Since the school year 1996/1997 a unique project which is carried out exclusively in our school encourages and supports the early learning of English as a foreign language. In curriculum areas like Environmental /Nature studies, Music, Art, Physical Education and partly Mathematics, qualified personel who are native speakers of English (Irish and British nationality) teach according to the Austrian curriculum. English is used as the working language during these school hours and partly during classes with an Austrian colleague -so- called team teaching hours. Children with some knowledge of English or whose mother tongue is English can be enrolled independent of the catchment area/ resident parish.

Aims:

• English used as the working language (at least six hours per week) assures the early, natural use of the foreign language.
  
  
• The teaching of the phonetics of the German language for the purposes of reading and writing according to the Austrian curriculum.
  
  
• The acquisition of language skills in German and English, which make possible the spontaneous, competent use of these languages. Children are supported in the acquisition of reading and writing skills in English from the beginning of third grade (class).
  
  
• Intercultural tolerance is fostered in a natural environment. Children are encouraged to accept what is foreign, to get to know and recognise the differences in how others live their lives.
  
  
• Depending on already existing knowledge of the foreign language on entering school, teaching through English is continued by qualified personel who are native speakers of English. At the same time knowledge of the German language is transmitted and consolidated.