly word by word after age 7, or avoiding reading aloud.
- Good decoding but weak understanding: can read the words but cannot retell or explain.
- Writing that is short, unpunctuated or unstructured for their age.
- Spelling that has not improved over a school year.
- Reluctance to present or speak in class in English.
How one-to-one PYP English lessons work
A tutor who teaches primary English begins by listening to your child read and talking about the text, then looks at a sample of writing. Lessons combine short phonics or spelling work where needed, shared reading with questions that build comprehension, and guided writing on the shared whiteboard, with the tutor modelling a sentence or paragraph before the child writes their own.
The tutor links reading and writing to the current school unit where possible, which makes lessons feel relevant and supports classwork. The hour is broken into several activities for younger children, and progress is visible to parents in the parent account.
Twenty minutes a day
Reading together for twenty minutes a day, in English or in your home language, builds vocabulary and comprehension that carry across languages. Ask questions about the story rather than testing every word.
Common questions
Does the PYP test reading levels?
There are no external PYP exams. Many schools use their own reading assessments; ask the class teacher how your child is assessed and where they are against expectations.
My child speaks Arabic at home. Will that slow their English?
Not in the long run; a strong home language supports learning another. But academic English vocabulary and writing may need extra support for a while.
What is the PYP exhibition?
A collaborative inquiry project in the final year of the PYP, in which children investigate a real-world issue and present their findings. It requires research, writing and presentation skills.
Can lessons help with phonics?
Yes. Tutors who teach primary English can build phonics and spelling for younger children alongside reading comprehension and writing.
How much do PYP English lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and age, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.