ALAM KIDZ LANGUAGE POLICY
This document aims to provide information about the nature, function, and the use of languages at Alam Kidz School.
Alam Kidz Vision and Mission Statement
- Vision
A community supporting young people to realize their potential; forever learning, forever teaching, in the service of humanity. To inspire a community of lifelong learners who embrace diversity, act with compassion, and strive for excellence in an ever-changing world.
- Mission
To provide a unique, learning-centered environment that progresses young people through an integrated and developmental approach to education. To provide a challenging and inclusive education that empowers students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners.
- Aims
To develop interpersonal, intrapersonal, physical and cognitive competencies; empowering young people to lead purposeful, fulfilling lives. To develop knowledgeable, and caring young people who are motivated to succeed and make a positive difference in the world.
IB Learner Profiles
- Inquiries
We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
- Knowledgeable
We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
- Thinkers
We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
- Communicators
We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
- Principled
We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
- Open-minded
We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
- Caring
We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
- Risk-takers
We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
- Balanced
We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live. We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Language Policy in Alam Kidz School
The purpose of the language policy is to offer a brief summary of the practices pertaining to the use of languages in Alam Kidz School. This writing mainly deals with language use, ideology, and management in school.
- Philosophy
Language itself is an important medium to convey ideas, thoughts, and feelings. It supports our vision in Alam Kidz School to build a community that involves communication. It is reflected by the way we are encouraging students to speak English and embrace unique cultural diversity by speaking Indonesian language when it is needed.
- Our Target at Alam Kidz School
The process of teaching and learning languages in Alam Kidz School is in line with the importance of listening, reading, speaking, and writing skills. Students develop the capability to understand how a language works inside and outside the classroom. Students are able to use the language to connect with others and share their creative ideas.
- Alam Kidz School Language Profile
The students in Alam Kidz School exhibit fluency in both their mother tongue and a second language for their communication. Through a variety of communication media, they are exposed to and encouraged to think globally, reflecting multiple cultures and perspectives. In general, all teachers and school’s staff use English as a means of communication during the teaching and learning process. However, for some reason, the Indonesian language is used to communicate to some students in case they do not understand the instructions given in English. Alam Kidz School attempts to promote English as the main language to be used at the school. Yet, as some of our students are in the process of learning to speak English, so as to avoid misunderstanding, translanguaging (English-Indonesian) is used during communication.
- Number of Students’ Language Profile
Mother Tongue | Number of Students in PYP (2024/2025) |
Indonesian | Nursery: 14 Early Year 1: 13 Early Year 2: 6 Grade 1: 1 Grade 2: 4 Grade 3: 2 |
Russian | Early Year 1: 2 Grade 1: 8 Grade 2: 4 Grade 3: 3 |
French | Early Year 2: 2 |
Thai | Nursery: 1 |
Malaysian | Nursery: 1 |
Australian | Grade 1: 1 |
Ukraine | Grade 1: 1 |
USA | Grade 2: 1 Grade 3: 1 |
- Alam Kidz School Learner Profile
Every day, inside and outside the classroom, we always encourage students to improve their speaking ability. From the smallest and simplest commands such as washing hands or tidying up, we encourage students’ speaking and listening ability little by little. Through songs and movements, students from a young age are encouraged to understand the meaning of a command in English.
- The Language Policy Steering Committee
The Language Policy Steering Committee is in charge of coordinating with the individuals they represent and supervising the processes required to create the school’s language philosophy and policy. Establish a language continuum that spans the programs offered at the school.
Alam Kidz School language policy is a working document used in all teacher professional development meetings and training.
- Steering Committee Members
- School principal
- Teachers and staff
- Related stakeholder
- The Role of Language in Promoting Inclusion and Open-Mindedness
In Alam Kidz School, the presence of native-speaker teachers plays a role in developing students’ capability to catch foreign accents and adapt to them. In line with our vision to teach students who are able to strive in an ever-changing world, being able to adapt, learn, and respect other people is a key to success.
Language of Instruction
Alam Kidz School is a school that promotes the use of English during the process of learning. English is used as the main language for instruction. However, in certain cases, Indonesian is used as a medium of instruction to help local students understand the learning process. Teachers use English as the main language of instruction. Nevertheless, when the students do not seem to understand or get confused, teachers will translate into Indonesian language. We believe that every student should approach language as a unique series. By using different approaches and making instructions easier to understand, especially for local students, teachers assist the students who struggle with the language of instruction.
Strategies to support all teachers in their contribution to the language development:
- Teaching and learning resources and platforms are provided by the school to improve the use of English and Indonesian languages
- The school empowers the teachers to actively learn and develop strategies for teaching the languages
- Teachers join webinars or workshops held by the Indonesian Ministry of Education, especially on language teaching development.
Language Support Program
Teachers in Alam Kidz School realize that each student grows differently. As a school that is committed to teaching and nurturing our students wholeheartedly, we assessed each student’s progress and capabilities to find points of weakness and help strengthen it with personalized plans in collaboration with other teachers and parents.
- Reading English Program and Resources
The school provides reading time with accessible resources online and offline. Students are taught to read and extract information by text, audio, and pictures. Through questions, we let the students develop their thinking skills from stories or information.
- Language Resources
Books, pictures, flashcards, songs, music, rhymes, digital technology
- English Language in the Primary Stage at Alam Kidz School and the Procedures Followed to Improve the English Language for the School Community:
- The primary language used in the classroom by teachers and students is English.
- Raising the students’ awareness of the importance of the English language and motivating them to utilize it for a variety of purposes, as it is the language of science and the world’s most widely spoken language today.
- Increasing the student’s proficiency in reading and writing by stocking English-language literature and narratives in school libraries and classroom bookcases.
- Utilizing the school library to read and borrow books to improve English
- Creating connections between the inquiry units and the study of English.
- Encouraging the students to use the English language for self-expression and other activities
- Using the state-of-the-art technology in the classroom to improve student proficiency in English.
- The Library
Alam Kidz School focuses on providing a reading corner in every class, where all students can choose and read their favorite books. Most of the books are in English. However, there are some books provided in Indonesian as well. We have a special session named silent reading when we encourage the students to read a book based on their preferences. By having this kind of activity, we are optimistic that it can promote their habit of reading. So, it helps them to increase their literacy skills.
- Improving the English Language in Community
As we encourage free learning inside and outside the classroom, we realize the importance of playtime and socialization. We encourage the inclusion of students as they play and blend with their peers from different age levels and cultural backgrounds. They are connected by the use of a common language that we teach and encourage in school. We teach them the concept of connecting through things in common with their peers from a young age.
- Connection to Other Policies
Language and Assessment
To carry out valid assessments for the language of instruction and English used at school, the teachers provide an ongoing assessment in the form of formative and summative assessments. These types of assessments are used to assess the student’s four language skills including listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Various assessment strategies and instruments are implemented to assess the students while considering that each student has a different language learning profile.
Source
https://www.ibo.org/benefits/learner-profile/
Related Policies :
- Inclusion Policy
- Assesment Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Language Policy