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Language acquisition

A multilingual approach.

At ISU we recognise the importance and richness of all the languages in our multilingual community. We believe that the acquisition and development of more than one language enriches intellectual and personal growth and nurtures international mindedness. It is through the acquisition of new languages and development of home languages, both at home and at school, that students develop a life-long interest in languages as well as a deeper sense of self and identity.

Language of Instruction

At ISU, the language of instruction is English, however we create an awareness of trans-linguistic connections so that each student is able to access the curriculum. All classes are taught in English, except the primary and secondary Dutch Language Acquisition and secondary Spanish Language Acquisition classes.

Students new to English

To ensure all students can benefit from the curriculum, the school provides an English Language Acquisition (ELA) programme for learners whose first language is not English. In primary, specialist ELA teachers work alongside the classroom teachers in the class to ensure that learners have access to the curriculum. Students also attend stand alone ELA sessions with the ELA teacher outside the classroom. In secondary, students join English Language Acquisition (ENLA) classes. Students also join stand alone ELA sessions with a language teacher. Older students from grade 9 and above will need to demonstrate they have sufficient English to be able to access the curriculum. This means your child(ren) may be asked to take a language assessment as part of the enrolment process.

Home Language Clubs

In addition to our language-rich curriculum, we encourage and facilitate Home Language Clubs which we organise through parents. We also celebrate events such as Home Languages Week - a week of multilingual activities across the school.