TAZ Horgen Bilingual Day School

All classes enjoy regular excursions. These vary in connection with the educational contents of lessons. From Grade 3, camps of from 3 to 5 days are carried out. Engaging with the world outside school is very important to us as a valuable means of embedding theoretical learning with practical experience. These excursions and overnight stays are also unforgettable experiences which enrich everyday school life for the children. 

Pre-Kindergarten

Forestmorningsonce each week, in all weathers, at Horgenberg

Kindergarten 1 and 2

Forestmornings with Pre-KG once a fortnight

Swimming lessonsin a learners pool, with a swimming teacher, once a fortnight

Grade 5 + 6

Sports lessonseach week at Au school gym and sports fields.

Regular breaks for movement and exercise in fresh air are important for children as an aid to concentration in lessons. Our playground, which was renovated in summer 2009 with a rubberised coating and all-weather shelters, is well-used. The Kindergarten classes also regularly visit different playgrounds in the surrounding area. 

While each morning an English-speaking and a German-speaking kindergarten teacher work together giving lessons, each afternoon the children are taught in one language only.  

The three years going through Pre-Kindergarten and two kindergarten classes form the basis for the school life at TAZ Horgen. Here an understanding of the two languages is fostered and the foundation is laid to best deal with the challenge of bilingual lessons in primary school. Our teachers are trained to identify possible learning difficulties or other irregularities early and discuss suitable remedial measures with parents. The earlier this takes place the better. We also get support from a speech therapist and the school psychology service in Horgen. 

Pupils, who in exceptional circumstances need additional help in English or German, can receive this at TAZ Horgen. This is definitely the case if a child enters TAZ Horgen in Primary School. Extra lessons are given by experienced TAZ staff. The goals, number of weekly lessons and estimated duration of these lessons will be determined in meetings between the parents concerned and the responsible member of staff. Any further arrangements will be determined in collaboration with school management. 

The following form will give you more details

Additional Teaching

Gifted children need clear structured support. A student is usually not gifted in all learning areas, and therefore needs to be evaluated carefully. TAZ Horgen uses teaching methods that inspire children to study independently yet under proper supervision and computer assisted learning.  Explorative learning, developing social skills and project work form a vital part of our curriculum. If it is appropriate for a student to skip a grade, the process is carefully planned, taking all areas of learning into consideration: academical abilities and also social and emotional abilities. 

For two lessons every week each class in the primary school is taught mathematics, English or German in half classes. The other half of the class has handicraft lessons, which also take place in half classes, or joins with another half class for a PE lesson with our specialist sports teacher. 

Principle subjects like mathematics, English and German are taught exclusively in the year group. Subjects like Humanities, PE, Music and Art are taught in both languages by the tandem teachers or in joint half-classes from the tandem level.

In this way the children benefit from the social advantages of a bigger group. The diverse composition allows more efficient work in groups and children can learn from each other  

On four days of the week, children in the Primary school classes use the last 30 to 40 minutes of the school day to do a part of their homework. The supervising teacher answers questions and provides support so that every child should be able to complete their work independently at home.

homework policy for TAZ Horgen

TAZ Horgen offers courses for Gymnasium entrance exams.

The children prepare by practicing entrance exams from earlier years. They get to know what the questions are like and gain self confidence in doing it.

The courses for German and/or Maths can be booked in a 10 lessons package from October to January. The courses take place before or after the official TAZ school hours.