From Non-Native Speaker to IB Top Scorer: An SCIS Journey

Jaeha Namkung’s (Class of 2023) exceptional achievement of 44 out of 45 points on his final International Baccalaureate (IB) examination at Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) Pudong underscores the school’s commitment to academic excellence.

This remarkable result reflects the invaluable resources and unwavering support provided by the institution, which played a pivotal role in fostering his success in the rigorous IB Diploma Programme (DP).

Tell us more about yourself. Where are you from, and what brought you to Shanghai Community International School?
I came to SCIS from South Korea with limited English skills in Grade 7, and their supportive EAL program was instrumental in helping me improve my English, for which I am grateful.

We heard you scored a 44/45 in the IBDP! How did you achieve this outstanding accomplishment? What obstacles did you face, and how did you overcome them?
My success hinged on maintaining a positive mindset.

I shifted the way I thought about studies, from dislike to building connections between academics and my hobbies, like writing poems and lyrics in English.

This was instrumental in improving my language skills, as I began to enjoy the learning of new concepts, ultimately leading to faster and more comprehensive learning.

Where are you headed this year? What major did you choose and why?
I’ve been fortunate enough to have received an acceptance to the National University of Singapore.

I am considering deferring the admit though so I can apply to Korean universities as well, as I am undecided about which country I’d like to study in just yet.

While I applied for electrical and electronic engineering, influenced by my dad’s work in the semiconductor industry and my strong inclination towards physics, I’m now also considering exploring various other fields, including cyber security, artificial intelligence, robotics, and nanotechnology.

For now, I’d like to keep my options open.

What are the top three skills you felt you developed during your time at SCIS? How will you apply these skills as a college student?
The top three skills I learned at SCIS were independence, seeking support, and building friendships regardless of backgrounds and nationalities, which is invaluable in academics and in life.

Universities offer minimal guidelines, necessitating independent learning, yet seeking help when needed is equally crucial, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with others.

These skills will benefit me not only in college but also in life, and I’m grateful to SCIS for imparting them.

Who were some of the teachers or lecturers who provided support and guidance to you during your studies and even contributed to your academic success?
All my teachers were supportive, but Mr. Staples played a pivotal role in my academic success.

Despite my struggles in English B, he dedicated his free time to provide one-on-one teaching, offered abundant resources for reading and writing practice, and guided me through writing my extended essay with insightful feedback.

Thanks to his help, I achieved satisfying scores in both English B and the extended essay.

A few warm words from Mr. Robert Staples, EAL and English B Teacher at SCIS Pudong:

“In a school as diverse as SCIS, I use a large variety of ways to motivate students, but one theme is getting students to understand that I care about them as individuals, and another is encouraging students to trust themselves to tell me what help they need from me.

“With a highly motivated student like Jaeha, we spent lots of time getting him to analyze his strengths and weaknesses, so we knew what to work on.

“Jaeha is humble and generous; even as a high-performing student, Jaeha was never afraid to admit he didn’t know something or to consider the value of a new idea or piece of feedback from either myself or his classmates.”