LANGUAGE POLICY
Developed: September 2024
POLICY REVIEW STATEMENT
To ensure the policy document is ingrained in the normal schools’ operations and is relevant,itwillbereviewedonannualbasisbyateamofstaffcomprisingoftheprincipal, IB coordinator and all heads of departments. There will be a tracker on the school managementsystemforstafftopostareasthatrequirerevisionandareasthatmaynot be included in this current document but are a necessary inclusion. Additionally, the tracker will allow staff to post areas that require inclusion based on changes in the externalregulatoryandeducationenvironment.
Atthebottomofthecoverpagethedateofreviewandeditionnumberofthepolicywill be indicated. For example (Reviewed on 18th December 2024) Version 2. The management will ensure the revised policy is circulated to all the relevant staff for effectiveimplementation.Thisprocesswillensureallpolicydocumentsremainsactivein guidingtheoperationsoftheschools.
1.0 THE SCHOOL LANGUAGE PHILOSOPHY
BrookhurstinternationalschoollanguagepolicyisbasedontheInternational BaccalaureateOrganizationdeclaration:
“The International Baccalaureate (IB) is committed to supporting multilingualism as a fundamental part of increasing intercultural understandingandinternational-mindedness,andisequallycommittedto extendingaccesstoanIBeducationforstudentsfromavarietyofcultural andlinguisticbackgrounds.Withtheseaimsinmind,theIBhasinstituted itslanguagepolicy to provideaframework that will ensurethat theIB's valuesandaimsinrelationtoaccessandmultilingualismarereflectedin theorganization'sactivities.”
The school aims at creating an international atmosphere for all students and entirestaffcommunity.Theschoollanguagephilosophyencouragesstudentsto be open-minded towards acceptance of people from different linguistic and culturalcontexts. Studentsandentireschoolcommunityareencouragedtoview diversityasoneofthekeystrengthsoftheIBDiplomaprogrammeandasmeans ofmakingtheworldmorepeaceful.
However,werecognizethatEnglishisthemainlanguageofinstructionandthat one needs to acquire good mastery to perform well in academics and social interactionsasmostofthestudentscommunicateinEnglishlanguage.
2.0SCHOOL LANGUAGE PROFILE
TheofficiallanguagesinKenyaareEnglishandKiswahili.Weensuremostofthelearners are proficient in English language before joining the school. The school has English Accelerationprogramforstudentscomingfromcountriesthatuseotherlanguagessuch asFrench. Thestudentsareassistedthroughextralessonsandprovisionofresourcesto improveproficiencyinEnglishLanguage.Swahiliisofferedasasubjectandisassessed inexternalexaminations.
We share IB believe that that the ability to communicate in a variety of languages is essential in the context of an international education that promotes intercultural diversity.Theschoolpromotesthisaspectasmostofthestudentsareeitherbilingualor multilingual.ApartfromEnglishandKiswahilitheschooloffersotherforeignlanguages suchas:French,German,ChineseandSpanish.
Theschoolpromoteslanguagesandculturalaspectsfromcommunitiesandnationalities ofwherethestudentscomefrombycelebratingaculturaldayinJulyofeveryyear.During the cultural day, students show case diverse aspects of their diverse culture such as: dressing,differenttypesoffoods,songsanddancesandmanyotheraspects.Theschool staffarealsogiventheopportunitytoperformandtheparentsaswell. It’sonewayof howtheschoolpromotesandembracesdifferentculturesrepresentedinschool.
3.0RELATIONSHIP OF LANGUAGE POLICY WITH OTHER SCHOOL POLICIES
● LanguageandInclusion
● LanguageandAcademicIntegrity
● LanguageandAssessments
● LanguageandAdmissions
4.0MULTILINGUALISM IN BROOKHURST INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS
TheEnglishlanguageiscompulsoryandistaughtandexaminedtoalllearnersuptoYear 13. All students take French and Kiswahili from Early years to year 11. We also offer Frenchasasubjectinyear12and13.
TheLanguageofinstructionisEnglish.ThestudentstakingDiplomaprogrammusttake eitherEnglishorLiterature
5.0ROLE OF TEACHERS IN LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
EveryteacherwillhavetheresponsibilityofteachinganddevelopmentEnglishlanguage as this is central to academic performance of the students since the subject content is delivered in English. Proficiency in English will also enhance social skills among the studentsduetoeffectivecommunication.
6.0SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEARNING LANGUAGES
TheschoolhasanEnglishAccelerationprogramforstudentswhoarenotproficientin English language. Additionally, the school offers opportunity for students to learn KiswahiliandFrench.Othersforeignlanguageswillgraduallybeintroduced.
7.0PROMOTING THE LANGUAGE OF THE HOST COUNTRY
Swahili is the national language of Kenya. The Ministry of Education mandates that Swahili language should be taught in all schools including schools that follow internationalcurriculum.Therefore,allstudentsenrolledinourIBDiplomaProgramwill getanopportunitytostudySwahililanguageasawayofpromotingthelanguage.
8.0PRACTICES FOR INCLUSION AND EQUITY OF ACCESS TO IB DP PROGRAM
Allstudentshavetherighttolearnalanguageoftheirchoicethatisofferedinour school. StudentswhoarenotproficientinEnglishwillbetakenthroughEnglish Accelerationprogramandbeissuedwithappropriateresources.
LearningSupportDepartmentwillsupportlearnersdevelopLanguagestoan appropriatelevel.
9.0PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE FIELD OF LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING
Teachersoflanguagesandotherswillbegivenopportunitiestoengageinprofessional developmentactivitieseitherinternallyorexternallyusingdifferentplatformsincluding face-to-faceoronline.
References
InternationalBaccalaureatePolicyManual.ShanghaiAmericanSchool.2018-2019
InternationalBaccalaureate.(2015).DiplomaProgramme:Fromprinciplesintopractice. Cardiff,UK.IBPublishing.
LanguagePolicyHandbook.BavarianInternationalSchool.2014
InternationalBaccalaureate.(2008).IBGuidelinesforDevelopingaSchoolLanguage Policy.Cardiff,UK.IBPublishing.