TheInternational SchoolofBrussels
Home Language Programme
ISBMission
Ourmissionistodevelopindependentlearnersandinternationalcitizensinanenvironmentwhere allstudentsareincluded,challenged,andsuccessful
Our strategy for the future is to become leaders in personalised learning, and to nurture relationshipsinourinternationalcommunity.
HomeLanguage Philosophy&Values
WhenstudentsmovetoanothercountryandtheirschoolingtakesplaceinEnglish,itiscriticalthat they find ways to continue learning their home language. The home language is an integral part oftheirculturalandpersonalidentity,andthusvitalformaintainingapositiveself-concept.
Researchalsodemonstratestwoimportantacademicreasonsforcontinuingtolearnone’shome language:
Multilingualism:Astrongfirstlanguagesupportsthelearningofotherlanguages,asmanyofthe skillslearnedinthehomelanguagetransfertootherlanguages.
Conceptual learning in English: The home language can support conceptual development duringtheperiodwheretheirEnglishisnotstrongenoughtodosoonitsown,becauseitprovides a language for thinking about the new concepts and connecting them to previous learning. It is thereforeofvitalimportancethatwesupportstudentsandtheirfamiliesinmaintaininglearningin theirhomelanguage
HomeLanguage ProgrammeObjectives
Additive multilingualism: Students utilise all their language resources at school, so their home language continues to develop, fostering multilingualism, with cognitive benefits transferring acrossalllanguages
Identity and equity: All students’ cultural and linguistic identities are visible, included, and celebrated in their school selves. Students are proud of their home language and culture and proudtospeakmultiplelanguages.Allstudentshavetheopportunitytofurthertheirlearningright fromtheirfirstdayatISBusingallofthelanguageresourcestheyhaveattheirdisposal.
Student futures: Students who return to their home countries after their school years have the proficientlanguageskillstheyneedfortheirpost-ISBlives
ISBSupportfor HomeLanguages
LowerSchoolHomeLanguagelessons: In our Lower School, we have a team of home language teachers who help students to develop their academic language skills in our largest population languages Thesehomelanguagelessonsarerootedinlongterm,transferableskills
UpperSchoolHomeLanguagelessons: As ISB values improvement and innovation, these will be comingfortheschoolyear2025-26.
IB School-Supported Home Language: In our IB years, we have a team of IB-trained home languageteacherswhoworkwithstudentsinthefinalyearsofschooling.
ISBPlusHomeLanguagelessons: ISB Plus offers home language classes after school, based on parent and student interest These home language lessons develop linguistic and academic proficiency
Translanguaging: ISB teachers create learning environments in which students’ multilingual identitiesandskillsarecelebrated,promoted,andusedinmeaningfulways.
Whatis translanguaging?
Translanguaging is a set of pedagogical practices that leverage students’ full multilingual identities and skills in dynamic ways to develop understanding of curriculum contentandtocelebratemultilingualaccomplishments.
Howcanparentssupporttheir children’shomelanguage?
Read to your child in your home language. Talk about the book and about new or interesting ideas.Askyourchildtosummarisethebook.
Listen to news or podcasts together in your home language. Discuss more academic subjects togetherwithyourchildtodeveloptheirvocabularyandlinguisticcomplexity
Askyourchildtotellyouaboutwhattheyarelearninginschool,andexplorethetopicstogetherin your home language. Use this as an opportunity to develop your child’s vocabulary and backgroundknowledgeaboutschoolsubjects.
ContacttheHome LanguageTeam
HelenByrne,LowerSchoolHomeLanguageCoordinatorbyrneh@isb.be
AlinedeBrauwere,IBLanguagesACoordinatordebrauwerea@isb.be
KristinHeglund,ISBHomeLanguagesProjectheglundk@isb.be
Kattenberg19,B-1170Brussels,Belgium +3226614211 communications@isb.be wwwisbbe