As an international educational community, HuZ International School (HuZ) hosts a linguistically diverse student body. In this multilingual environment, Chinese, English, French, and German are the languages of instruction, depending on section and course. Each student is encouraged to develop second or third language skills. Language learning is a key criteria in creating global citizens and at HuZ offers IB language courses that “Increase [students] understanding of several cultures, including their own” while exploring “globally significant ideas and issues through different languages” (“Learning a Language in DP”). As an international school in Shenyang, China we offer Chinese language courses to encourage all students to engage in cultural experiences in our host country.
All member of the HuZ community have a responsibility to seeing each HuZ student become a better global citizen. This responsibility will facilitate HuZ students in becoming:
· Fluent in English, with a full command of academic English.
· Able to communicate in the their mother tongue without trepidation.
· Truly multilingual, and able to use an additional language to English and their mother tongue.
HuZ Language Profile
Students at HuZ represent over a dozen nations with a myriad of linguistic backgrounds. All HuZ teachers speak English and many are conversant in another language.
English as Medium of Instruction
English, German, and Chinese are the primary languages of instruction at HuZ and the majority of classes will be taught in English. English and German are used as the HuZ languages of communication and memorandum, reports, school publications, etc. will be written in English. Language teachers will provide students with a variety of literary genres, nonfiction, magazines, and other periodicals to provide students with different forms of writing at different levels. Dictionaries, including picture dictionaries, will be available for student consultation. Teachers are encouraged to support their students by allowing, when appropriate, scaffolding in the native language as well providing visual aids.
Mother Tongue Languages
HuZ “places importance on language learning, including mother tongue, host country language and other languages” (Programme Standards and Practices, p. 3). As an international school in Shenyang, China we offer regular Chinese language courses to encourage all students to engage in cultural experiences in our host country. These classes are taught holistically by qualified educators and have specific learning outcomes in four target areas, speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
With a linguistically diverse student body, HuZ cannot offer mother-tongue instruction to every student. However, where possible, students are encouraged to use their mother-tongue language across the curriculum. We also encourage parents to speak and read to their children in their mother tongue. When HuZ does not offer mother tongue instruction, parents are encouraged to supplement HuZ language classes with mother tongue instruction. To facilitate this, the HuZ Language Coordinator will find a potential mother tongue tutor and provide time and resources during the instructional day for a student to study with that tutor. The parents or guardians are responsible for the costs.
Additional Languages
Helping students become truly multilingual is a core goal of the HuZ curriculum. Developing multilingual abilities is a key component of being a global citizen and, aside from linguistic skills, deepens appreciation for different cultures. Learning a second or third language can help develop students’ analytical skills, as well as their ability to solve abstract problems. Moreover, multilingualism helps solidify concepts in the mother tongue. To this end, HuZ offers Chinese, French, German, Japanese, and Russian course. By taking these courses students gain numerous intangible benefits in to becoming more competitive in the business marketplace.
Language Learning across the Curriculum
As an IB school, HuZ is committed to ensuring, “that all teachers are responsible for language development of students” (Programme Standards and Practices, p. 4). To do this, HuZ first requires that each class, from history to math, contains more than a listening requirement. Rather each HuZ course should also significant visual, oral, and written components. Teachers from every subject area will encourage students to investigate language and contextualize it within the class. Writing and oral presentations will be taught across the curriculum and HuZ students will be adept at drafting, revising, and polishing oral and written presentations
HuZ teachers will also be provided with professional development workshops and trainings to strengthen the teaching skills necessary to see language-use across the curriculum.
Community Language
HuZ will also provide opportunities for students to engage in language use outside of the classroom. To do this takes advantage of the resources offered by both the larger Shenyang community. Students will go on fieldtrips where they will have the opportunity to use Chinese in a realistic manner while learning about Chinese culture. Moreover, guest speakers from the community, including the local consulates, will be invited to the school speaking in different mother tongues. When appropriate, parents will also be asked to address classes on various, relevant subjects. These will be accompanied by translations.
Policy Review
A committee that includes the Headmaster, IBDP Coordinator, and two IBDP teachers will review this document yearly. The committee will consider recommendations from all members of the HuZ community. As necessary, this policy will be revised and the HuZ community notified of any changes.
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