The two key themes of our school’s institutional project emphasizes the development of communication skills and an connection to the world: we educate individuals who are open to the world. That is why, in addition to developing and using Turkish which is their mother tongue, our students learn two foreign languages: French and English.

It is generally recognised that people who speak several languages have a better-developed memory and demonstrate greater cognitive creativity than others. When our students begin learning English, they simultaneously discover new ways of thinking as well as new means of expressing themselves, both orally and in writing.

As soon as you switch languages, your ideas change too. Learning a foreign language allows you to see the world in a different light!

Enriching and fun activities to support the curriculum

In the light of these findings, this year we have introduced, as a complement to the school curriculum, a range of tailored support activities designed for different levels.

From prep class level onwards, English teaching plays a significant role in the timetable, with three hours per week. To ensure that every student can progress at their own pace, in the years following prep class, two of the three English lessons are held in split classes of ten pupils per teacher.

In prep class and Year 9, articles designed to broaden students’ world view are read and discussed. Students also give TED Talk-style presentations to develop their public speaking skills, their ability to share knowledge and ideas, and their personal expression. Through the corridor newspaper HALLWAY TIMES, our pupils write monthly articles on current affairs, which they share with their peers.

At the end of the school year and during the holidays, our noticeboard offers students recommendations for films, TV series and books to discover over the summer.

From the prep class year onwards, interdisciplinary projects carried out with the mathematics department help to strengthen language skills in French and English, particularly in reading diagrams and understanding terminology related to percentages, in preparation for the proficiency exams students will sit later on.

Students in years 9 and 10 make progress throughout the year through various fun activities (Kahoot, general knowledge quizzes, presentations on current affairs, etc.).

Multifunctional Boards to support English Language Teaching

Multifunctional boards dedicated to English language teaching, installed in various areas of the school, are used each month to share poems, articles, novels and vocabulary (INTERACTIVE DISPLAY AREAS FOR ENGLISH).

The exchange programme between Lycée Saint-Benoît and Lewiston-Porter High School, located in the Niagara region of the United States, was organised last year for the fifth time with year 10 students. Launched in 2014 with the support of the University of Niagara, this programme offers our students the opportunity to discover and explore American culture as well as its education system. Once again this time in Febrary 2025, ten students and two teachers enjoyed an enriching and unforgettable experience.

In Year 11, we offer preparation for IELTS, the English language proficiency test, as well as for university studies.

This year, our students achieved remarkable results in the IELTS: 17% scored 8 or above, whilst 44% scored between 7 and 8.

To prepare students even better for the IELTS exam, they work with the book “IELTS EXPERT 7.2”

Reading in English

As part of the English reading activity, meetings are organised with volunteer students during the first week of each month to discuss a selected novel.

In Year 12, presentations on European and American universities and preparation for language exams continue. Language skills and general knowledge are strengthened through the study of current affairs articles.

New initiatives are being introduced to better meet the needs of Year 12 students. For students wishing to enter an English-speaking university, two additional optional hours of English are offered alongside existing lessons to accelerate their preparation for studying abroad.

Following classroom discussions on articles prepared by their teachers on various topics, students are invited to write their ideas in order to develop their writing skills.

Cambridge Exam

 

From the academic year of 2025 – 2026 onwards our students take the exams off campus. Every year, in May and June, our students can sit the FCE (B2), CAE (C1) and CPE (C2), which open the doors to universities offering courses in English all over the world.

In 2025 the success rate for C2 was 100% and for B2 it was 80 %.

IELTS Exam

Traditionally, when applying for universities abroad, our students do not only prefer French-speaking countries but also countries where English is the native language. This is why, every year, they submit various certificates certifying their language proficiency, including the IELTS. Our 11th and 12th students had the chance to sit the IELTS test until 2026 and need to take it off campus from this year onwards.

Activities in French and English, organised by the MUN Club aiming at enabling students to develop their language skills

In addition to the academic activities organised during lessons, our students are offered another opportunity to practise English and achieve a B2-C1 level in foreign languages through the MUN clubs, comprising two separate groups: one offering activities in French and the other in English. On the other hand they participate in the conferences organised in Turkey and abroad.

Through activities such as SBMUN organised within our school, and the international MUN conferences held in Istanbul and abroad at the end of the school year, our students have the opportunity to practise and acquire the foreign language skills they are taught at school.

Steps towards the future: English-Medium Universities prefered by our students

On average, around 30% of our graduates are admitted each year to numerous prestigious universities abroad offering courses taught in English. This year, out of 451 admissions, 249 came from universities in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the United States. To view the 2025 admissions: University admissions abroad 2025. Once again this year, our students have started to receive their offers and the list continues to be updated. Thanks to the English language tuition received at Saint-Benoît, and according to feedback from our former pupils, our students are able to settle into their courses abroad without encountering any particular difficulties related to the English language in these countries.

As we look forward to the new successes our pupils will achieve in the new 2026–2027 academic year, we wish them the best of luck!

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