The Importance of Language at OIS JVLR

"Language wraps itself around, in through and between everything that we teachers and learners do in the classroom." (Ritchhart 2002:141 Language and learning in the IB programmes-September 2011)

In our school, we want to nurture lifelong learners who can apply English but also other languages at increasingly complex levels. English is our medium, but students have the opportunity to take Hindi, starting in grade 1 and then follow up with Spanish and French, starting in grade 3. When students move into middle school, they focus on an additional language and then carry this with them throughout their secondary years. 

Why different languages? 

Language is important in all learning and provides the support for inquiry and the way that children construct meaning. The IB and OIS want to ensure that students are competent in a language so they can think critically, collaborate with others and make sense of the world around them. In IB programmes, students at the age of 7 have the opportunity to learn in more than one language. 

International mindedness is the overarching goal of all for all of our learning community.  "We aim to create responsible, global citizens who show understanding, compassion and acceptance of the differences in the world. "

Across all of the curriculum at OIS, students will be immersed in language. From our youngest learners to our grade 5 students, students are learning the language of skills, of learning attributes and specific academic language. In PSPE, they are learning how to communicate as individuals and teams. They are learning the language of specific sports as well. In music, they are communicating about tempo and rhythm but also about practicing the language of risk-taking. In Visual Arts, they are learning about perspective, about design, artistic elements. 

All is language. In the early years, we think about the 100 languages of the child.

Language underpins everything we do. 

For more information about language at OIS, please see our school Language Policy.


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