ELG Policy
Language Policy
As language forms the basis of all learning, this policy is critical in helping guide our school to achieve its mission. EL Genesis language policy has been developed around the needs of our specific school community, programs and local cultural context, with our students at the center. Thus, our language policy document is constantly evolving. The purpose of this document is to serve as a guideline connected to key resources that we use in our language programs at EL Genesis. Our language policy is shaped by our core values andlanguage ideologies. It is a statement of purpose and action, describing practices for achieving and evaluating our goals.
PURPOSE
This policy is derived from the school’s language philosophy and to outline goals for language teaching and learning. It is also a statement of action, describing practices for achieving and evaluating goals, which takes into consideration the particular language factors of the local cultural context.
PHILOSOPHY
In our increasingly global society we strive to educate our students to think and communicate with a holistic worldview. Aligning with the IB learner profile attributes of being “open-minded” we encourage our students to understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and to be open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. The acquisition of additional languages helps students develop an understanding of the culture of other countries and an understanding of the role culture plays in one's global perspective and international engagement of the world.
We aim to create a dynamic multilingual learning community in which the language of instruction is English, while also fostering the acquisition other languages, including mother tongue, so our students thrive within our culturally rich environment. We recognize the critical role of language in teaching and learning. Language is involved in all learning and is central to educational progress. In addition to learning how to use language, students must also learn about language and through language.
CORE VALUES OF LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNINGAT EL GENESIS
Core Value: | Therefore we strive to: |
Language is fundamental to learning and permeates the entire curriculum | Provide an appropriate language and learning program in order to allow all students to access their curriculum in a supportive environment |
All teachers are language teachers | Ensure all staff members are supported to understand the needs of students learning in a language other than their mother tongue, particularly in English (the language of instruction) |
Language learning best takes place in a meaningful context |
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A proficient level of literacy in the mother tongue language facilitates the transfer of skills to other languages | Support the maintenance and development of mother tongue directly and indirectly |
Language learning is shaped by each learner’s background and experiences. | Value the students’ language and literacy backgrounds as the foundation for additional language acquisition and development
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Language is a key component of enhanced cognitive development, cultural identity and self esteem | Foster in students the ability to think and express themselves with precision, clarity, confidence and imagination in more than one language |
The acquisition of language links people locally and globally and promotes international mindedness | Ensure that relationship between language and culture is prioritized and explored through the language curricula and beyond in other subjects. Provide opportunities for all students to be exposed to the host country language and culture. |
Parents are an intrinsic part of our community of learners and they provide crucial support for language learning. | Parents are involved as organizers and teachers of our mother tongue programs |
ENGLISH AS A LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
English is a working language at EL Genesis. Although bilingualism and diversity are highly valued, English is a secondary language with which EL Genesis communicates with its community and in which it is committed to providing instruction for learning.
ADMISSIONS AND SPECIAL EDUCTAIONAL NEEDS (SEN) CLASSIFICATION
EL Genesis seeks to offer educational opportunities to all eligible students who identify with the school’s mission and our desire to maintain a co-educational school with a diverse student population, representing a range of nationalities, languages, economic and cultural background and abilities.
All students at EL Genesis are expected to be able to benefit from the formal curriculum and hence it is important to be able to determine the proficiency in English for all students during the admissions process.
SEN SUPPORT
Our SEN learners with a low proficiency in English access the core curriculum in mainstream classrooms as we embrace the pedagogical philosophy of SEN students in mainstream classrooms. Learning and language support is provided to assist in the acquisition of the English language at all grade levels. SEN support for the English language is provided through:
· Assessing of the progression of language acquisition using multiple points of data including: writingsamples, class and subject assessments and other work samples, observations, teacher feedback and student feedback;
· Collaborative planning of curricular content and instruction, across subject areas, highlighting specific language goals;
· Offering professional development learning and training opportunities to teachers to develop and refine their language instructional strategies;
· In the inquiry units, providing in-class support to teachers through various models of co-teaching and through pull-out support.
MOTHER TONGUE SUPPORT
Mother Tongue is the term used for the language that the student predominantly uses at home, and/or outside the school environment. Research clearly links second language acquisition to mother tongue literacy. EL Genesis recognizes the importance of maintaining mother tongue languages and therefore offers a range of formal and informal mother tongue support. This involves:
· Presentations to parents and community groups;
· Educating all stakeholders on the vital importance of maintaining mother tongue language for our students;
· Through parent information sessions.
LANGUAGE ACQUISITION COURSES
EL Genesis has an after school activities programme with some English based learning opportunities for students who may be in need of some additional support with their English language acquisition.
COMMUNICATION OF THIS POLICY
A shortened version of this policy will be printed in the student handbook and parent handbook and on the website. The full policy will be made available to staff and faculty and will be part of the orientation at the start of each academic year.
POLICY REVIEW
According to Hornberger and McKay, language planning includes language policy as both problem solving and an interactive democratic practice. To this end, a representative group will review the EL Genesis Language Policy regularly. The School’s Leadership Team will regularly review the implementation of the policy in the classrooms and throughout the school.