Learning

Language Philosophy

Language Philosophy

Language underlies all learning, permeating the fabric of all we do in the education of our students.

Excellence in education for globally-minded students is our mission. On this page we summarize our language philosophy and highlight how we operationalize that philosophy in regards to English, German, and Other Languages.Language is not isolated to one domain or another, rather it is considered in terms of:

 

  • learning language,
  • learning through language, and
  • learning about language.

Attending to students’ language development is a pedagogical imperative. This development is essential to students’ intellectual and social growth and enables full participation in the wider community. (from Halliday, in Language and learning in IB programmes, 2012: 22-26)

At MIS, we believe:

  • multilingualism establishes cognitive patterns of language acquisition that can be drawn upon in the learning of additional languages;
  • proficiency in additional languages is required to derive positive cognitive benefits from multilingualism;
  • language teaching must reflect the developing knowledge of how people learn;
  • language learning occurs in all classrooms; all teachers are language teachers;
  • language learning embraces the development of cultural understandings, a fundamental tenet of MIS, as an international school;
  • language is learned most effectively when it is used in significant and meaningful situations as learners interact with each other to accomplish their goals;
  • language proficiency differs in terms of conversational and academic proficiency; all students must be supported in the development of their academic language proficiency, regardless of the target language;
  • ongoing support of a student’s dominant language is crucial for academic and social development as well as for personal identity;
  • the development of the host country language - German - and understanding of German culture are important for all members of the MIS community;
  • parents are partners in their children's language learning and need to actively support this development.

English

  • English is the principal language of instruction of the school. All students with suitable proficiency in English are offered instruction in a language/literature programme in English.
  • Fluent English speaking students in Junior and Middle School receive language instruction in their homeroom groups.
  • English language support is provided for students with limited English language proficiency. One of the aims of the support programme is to provide students with the skills and understanding necessary for them to transfer into and be successful English language/literature classes.
  • The development of English Language proficiency is a priority for all students at MIS aimed at enabling each individual to study the most appropriately challenging IB Diploma English course in grades 11 and 12.

German

  • All students in mother-tongue proficiency in German are offered instruction in a language/literature programme in German.
  • In grades 6-12, all other students are offered language B level German language instruction.
  • In grades 1-5, students whose mother-tongue is neither German nor English are placed in a language B level German class when they have made sufficient progress in English. Non-German students needing academic support in English attend German as deemed appropriate.
  • The development of German language proficiency is considered important for all students at MIS and is aimed at enabling each individual to study the most appropriately challenging IB Diploma German course in grades 11 and 12.

Other Languages

  • For students whose mother tongue is not English or German it is recommended that separately funded instruction in their mother-tongue continues during their education at MIS. The school supports parent and government funded initiatives for mother-tongue teaching in the school’s minority languages.
  • The school requires that students use the target language in lessons, but allows the use of other languages for the reinforcement of learning within the classroom.
  • French and Spanish are taught as Language B options starting in grade 6 and extending in the IB Diploma. These options do depend on student interest in those subjects.

What is the Language A / Mother Tongue Programme?

The Language A / Mother Tongue Programme is under the endorsement of the IBO and provides the opportunity for students to receive instruction in their mother tongue or best language. Mother Tongue teachers aim to develop and promote students’ language and literacy skills. Specifically, the Language A / Mother Tongue Programme is a liaison between parents, students, Mother Tongue teachers and the Language A / Mother Tongue co-ordinator, but the promotion of bilingualism and multi-lingualism can involve all members of the MIS community.

Click to read the complete Mother Tongue Overview

Contacts

Kate Beatty Kate Beatty
Head of Language A English 5-12

kbeatty@mis-munich.de

Micheal HuberMicheal Huber
Head of Language A German 5-12
mhuber@mis-munich.de

Patricia CorbettPatricia Corbett Head of Language B 6-12

pcorbett@mis-munich.de

Jeanne-Marie BriginshawJeanne-Marie Briginshaw
Head of ESL 5-12
jbriginshaw@mis-munich.de

Bodo HeiligerBodo Heiliger
Literacy Coordinator EC-4

bheiliger@mis-munich.de

Liz NewmanLiz Newman
ESL Coordinator EC-4
lnewman@mis-munich.de

Ana Brenes
Mother Tongue Coordinator
abrenes@mis-munich.de