Linz International School Auhof (LISA)

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Linz International School Auhof (LISA) is a public secondary school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as well as the Austrian school leaving certificate (Matura). It is the only public schools in Austria offering the IB Diploma. The primary language of instruction is English. LISA is administrated as one of three school branches of the Europagymnasium Auhof. As of 2006, approximately 400 students attend this school branch.

English is used as a language of instruction in all subjects. English teaching materials are adapted by the teachers to suit the difficulty level of the students. In the senior classes, pupils work with authentic resources. Language assistants encourage students to try out new words and structures. These situations promote natural conversation with native speakers and the students have the opportunity to practice English in practically all of the subjects. Tutorials, which take place primarily in the first year, are lessons in which only two students work with one native speaker. In that way, the students do not only receive full attention, but also experience their own language skills more directly. Student-centered work with authentic English resources is among the most common methods applied from the very beginning.

In order promote inter-cultural understanding, international exchanges and project weeks are a part of the LISA curriculum. The following activities take place during the 8 school years:

year 1: Getting-to-know you days in Königswiesen year 2: Project week in Spital/Pyhrn year 4: England trip: London and Tollesbury year 5 and 6: International exchange program (South Africa, USA, etc.) year 7: Trip to France year 8: Science excursion to Munich During the past years, student exchanges to Singapore and Thailand were also conducted over the summer holidays. The yearly published LISA Journal (for download) contains student articles on these activities.