Dear All,
If term has not started for you yet then I am sure it will be soon. Our term started on Wednesday and as always it is lovely to welcome new children and see lots of familiar faces from the year before.

Last week we had an induction programme for the new staff and I took a 30-minute slot to talk too them about the implications for language of working in an Internationally –Minded International School. I used this clip from Ethine Gallagher to illustrate my point.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tFA0lPeSjU&feature=player_embedded
The clip proved very powerful and popular so we showed it again to the whole staff on Monday morning too.

I have also had a pile of books in different languages delivered to add to our school library. I have asked all the class teachers to actively promote this with their classes on their first trip to the library. To highlight this section I worked with our library staff to put up an interactive display outside the library, which includes copies of the books and general questions about language.

Part of my new role this year includes managing the Primary after-school language activities and I have been meeting with some of the providers o discuss their programmes and put this info. on the school database ready for parents next week. This is one are that needs a lot of work.

In my own year group the class teachers have been asking the children about their home languages and we sent home a sheet asking parents t o help the children write ‘welcome’ and ‘hello’ in their home languages so they can copy these ready for a display to put up before our Parent Briefing Meeting next week. Year 5 are also starting “ A Language a Week’ using this website as inspiration.

http://www.newburypark.redbridge.sch.uk/langofmonth/

Well that is what my first few days have looked like in terms of my position of responsibility, the rest of the time has been filled with teaching and getting to know the EAL children I am going to be working with .

It would be great to hear and share how others have started their terms.

Enjoy the weeks ahead.

Jane

Promoting Home Languages in Schools

This is a very powerful resource for convincing others of the importance of Home Languages in schools. A must-view for all staff.

The School Library

With our new Language Policy written our school is now looking to how the words in the policy can be turned into practical actions impacting positively on the daily life of our school community.
Our Primary Library is situated at a major crossroad in our school and an ideal place to access children, staff and parents alike.

Steps so far:

* A large selection of books linked to raising multilingual children and general EAL pedagogy
* School subscription to Bilingual Family Newsletter
* An increasing selection of bilingual books.  (Click here for a supplier we have successfully used)

But although we have invested in these resources they are not currently used as much as we would like.


So steps for the future:

* To continue to build up our stock of bilingual books but also to add good quality DVDs in a range of languages.
* To add multilingual displays and posters to the library
* Lunchtime book reading by parents in their mother tongue
* Providing INSET and material in a variety of languages for parents on good reading practice
* Promoting all of the above in the school community!!!!

If you have any other ways you are using your school library to promote Home Languages please send them in to share.

Research Study - Request for help!

Niki is Deputy Head of Academics at the United World College, Maastricht Primary School and is currently conducting a research study to identify current practice in the area of Mother Tongue in International Primary Education and to highlight the underpinning philosophy and reasoning for implementing Mother Tongue initiatives in these schools.

Niki is particularly interested to find out more about mother tongue policies in international primary schools to help her study.

"I would greatly appreciate it if the group could forward anything of relevance to me please?!" 

Co-Teaching Strategies

Recently Dr. V Rojas spent a week at our school working with parents, children and staff. One aspect of her work with us we are looking to explore next term is co-teaching strategies.
Jennifer Kightley at the Ambrit International School in Rome has already spent time with her EAL team and class teachers exploring these strategies. Have a look at their blog for articles and resources to support some INSET in your school on co-teaching strategies.

http://ambriteal.blogspot.com/

Thank-you to Jennifer for sharing her blog.

Book Review

Equal Rights to the Curriculum: Many Languages, One Message

by Eithne Gallagher

 I loved everything about this book; an easy read with up-to-date relevant messages about issues in an International School. It includes ideas about actively promoting bilingualism as well as supporting EAL learners. I just wish I could convince everyone in my school to read it as there are constant references throughout the book about how bilingualism should be seen as a resource not a problem. It certainly made me look again with a different perspective at the children I work with and I am one of the converted.

Book review by Jane (Bangkok Patana School, Thailand)