The biggest source of satisfaction during life as an overseas employee would be my child's international school experience, right?
I've gathered terms and abbreviations used in Indonesian international schools that may seem simple once you know them, but can be confusing when you first encounter them.
1. Educational Program-Related Abbreviations
IB (International Baccalaureate)
An internationally recognized educational program that is divided into PYP (Primary Years Programme), MYP (Middle Years Programme), DP (Diploma Programme), and CP (Career-related Programme).
Example: "Our school offers the IB DP programme."
IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education)
A secondary education certification course provided within the British education system.
Example: "Grade 10 students prepare for the IGCSE exam."
AP (Advanced Placement)
An advanced high school course in the American education system that can earn college credit.
Example: "I'm taking AP Biology."
A-Level (Advanced Level)
An advanced high school course in the British education system that prepares for university admission.
Example: "Choosing A-Level subjects is really important."
EAL (English as an Additional Language)
A program for students whose first language is not English.
Example: "EAL classes help develop English proficiency."
ESL (English as a Second Language)
Classes for students learning English as a second language. It is used with a meaning similar to EAL.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) / IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
International tests that assess English proficiency. Often required for university admission.
2. School Structure and Activity-Related Terms
Homeroom
Refers to the classroom where students gather each day after arriving at school or the teacher who oversees this time.
Example: "The homeroom teacher informed us of announcements this morning."
CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service)
A required activity area in the IB DP programme that includes creativity, physical activity, and service.
Example: "I'm currently undertaking community service for my CAS project."
PSAT (Preliminary SAT)
A practice test for SAT preparation, mainly taken by 10th-11th grade students.
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
An American college entrance exam, primarily taken by high school students.
GPA (Grade Point Average)
A grade point system that represents academic performance.
Example: "My goal is to maintain a GPA of 4.0."
3. Student Assessment and Learning-Related Terms
Formative Assessment
An assessment conducted during the learning process to monitor students' learning progress.
Example: "This formative assessment is a group activity."
Summative Assessment
An assessment conducted at the end of a semester or unit that directly affects grades.
Rubric
A rubric or scoring guide for assignments or exams.
Example: "You can see the evaluation criteria by looking at the rubric."
Plagiarism
Plagiarism. It is strictly prohibited in international schools, and plagiarism detection software is often used.
Example: "Plagiarism is considered a violation of academic integrity."
4. School Management and System-Related Abbreviations
PTA (Parent-Teacher Association)
A collaborative organization between parents and teachers.
Example: "There's a PTA meeting this week."
IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization)
An international organization that operates the IB programme.
SEN (Special Educational Needs)
Support services for students with special educational needs.
Example: "Our school has specialists for SEN students."
IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
An individual learning plan for SEN students.
Example: "We provide customized learning through IEPs."
CIS (Council of International Schools)
An organization that provides accreditation for international schools.
Example: "Our school is CIS accredited."
5. School Life and Culture
House System
A system that divides students into several "houses" or teams to encourage competition and cooperation.
Example: "There's an inter-house sports competition this week."
School Spirit
Pride in the school and sense of community.
Example: "During School Spirit week, we do special activities together."
Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA)
Activities provided outside of regular classes, including sports, arts, club activities, and more.
6. Other Frequently Used Abbreviations
SL (Standard Level) / HL (Higher Level)
Distinguishes the difficulty level of subjects in the IB programme.
Example: "I'm taking SL Mathematics and HL English."
PYP (Primary Years Programme)
The primary years of the IB programme.
MYP (Middle Years Programme)
The middle years of the IB programme.
DP (Diploma Programme)
The higher education level of the IB programme.
International schools use such terms and abbreviations frequently because they offer diverse educational programs for global students. When students and parents understand these terms well, it greatly helps with school life! 😊
