Recognizing the importance of Mother Tongues is a key element of the MYP Program1
“…the honesty of the IBO stems from the fact that we require all students to relate first to their own national identity—their own language, history and cultural heritage, no matter where in the world this may be.”
Roger Peel, former director general of the IBO
“The role of language, one’s mother tongue, and the study of other languages in this context have a special place in any programme’s design. It is through language that we access our own and others’ culture. The role of language acquisition and development from early childhood in order to foster bi- and multi lingualism is fundamental to any sequence of programmes."
Helen Drennen, former director of academic affairs at IBCA
Bilingual and Multilingual Support
- Multi-Lingual Children http://www.multilingualchildren.org/
- Multi-Lingual Matters http://www.multilingual-matters.com/
Maintaining the mother tongue
- Power Point presentation by Jenny Reed (IBO) about the importance of Maintaining the Mother Tongue.
Click here to download the ppt file.
Maintaining and developing the mother tongue
Adapted for BIS from MYP Second–language Acquisition and mother-tongue Development , IBO, January 2004
There are many reasons why parents should support their children in maintaining and developing their mother tongue. You may expect your children to:
- re-join your home school system
- return to your home country for further education
- return to your home country for employment
- certainly be able to speak to their grandparents and other family members in her or his mother tongue.
It is important that your children continue their development of this language to a high level in all the skills of language: speaking, listening and understanding reading and writing.
In addition to this, maintaining and developing all aspects of the mother tongue also has the following benefits.
- It enables students to remain in touch with the language and literature of their home culture.
- It ensures continuous cognitive development while students learn the new language. (This is important because the programme in our school requires students to think at a high cognitive level)
- It makes a positive contribution to the learning of the second language. Linguistic and cognitive development in the home language and an understanding of how languages work transfers well to the learning of second language and promotes its development.
- It makes it possible for students to re-adjust to life in their home community and education system should they return to their home country.
- It allows students to participate in the life of their mother tongue community here in Bali International School , for instance in religious observance, celebrating cultural festivals and taking part in social activities.
What can you do?
You can see from the information given above that it may not be helpful to your child's bilingual development to switch from using your mother tongue at home to using English.
You can ensure the maintenance and development of your child's home language by:
- using your mother tongue with your children to discuss all family events, items in the news and to share ideas about books, TV and film etc.
- giving your children rich and enjoyable language experience in their mother tongue (Social activities with their own age group ensure that your child will want to continue using the mother tongue)
- finding mother-tongue materials that cover the same material as they are learning in English in school (This is a very effective method of helping your child to understand the vocabulary and concepts related to the subjects they are studying in school. It is also helps your child to learn the same content in their mother tongue)
- arranging formal reading and writing lessons in your mother tongue (A list of language-learning possibilities in Bali International School is included at the end of this document. You should also ask other parents who speak your language for their advice). Formal lessons are necessary in order for your child to learn to read and write at the same level as students of the same age in your home country.
encouraging your child to keep in touch with grandparents and other family members or by carrying out an e-mail correspondence with friends who speak the same language.
Please remember that we are happy to answer any questions about your child's language learning. Please feel free to ask to talk to your children's classroom teacher or ESL/EAL teacher in order to discuss any issues of concern.
The following classes and possibilities exist in Bali International School for students to continue their studies in their mother tongue:
In collaboration with the PTA, we are forming mother tongue social groups. Please contact the MYP Coordinator, Werner Paetzold at wpaetzold@baliis.net if you wish to become involved with one of these groups.
1MYP Second –language Acquisition and mother-tongue Development, January 2004