Languages in DP
Within the Diploma Years Programme, all students take a minimum of two languages, with the option of taking three. The options are tailored around the students’ personal language portraits (home languages and previous schooling languages).
| Language 1 |
|---|
|
*Languages A (Home Language/Mother Tongue) |
| Or Language B (Mandarin, Spanish or French) |
| Or *Language B (other languages) |
| Language 2 |
|---|
| English A |
| Or |
| English B |
*Note that some language options will come at an additional cost, depending on the class size.
| Optional Language 3 |
|---|
|
*Languages A (Home Language/Mother Tongue) |
| Or |
| *Language B (other languages) |
Languages A / Home Language
The Languages A Programme builds on existing literacy and fluency in a home language / mother tongue.
Research into multilingualism highlights the importance of literacy in a child’s first/strongest language as a strong building block to the acquisition of subsequent languages, as well as reinforcing cultural identity.
Our truly international staff and student population allows us to offer over 21 different languages. These languages include Arabic, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Lithuanian, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish and Turkish. Each year additional languages are offered as needed.
Languages B / Language Acquisition
MYP and College students are given the opportunity to acquire an additional language, in addition to English and Home Language / Mother Tongue. The additional languages we offer are French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese.
Other languages are possible on special request.
The Languages B develops the ability to communicate effectively across a range of languages and cultural settings, as well as enabling the student to develop a deeper understanding for the general nature and structure of languages.
Learning an additional language also supports the development of critical thinking and reflection of one’s own personal identity.
Academic English
The Academic English Programme works with DP students for whom English is not their dominant/strongest academic language. Specialist teachers work closely with language demands of the programme to meet the English language acquisition needs of the students.
Everyday conversational language is acquired relatively quickly with students usually able to feel part of classroom and integrate socially in their first years of English learning. More complex academic language takes longer to develop. The Academic English Programme aims to build a solid foundation in English, while encouraging transfer of meaning from a student’s home language / mother tongue.
